Lower productivity is often one outcome of addiction in employees, but substance abuse and other forms of addiction could lead to greater problems in the workplace. So when should we step in and raise our concerns about our fellow workers if we think they could be suffering from addiction?
Is it common?
Statistics indicate that up to one in ten workers in developed countries could be addicts of some kind, leading experts to say that we are all very likely to come into contact with someone who has these kinds of issues. The impact on the workplace can vary depending on whether our colleagues are seeking counselling or rehabilitation.
What are the signs?
Colleagues who are addicted may not have obvious signs they have dependency issues. In fact, managers may put lateness, excessive sick days and under-performance down to a lack of motivation and poor work ethic in affected workers. Relationships with colleagues could become difficult and addicted workers may mention family troubles or other health issues. All these signs could occur when there are no dependency problems, but our being aware of deeper issues could get the colleague the help they need and improve our workplaces generally.
How to help
As a manager we may be bound by complex regulations that are both written in law and in contracts that make drug use at work illegal. So in very clear cases of substance misuse, employees may be fired immediately. If addictions haven’t reached this stage, we can put colleagues in touch with the right resources so they have the tools to potentially manage their problems. These could include various charities, substance misuse organisations and employment law specialists, who can give legal advice. Also, employers may be able to work with colleagues and talk about their options when it comes to returning to work after a stay at rehabilitation units.
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