Addiction in the Workplace Programs

Drug using employees are:

 

• 2.2 times more likely to leave work early or request time off

 

• 2.5 times more likely to have absences of 8 days or more

 

• 3 times more likely to be late for work and

 

• 5 times more likely to file a worker's compensation claim 

 

Other costs associated with employees alcohol and drug abuse include employee theft and fraud, accidents, legal expenses, insurance claims, staff turnover and more.  The cost of the average addicted employee to his/her employer is $7,000 per year.

 

A drug free workplace program can increase:

 

•  Staff morale

 

•  Employee motivation

 

•  Productivity

 

•  Customer satisfaction

 

•  A positive public image

 

There are five useful components to a creating a drug free workplace:

 

1.  A drug-free policy is used to create a safe and productive workplace according to occupational health and safety regulations (WCB), and human rights legislation.  If followed it helps to reduce the organizations' liability in accidents, improve productivity, morale and other benefits.  Some of the components it should include are:

 

• A statement of the purpose and objectives of the program

 

• A definition of alcohol and drug abuse

 

• A statement of who is covered by the policy and/or program

 

• A statement of the employee's rights to confidentiality

 

• Provisions for assisting chronic substance abusers

 

• An outline of procedures to follow with substance abusers

 

              

2.  Supervisor training helps supervisors identify and deal with employees who have job performance problems that may be related to alcohol and other drugs.  It is not the supervisors job to diagnose or counsel the employee about their alcohol or drug problem.  

 

Some Components of Supervisor Training include:

 

• Signs and symptoms of addiction

 

• Drugs of abuse and thier effects on work performance

 

• Procedures for assistance

 

 

 

3.  Employee Education provides information on:

 

• The nature of alcohol and drug abuse

 

• Addictions' impact on work performance, health, personal and family life

 

• Signs and symptoms of addiction

 

• Procedures to access confidential assistance

 

4.  Professional assessment, treatment and referrals by a qualified addiction specialist assures you that employees are getting the help they need in order to recover.

 

Interventions are a proven way to open the door to the addiction recovery process to get an employee the help they need.

 

You might have felt:

 

• A sense of relief when a particular employee goes on vacation?

 

• After-hours worry or concern about a certain employee?

 

• Uneasy getting frequent phone calls from an employee's spouse to explain problems at home, sickness, or other work absences?

 

• Embarrassment at the behavior of a certain employee at a company or social function?

 

An Intervention could be the answer.  An employee intervention is a strategicaly planned confrontation.  The immediate and/or senior managemnt of a chemcially dependent executive confront her or him in a non-judgmental manner, with evidence of how the disease of addiction has affected work performance.  A corrective course of action is described and the consequences of denying or refusing this option are made clear.

 

The process of an intervention needs to be guided by a professional who provides information, training, and support to participants and to the chemically dependent person.   Without profesional guidance, a confrontation can increase both denial and hostility, making successful intervention more difficult.

 

Creating a drug-free workplace with our help can improve the health of your organization and it's bottom line. 

 

Call now for a free consultation: 604.733.7428.