THE COST OF EMPLOYEE ADDICTION

Leading Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) providers CiC (www.cic-eap.co.uk )are urging companies to face up to the harsh reality of addiction in the workplace. A seminar on Wednesday 8th November addressed the cost of employee addiction and exposed truths that have been remained hidden for far too long.

Addiction can take on many forms from alcohol and drugs to sex, gambling or food addiction. Such issues can affect individuals and colleagues, directly or indirectly, at all levels of an organisation. It can be potentially devastating both in human and financial terms. Recent studies reviewed by CiC highlight many worrying trends:

• 1 in 5 employees have existing or potential alcohol or other drug problems
• Around 10% of accidents in the workplace are alcohol related
• Up to 14 million working days are lost due to alcohol related absenteeism each year, nationwide across all sectors
• The annual cost to industry of alcohol misuse has been estimated at £6.4 billion and that of drug misuse at £800 million

The keynote speaker at the seminar was esteemed psychologist Tony Buon. Buon has over 20 years experience consulting with many of the world’s leading organisations on alcohol and other drug problems. He has developed programmes and policies for over 200 multi-national corporations and consulted with governments in twenty countries. Alongside Buon, Kirby Gregory, Head of Treatment Services at Clouds House was also speaking. Gregory is a Psychotherapist and has worked with Clouds House* since 1999 as a counsellor, supervisor and manager in the filed of addiction. Both speakers highlighted the dangers of employee addiction, and explained proven strategies to assist employees and managers in dealing with issues in the workplace.

Although addiction is becoming an increasing concern, the inability to recognise the symptoms and to acknowledge that the use of some addictive substances such as alcohol, which in other places and in moderation is both socially acceptable and part of many peoples lives, can become a life threatening problem has often prevented effective engagement with the problem. The social ambivalence around some drugs and styles of behaviour makes this an especially difficult issue to address. CiC believes that the question must be brought out of the closet and not left as a subject of jokes and embarrassed neglect. Ignoring it because it is too difficult or embarrassing an issue is no longer acceptable. Added to which the lack of knowledge of how best to resolve addiction problems renders many organisations incapable of addressing the issue. Consequently, CiC have recently launched their addiction support service in association with Clouds House to encourage organisations to implement strategies to cater for the psychological needs of employees and managers. The service provides a range of support mechanisms from assisting a company in developing a drug and alcohol policy, to workplace testing / assessment and a confidential helpline / face to face counselling. Training for managers on how to recognise the symptoms of addiction and the ways in which they can offer support and guidance to employees are further examples of support methods recommended by CiC.

The severity of addictions in the workplace should not be underestimated, but more importantly, it must be made known that an employee can be helped at any stage as long as treatment resources are available. Employing such strategies will not only save the company money and resources but it will also improve the image of the company in the eyes of their workforce. With addiction issues becoming more prevalent in the modern workplace can companies really afford to turn a blind eye and risk adding to the already alarming statistics?

Notes to Editor:

* Clouds House specialises in alcohol and drug addiction, providing a centre of excellence for addicted people and their families. For further information: www.clouds.org.uk

CiC was founded in 1988 and works with leading companies both in the UK and overseas to optimise staff support, training and performance. CiC was the first Employee Assistance Programme provider to be audited against the professional standards of the Employee Assistance Programmes Association. CiC currently offers programmes to over 250,000 individuals throughout the public, private and voluntary sectors, with a range of services including Employee Assistance Programmes, Learning & Development Programmes, Change Consulting, Coaching, Crisis Management and Critical Incident Support.