Addiction can affect anyone, and with drug abuse rampant in the United States, these problems inevitably manifest themselves in the workplace.
About 19 percent of American workers struggle with drug or alcohol abuse themselves, according to a new report from Pelago Health, a virtual drug management clinic. That’s about 32 million workers across the country. And when they’re not battling their own addiction, many workers have the problem at home — about 35 percent of U.S. employees say they worry about drug and alcohol use in themselves or family members.
“This is a very hidden problem because it is stigmatized. Nobody wants to be labeled an alcoholic,” says Yusuf Sherwani, co-founder and CEO of Pelago. Assets. “Even if it doesn’t affect (a manager’s) direct reports, if it affects a family member, it impacts the employee’s work schedule and the way they dedicate themselves to their work. Because something so important is happening in their family.”
Employees who struggle with substance abuse problems are also more likely to have mental health problems. Overall, around 49% of all U.S. employees report suffering from anxiety, depression or other mental health problems. For employees who have personal drug or alcohol problems, this number rises to 62%, according to the study.
In addition to caring for the mental and physical well-being of their employees, employers must also address this issue for business reasons. Substance abuse is closely linked to workplace attendance. 42% of employees who struggle with alcohol or drug addiction say they miss work because of this problem, the report says. Although over half of U.S. employees say employer support for substance abuse issues is important, only 14% say they take advantage of one of these benefits.
Not only should employees have access to alcohol and drug abuse treatment, but it should also be preventative and holistic, says Louisa Benedicto, SVP of DEI and corporate social responsibility at Hays America, a staffing company. Assets. she says Employers should educate their workforce about substance abuse to combat stigma and create resource groups for employees who are struggling. She also recommends that companies offer voluntary mental health training to their employees to make it easier for them to address issues like addiction with their coworkers.
If meaningful initiatives are implemented effectively, Sherwani says, the payoff will be huge. “When you add in employee retention, job satisfaction, safety and the high cost of healthcare, it becomes clear to CHROs that this is a care gap that needs to be filled,” he says.
Emma Burleigh
[email protected]
Around the table
A summary of the most important HR headlines.
Bank of America employees reported that their managers often ignored company policies on work-life balance and pressured their employees to work overtime. Wall Street Journal
Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz will speak at a convention of one of the largest public sector unions in the United States, reaffirming his commitment to organized labor. Washington Post
Generation Z and Millennial women are fed up with the nine-to-five job and are trying to work their way out of it and achieve financial freedom through investing. Business Insider
Water cooler
Everything you need to know about Assets.
Cheat sheet. Goldman Sachs’ internship program is extremely competitive, less than 1% of applicants make it. Here you can find out what questions the company asks candidates during the application process. —Orianna Rosa Royle
Slow. A Federal Reserve governor says inflation is still “uncomfortably high,” dampening a rate cut despite rising unemployment. —Christopher Condon, Bloomberg
Crackdown in the IT sector. A Nashville man has been charged with Running a “laptop farm” from homewhich allegedly places North Korean workers in US and British IT jobs. —Amanda Gerut
