| Written by Veronica Rolfes, on 23-07-2007 10:04 |
Alcohol and the Workplace
Bottom lines are suffering from employees that "bottoms up" too often, and the corporate world is taking action. Find out how your love for Cosmopolitans could be the fastest ticket to a matching pink slip.
Last night the club was hot and so were you, but this morning is a
different story. Your head is pounding and you give the term “something
the cat drug in” a whole new meaning. Aspirin, coffee and a shower
might not be the cure-all for your wild night, but you still manage to
make it to work. But should you have stayed home to recoup? Or was
facing the blinding fluorescent lights of the office the better choice?
The Problem is Closer than You Think
Most people can agree that alcohol and work don’t mix, unless you’re a
bartender. The surprising fact when it comes to alcohol abuse is that
it is not the clinical alcoholics that cause the most problems for
companies; it’s the social and light drinkers doing the most damage.
New research by the University of California shows 87 percent of
alcohol-related problems in the workplace are caused by light to
moderate drinkers. The prime suspect of these problems? Hangovers.
Researchers say that while in a hungover state, a person’s ability to
focus and concentrate is lowered. While some think they can focus just
enough to get the work done, they’re actually more susceptible to
making mistakes. While we’re inebriated, we can recognize our inability
to function, whereas with a hangover, we think we’re hurting but sober,
but actually the opposite is true: we aren’t fully aware, which leaves
a gaping hole for errors.
The Costs of Alcohol in the Workplace
Another sobering fact? The cost to businesses due to alcohol abuse in
the United States is the highest in the world. Measurable factors
include absenteeism, loss of productivity, theft, health insurance
claims, injuries and fatalities. Estimates by the National
Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) place costs at
$100 a year, while other studies show it to be as
high as $148 billion.
The NCADI and The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) show these staggering (no pun intended) statistics that drug and alcohol users:
-
Use three times as many sick days
-
Are five times more likely to file a worker’s compensation claim
-
Are more likely to have worked for more than three employers in the past year
-
Are more likely to injure themselves and others
Alcohol just doesn’t affect the one who consumes the brew. The DOL
reports that one in five workers have been put in danger or injured,
and have had to work harder, or re-do work, due to another employee’s
drinking.
Family members are also affected by another’s alcohol abuse. A study
conducted by the Hazelden Foundation shows that 26 percent of American
workers surveyed reported abuse within their family. Effects on family
members range from “drifting away” or distracted thoughts, missing
deadlines, attendance issues to errors in normal judgment — one in
seven even say that a family member’s addiction made he or she forget
safety or security procedures.
What to Do If There Is a Problem
Alcoholism is recognized today as a disease, affecting no particular
race or group from the lowest paid worker to the CEO. It is important
to know your company’s policy on alcohol abuse. Some are approved to
do on-the-spot testing, while others can suspend an employee until
further notice up to termination. In some industries such as the FAA
or the DOT, you can lose your license or ability to be employed until
you can show proof you have gone through rehab and counseling.
Many companies offer substance abuse help through their Employee
Assistance Program (EAP). Help is not just available for the abuser,
but to their family members as well.
If you or someone you know needs help, here are a few sources:
-
The National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Information Center 1-800-784-6776
-
American Council on Alcoholism (800) 527-5344
-
Alcohol Abuse and Crisis Intervention (800)-234-0246
-
Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, National Treatment Hotline 1-800-662-HELP
-
National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information 800-729-6686
Or if you’re a social drinker and you plan on attending one of Greater
Cincinnati’s fine entertainment establishments, think about where
you’ll be in the morning. Try only taking $20 cash into the bar with
you, or for every alcoholic drink you have, drink a glass of water to
match. If it’s the nightlife you like and not the liquor, go for
virgin drinks or non-alcoholic beer. Have fun and enjoy yourself; just
be safe and remember the repercussions come morning!
|
