Alcohol And Drugs In The Workplace Can Spell Disaster
Dear Dr. LeCrone:
I have been asked by my employer to help set up a program to recognize and effectively deal with employees who have substance abuse problems that are affecting their job performance.
An accident recently occurred at the plant that resulted in serious injury to one of the employees. Evidence showed that he was intoxicated at the time of the accident.
Can you provide me with some behaviors that supervisors and managers can look for in employees that indicate drug and alcohol abuse at my plant?
-A reader in Oklahoma
Dear Reader:
Employers can look for the following signs of possible substance abuse in the workplace.
• Lowered efficiency.
• Impaired decision making ability.
• Frequent mistakes.
• Missed deadlines.
• Improper use of time and materials.
• Difficulties with, or complaints from, fellow employees.
• Irritability or moodiness.
• Oversensitivity to criticism.
• Little association with or even avoidance of colleagues and supervisors.
• Absenteeism, such as absences without logical reasons; unexcused or unusual absences, like going to lunch and calling in sick in the afternoon; frequent illnesses; and patterned absences, like Monday mornings and/or Friday afternoons.
• Frequent tardiness.
• Unacceptable behavior, such as physical violence with company property or other employees, lying to co-workers or supervisors, and excessive emotional outbursts.
• Theft of company property.
• Trouble concentration.
• Taking longer than usual or expected to complete tasks.
• Confusion.
• Cannot correct own mistakes.
• Frequently “misplaces” or forgets job assignments, or forgets instructions.
• Pays little attention to detail.
• Sporadic work performance. The quality of the employee’s work may fluctuate.
• Elevated accident rate. The employee may use poor judgment and endanger co-workers He may disregards safety procedures.
• Files excessive number of grievances. The worker may have frequent complaints and statements of dissatisfaction.
• Off-the-job problems, such as financial troubles and drunken driving arrests, escalate
Businesses can provide help such as Employee Assistance Programs, which provide counseling for employees with problems. Health and wellness seminars to increase employee awareness of substance abuse problems can be helpful, along with drug screening programs.
Recognizing the symptoms of substance abuse and securing help is the way employers, fellow employees and family members can work toward reducing this problem.
Good luck with your efforts.
