BLR

1
BLRs Human ResourcesTraining Presentations in
Texas

• Substance Abuse in the Workplace

2
Goals

• Understand that substance abuse is a major
  problem in the workplace
• Recognize the signs of substance abuse
• Know how to deal with abuse problems effectively
  to assist employees while protecting the
  interests of co-workers and the company
• Understand Texas laws governing substance abuse

3
The Scope of the Problem

• Substance abuse is one ofthe most serious
  problems facing employers
• 10 percent of workers have a problem
• Most substance abusers are employed
• Anyone can be a substance abuser

4
The Cost of Substance Abuse

• Substance abuse costs over 50 billion annually
  
• Substance abusers are less productive, lose more
  time from work, and have more accidents
• 40 percent of industrial fatalities are linked
  to substance abuse
• 47 percent of all occupational accidents can be
  attributed to substance abuse
• Substance abuse also leads to theft and crime in
  the workplace

5
Drug-Free Workplace Act

• Written policy
• Awareness program
• Reporting requirements
• Disciplinary action
• Rehabilitation

6
Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988

• Requires
• Notification to employees about policy
• Establishment of drug-free awareness program
• Copy to all employees
• Penalties imposed

7
You Play a Key Role

• Promote awareness of the problem
• Communicate company policy about substance abuse
  in the workplace
• Monitor employee performance
• Refer abusers to professionals for assistance
• Administer appropriate discipline

8
Confidentiality

• Employee privacy requirements
• People in the information loop
• Beneficial effects of confidentiality

9
Documentation

• Documenting performance
• Recording on-the-job incidents
• Recognizing patterns of behavior
• Increasing the possibility of early intervention
• Keeping a record of supporting actions and
  recommendations

10
Detecting Substance Abuse

• Abuse may not be obvious
• Abusers try to hide their problem
• Co-workers may be reluctant to speak up
• Family and friends may be involved in secrecy
  and denial
• Performance monitoring is the key to detection

11
Alcohol Abuse

• Why people abuse alcohol
• Profile of an alcoholic
• Alcoholic progression

12
Early Warning Signs of Alcohol Problems

• Inexplicable fall-off of work efficiency
• Frequent tardiness
• Excessive use of sick days
• Sudden decisions to use vacation time
• Involvement in accidents, near misses, and
  errors

13
Other Early Warning Signs of Alcohol Problems

• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Facial changes
• Mental slowdown
• Heavy use of breath sweeteners

14
Impairment in Social Functioning

• Low tolerance for frustration
• Impulsiveness
• Know it all attitude
• Anxiety
• Oversensitivity

15
Impairment in Social Functioning (cont.)

• Isolation
• Defiance
• Mood swings
• Rationalization
• Dependency

16
Drug Abuse

• Profile of a drug abuser
• Forms of drug abuse
• Safety concerns
• Quality and productivity concerns

17
Early Warning Signs of Drug Abuse

• Otherwise inexplicable changes in performance
• Excessive tardiness and absenteeism
• Increased number of accidents or near misses
• Changes in appearance
• Attitudinal extremes

18
Early Warning Signs of Drug Abuse (cont.)

• Mood swings
• False confidence
• Mental slowdown
• Secrecy

19
Common Drugs in the Workplace

• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Amphetamines (aka speed or uppers)
• Prescription drugs

20
Be Prepared to Act if You Suspect Substance Abuse

• Never ignore a problem
• Talk to the employee privately
• Give the employee an opportunity to respond
• Alert the employee to programs within and outside
  the organization that can help
• Emphasize that employee must meet established
  standards
• Monitor employees performance and behavior

21
How to Handle a Substance Abuse Crisis

• Signs of a crisis
• Call in your manager or another supervisor
• Quietly remove the employee
• Recommend a medical evaluation
• If the employee refuses medical evaluation
• Document the incident

22
Substance Abuse Checklist

• 1. Are you familiar with the companys policies
  regarding the use, possession, or sale of drugs
  or alcohol on the premises? YES NO
• 2. Are you familiar with the terms and
  require-ments of the Drug-Free Workplace Act?
  Does it apply to your company? Have
  youfulfilled your responsibilities in the
  mandated drug-free awareness program? YES NO
• 3. Do you remind your employees about company
  policy on a regular basis (at least once a
  month)? YES NO

23
Substance Abuse Checklist (cont.)

• 4. Do you distribute and post information about
  substance abuse as requested by HR? YES NO
• 5. Do you know how and to whom to refer
  employees with substance abuse problems? YES
  NO
• 6. Do you know what to do in an alcohol- or
  drug-related emergency? YES NO
• 7. Are you familiar with the symptoms of alcohol
  abuse? YES NO

