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Alcohol consumption has increased across the board, on a global scale. From innocent consumption, abuse problems are developing, where both a physical and psychological reliance is placed on alcohol.
Yet, within this rise, alcohol use is now affecting the workplace. From work performance and attitude to health deterioration, the effects of alcohol abuse can become detrimental; in fact, this is the reality for many individuals, more than you’d imagine. Some will hide alcoholism or attempt to. Others will, yet side effects will show themselves. It’s important that through this difficult time, those suffering from alcoholism are supported, in and out of the workplace.
If you’re concerned that your employee may be drinking on the job, there are some steps you can take to protect both them and your workplace. Likewise, if you’re personally suffering from alcoholism, support should be available through both your workplace and professional addiction treatment centres.
The Rise Of Alcoholism In The Workplace
Alcoholism in the workplace has risen, mainly down to the large pressures connected to work performance and expectations. Alcohol is commonly used to overcome those stressful situations. Yet, like any drug, alcohol is highly addictive if control is lacking.
From innocent use, alcohol abuse can develop, quickly followed by addiction. Although many will say how workplace pressures fuel alcoholism, as true as this statement may be, habitual behaviours are a personal experience. They develop down to vulnerabilities or underlying mental health issues; highlighting why drinking problems are increasing in high-pressured, usually high anxiety fuelled jobs.
This finding is concerning and unfortunately the reality for a large percentage of global workers. A large proportion of individuals will be psychologically and physically dependent on alcohol, used as a coping mechanism to get through deadlines or workplace problems.
Worries are also linked to the health and safety of drinking on the job, especially in manual, physical jobs. With this in mind, it is important to know the common signs of alcoholism, and whether this is creeping into the workplace.
Not only will this protect your workplace and the financial implications linked to alcoholism, but it will also protect the physical and mental health of your employees, colleagues or self.
Negative Impacts Of Alcoholism On Work Performance
Alcohol abuse will damage an individual’s physical and mental health. Yet, how impactful can alcoholism be on the workplace? Drinking on the job or around the workday can incur many negative impacts on the workplace.
Firstly, alcoholism in the workplace can impact work performance. As excess alcohol consumption can cause mental impairment or memory problems, recall and concentration levels will be impacted, along with the inability to complete general tasks. This is concerning in a highly targeted workplace, where a decrease in performance will be highly noticeable.
Secondly, in tandem, a decrease in work performance can result in many financial implications for both the company and individual. For the company, greater spend will be required to cover absentees, insurance, productivity and workplace injuries. For those suffering from alcoholism, sick days will more than likely result in a loss of pay.
Thirdly, without supporting employees through alcoholism, a negative image may be present for a company; not to mention how this will impact others within the workplace. Without a fair policy in place to support those suffering from alcohol abuse or addiction, recruitment, employee retention and company image could take a hit.
Last but not least, health and safety are a high concern of many workplaces when considering alcoholism. If a lack of concentration is present, if an individual is intoxicated or has the inability to complete tasks to standard, the risk of injury or damage is high.
With this in mind, alcoholism in the workplace can be detrimental for all parties. Yet, the way that this is dealt with will impact the above possibilities.
Common Signs of Drinking On The Job
For individuals suffering from alcoholism, alcohol consumption will usually take place the night before work, the morning before entering the workplace or within the workplace itself. Although to the sober mind, this sounds obscure, this is the reality for those with chronic dependencies.
As common alcohol consumption, never mind addiction, can have a large impact on the workplace, it is vital to understand the signs of alcoholism.
- Are employee performance or productivity levels decreasing?
- Are hangovers becoming more common?
- Are employee concentration levels reducing?
- Are more mistakes, accidents or injuries occurring?
- Do employees commonly smell of alcohol?
- Are common withdrawal symptoms shown? Including paranoia, sleep deprivation, slow pupil response, nausea or glossed over eyes?
If any of the above questions resonate or resemble the behaviour of employees, there is a chance that alcohol abuse may be present. Yet, before jumping headfirst and approaching those employees, it is important to be sure that alcohol is consumed around or within the workplace, progressing beyond innocent use.
Supporting Employees Through Rehabilitation
If you believe that an employee is suffering from alcoholism, there are some effective steps you can take to support them. Start by ensuring that a fair workplace policy is in place for mental health issues or behavioural illnesses. Without this step, as an employer, you may not have a leg to stand on. This is also recommended to ensure that a set process is in place to support the workplace.
From here, if you’re comfortable doing so, and already promote an open-door policy in the workplace, sharing your concerns with your employee will be encouraged. However, it is important that you approach this conversation with a sensitive and compassionate approach. Your employee may be experiencing many personal battles, influencing the increased abuse of alcohol. With this in mind, approach your employee by offering support, a listening ear, and a recovery plan.
Whether consent to recovery has been made through the workplace, professional intervention can happen. Here, a referral can be made to our rehab centre for your employee, with the aim to motivate potential addiction treatment. If you’re personally experiencing alcoholism yourself, a personal referral can be made by contacting our team. We can help you work through addiction, away from your workplace, keeping all details confidential.
Addiction Treatment Available for Alcoholism
Here at Rehab Clinics Group, we’ve helped thousands of individuals overcome alcoholism. Whether that’s through a workplace intervention or a personal referral, we’ve experienced it. We are addiction specialists, helping clients recover through comprehensive addiction treatment plans.
With this in mind, if you’re suffering from alcoholism, we can create a tailor-made treatment programme for you, promoting recovery. Likewise, if you’re an employer, we can help your employee work through their addiction, returning back to the workplace, recovered.
Addiction treatments recommended for those suffering from alcoholism include an alcohol detox programme, to work on the physical dependence on alcohol. This is a difficult treatment option to complete yet offers high success rates for clients. From here, it is highly likely that psychological treatment will be required.
Depending on the underlying trigger, causing the initial alcohol abuse, a number of different psychologically driven addiction treatments will be required. Treatment can include anything from therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy, to support groups.
This leading treatment will be completed from one of our alcohol rehab centres, offering clients time away from the workplace to recover. This time is invaluable, helping both the client and employer adjust to the impacts while preparing for a return to the workplace.
For more information on our rehab programmes, location or residential approach to alcoholism recovery, get in touch with our admissions team. Following your guidance, we can keep all details confidential from your workplace, offering privacy and discretion.
Addiction Treatment to Complete Alongside Work
Most rehab centres promote ongoing addiction treatment and support. This can be completed from an alcohol rehab close to your workplace. Depending on your workplace, a policy may be in place to support you internally through ongoing addiction treatment.
Through our recommendations, alcoholics anonymous and support groups will be encouraged on your return to the workplace, helping to keep your alcohol consumption at bay. This is an effective step to complete while returning back to the workplace, previously associated with alcohol abuse.
As an employer, if you’re keen to support your employees through behavioural illnesses, such as alcoholism, workplace support groups will also be encouraged, along with promoting an open-door policy on mental health and addiction.
Reach Out To Our Team If You’re Spotting The Signs of Alcoholism
If you’re concerned that an employee may be living with alcoholism, reach out to our team today for our guidance. Additionally, if alcoholism in the workplace is impacting your company, get in touch for our advice on future policies. It is understandable that you’ll be concerned about the performance of your workplace, along with the safety of your employee.
Likewise, if you’re personally suffering from alcoholism, contact our team today. We can help you through addiction treatment, with the aim to return to your workplace, recovered and ready to work. Start your recovery journey, along with improving your workplace performance and opportunity.
