Alcohol & Drug Issues In The Workplace

When a corporation is faced with the realization that they have an executive with an alcohol* problem, they have three options and two don’t work.

First, they may choose to ignore the problem, do nothing, and hope it will either rectify itself or at least not worsen. Without proper treatment, alcoholism, like any chronic, progressive illness will not just go away and will not remain status quo. If the company chooses to do nothing, there may be serious consequences.

For example, an alcoholic executive may…

• At best, work at about sixty-percent of their ability;
   
• Be late or absent from work, and miss more meetings than others;
   
• Prevail upon others, often underlings, to do their work, “cover” and even lie for them;
   
• Have excessive personal problems, resulting in numerous, distracting telephone calls from creditors, attorneys, upset spouses and children, significant others or even the police;
   
• Take long lunches and return unable to function;
   
• Damage public relations and hurt company image;
   
• Be a high security risk. "Loose lips sink ships" and, corporations! An employee under-the-influence of alcohol may reveal compromising information and is likely prey for an "information ambush;"
   
• Return from lunch impaired and act or speak inappropriately to a co-worker. This subjects the company to the risk of harassment charges, not uncommon in today’s litigious society;
   
• Enter the company into an unprofitable contract costing the company severe losses.

Secondly, they may decide to dismiss the person. This option may eliminate the immediate problem but can generate other problems.

A fired alcoholic executive may…

• Be responsible for other impaired employees hiding their problems;
• Enter suit against the company for a wrongful dismissal;
• Bad-mouth the company;
• Divulge sensitive information to competitors;
• Cost the company time and money as they search, find, hire and train a replacement.

Finally, when viewed from all sides, helping an executive with an alcohol problem is very smart business. It works and everyone wins.

Thankfully, a "helped" alcoholic executive may…

• Return to work more effective and productive than ever;
• Have a strong sense of loyalty and devotion to the company that helped when he or she was down;
• Be an excellent resource for helping other impaired colleagues;
• Be living proof to others that the company does care.

Who knows, it may even save a life!

* The words alcohol, alcoholic, and alcoholism are used to encompass all drug-addictions.