24
Substance Abuse Checklist (cont.)

• 8. Are you familiar with the symptoms of drug
  abuse? YES NO
• 9. Are you aware of the people in your
  depart-ment who are taking prescription drugs
  that might affect their performance? YES NO
• 10. Do you document incidents that might be
  alcohol- or drug-related, including date, time,
  and witnesses? YES NO

25
Substance Abuse Checklist (cont.)

• 11. Do you have those involved in these
  incidents attest to your reports? YES NO
• 12. Do you maintain confidentiality in your
  handling of suspected substance abuse problems
  (except as required by the reporting
  requirements of the law and company policy)? YES
  NO

26
Substance Abuse and Texas Employment Laws

• Texas Commission on Human Rights Act
• ADA
• Workers Compensation

27
Drug-Free Workplace Policy

• Employers covered
• Written substance abuse policy
• Intoxication defined
• Drug testing and rehabilitation not required

28
Drug Testing in Texas

• No comprehensive drug-testing law
• Drug testing and workers compensation
• Refusal to submit to drug test
• Preemployment drug screening

29
Small Business Administration Grants

• Drug-free workplace demonstration program
• Assistance for small businesses in Texas
• Qualifications of consultants
• Program requirements

30
Goals

• Understand that substance abuse is a major
  problem in the workplace
• Recognize the signs of substance abuse
• Know how to deal with abuse problems effectively
  to assist employees while protecting the
  interests of co-workers and the company
• Understand Texas laws governing substance abuse

31
Summary

• Substance abuse is a growing problem that
  threatens the safety, security, and prosperity
  of our company and our employees
• Employees with substance abuse problems may
  become safety and/or performance problems
• Texas employers must take appropriate measures to
  deal with substance abuse

32
Summary (cont.)

• You play an important role in detecting the
  signs of substance abuse, documenting problem
  behavior, and helping employees get professional
  assistance
• You can never afford to ignore a suspected
  substance abuse problem
• Take appropriate action quickly so employees can
  get the help they need, and you can maintain the
  safety and productivity of your company

33
Quiz

• 1. Two of the most common signs of substance
  abuse are frequent ________ and _______.
• 2. Most substance abusers are unemployed. True
  or False
• 3. As many as ____ percent of American workers
  have a substance abuse problem.

34
Quiz (cont.)

• 4. Your role in managing workplace substance
  abuse includes ___________, ___________,
  _____________, _____________, and _____________.
  
• 5. Employee privacy laws require you to keep
  information about an employees substance abuse
  confidential, except for talking to your manager
  and the healthcare professionals involved in
  treating the employee. True or False

35
Quiz (cont.)

• 6. Detecting substance abuse is often difficult
  because _______________.
• 7. When you suspect a substance abuse problem
  based on performance or one of the other warning
  signs, you should take swift action, including
  _____________, _____________, ____________,
  _____________, and _____________.

36
Quiz (cont.)

• 8. In a crisis situation where an employee
  appears to be under the influence and may be
  endangering himself/herself and other employees,
  you should contact your manager immediately and
  quietly remove the employee from the work area.
  True or False
• 9. List three warning signs of substance abuse
  that might apply to either employees with an
  alcohol problem or employees with a drug problem.
  ____________ , ____________, ____________

37
Quiz (cont.)

• 10. Substance abusers frequently blame others
  for their mistakes. True or False

38
Quiz Answers

• 1. Two of the most common signs of substance
  abuse are frequent tardiness and absenteeism.
• 2. False. Most substance abusers are employed.
• 3. As many as 10 percent of American workers
  reportedly have a substance abuse problemand
  this figure is probably on the low side.

39
Quiz Answers (cont.)

• 4. Your role in managing workplace substance
  abuse includes promoting awareness of the
  problem, communicating company policy concerning
  substance abuse, monitoring employee performance,
  referring abusers to professionals for
  assistance, and administering discipline when
  necessary.
• 5. True. Confidentiality is absolutely required.

40
Quiz Answers (cont.)

• 6. Detecting substance abuse is often difficult
  because most abusers try to hide their problem.
  
• 7. When you suspect a substance abuse problem,
  you should talk to the employee privately, give
  the employee an opportunity to respond, alert
  the employee to programs within and outside the
  organization that can help, emphasize that the
  employee must meet established standards, and
  monitor the employees performance and behavior
  carefully.

41
Quiz Answers (cont.)

• 8. True. You should get your manager or another
  supervisor to observe the employee, and if you
  both agree that the employee is under the
  influence and poses a danger, remove the employee
  quietly but immediately from the work area.

42
Quiz Answers (cont.)

• 9. Substance abusers often exhibit (1) weight
  loss (2) facial changes, such as poor skin tone
  and unhealthy color and (3) mental slowdown in
  which normally sharp individuals have difficulty
  grasping simple facts, responding intelligently,
  and communicating clearly.
• 10. True. Substance abusers tend to rationalize
  their problems by blaming others for their
  mistakes and misfortunes.