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An employee in your department seems to be unwell today: they have glossy red eyes, they keep stumbling when walking around the office, and their conversations are filled with slurred words as they become progressively louder and incoherent. You wonder, is the employee sick? on medication? or could they currently be intoxicated?

This is an issue that employers and supervisors typically face in the workplace, and it is not usually outlined in a general handbook. It is not uncommon to have an employee working while under the influence of alcohol. In fact, statistics show that 76.1% of all adult heavy drinkers are employed, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This problem could even become more frequent with the Covid-19 pandemic, as increased stress can contribute to an increased use of alcohol as a coping mechanism.

There is a myriad of negative and costly effects that alcohol misuse in the workplace can bring. That is why it is crucial for employers to be fully aware of the dangers of intoxicated employees. These dangers can affect:

• Workplace Safety
• Work Performance
• The Company’s Image
• The Company’s Expenses

Workplace Safety

Alcohol misuse in the workplace, can endanger intoxicated employees, co-workers, and even clients. Since alcohol impacts reflexes and coordination, the likelihood of an intoxicated worker getting into a workplace accident increased especially in occupations that performing any safety-sensitive task. This is a potential danger for employers. To illustrate, a construction worker operating a jackhammer while being under the influence, could cause a situation to get out of hand very quickly.

Work Performance

Alcohol can greatly alter someone’s perception and abilities to make good– decisions. It is not surprising that using alcohol in the workplace can have serious effects on an employee’s job performance. When employees show up at work intoxicated, the quality of their work suffers. Employees’ efficiency diminishes, mistakes are easily made , and problem-solving abilities are heavily affected.. For example, you have an employee working in construction framing a building; If this employee shows up at work intoxicated, they could make dangerous, even fatal errors.

The Company’s Image

It goes without saying that alcohol use in the workplace could be detrimental to a company’s image. The poor work quality and the unprofessionalism towards customers and clients that could arise when an employee is intoxicated are enough to influence that negative image. Imagine a drunk employee answering a phone call, uttering incomprehensible words, or still worse, being rude to clients or vendors. This could easily make a business lose clients.

The Company’s Expenses

Intoxicated employees can be costly for businesses in the long run. According to the National Drug-Free Workplace Alliance, U.S companies lose billions of dollars each year due to alcohol and drug-related abuse by employees. These expensive consequences can range from reduced productivity, accidents and injuries, lawsuits, and increased medical and insurance claims. Suppose that a commercial truck driver is out for a delivery and is driving under the influence. In this case, the trucking company or employer could potentially be liable for damages related to the accident.

Signs of employee intoxication

How to know if an employee is intoxicated? there are many signs that can easily be detected:

• Bloodshot eyes
• Slurred speech
• Smell of alcohol
• Sleeping on duty
• Impaired mobility and/or poor balance
• Vomiting
• Mood swings or personality changes
• Tremors

If some of these symptoms are present, it does not necessarily mean that an employee is intoxicated in the workplace. The only way to be certain that an employee is intoxicated is by performing a drug and alcohol test.

How to avoid the use of alcohol in the workplace

In order to prevent alcohol misuse in the workplace, it’s important to take into account the following programs:

• Drug and alcohol prevention policy
• Training programs
• Random Workplace drug and alcohol testing
• Health promotion program

Drug and alcohol prevention policy

It is recommended every company have a drug and alcohol policy in place. The purpose is to ensure a safe, productive, and drug-free work environment. This determines the guidelines in which drug and alcohol-related problems are handled in the workplace. The policy can be developed including rules on substance abuse, providing best practices for management and outlining legal procedures that comply with state and federal laws.

For more information on developing a drug and alcohol policy, click here.

Training programs

Employee and supervisor training programs can help establish and maintain a safe, professional work environment. They can also generate awareness around drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace. There are various types of training programs. For example, the Reasonable Suspicion Training teaches employers and supervisors to recognize signs & symptoms of drug use and alcohol misuse in the workplace and how to handle the situation with knowledge and confidence.

Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing

Workplace drug and alcohol testing are commonly used to control and detect substance abuse. For example, a breath alcohol test could be administered to detect alcohol levels after a supervisor suspects an employee is intoxicated. Additionally, consistent, random drug screening could be conducted in the workplace. This can be a successful deterrent for drug and alcohol misuse. Naturally, it is imperative for companies to know when to administer a test as well as determining the best testing method.

According to the World Health Organization, health promotion is the process of enabling people to improve their health. Through health promotion programs such as health education, interventions, and safety initiatives, employers can encourage their workers to improve their mental and physical health. These programs can have a positive impact on productivity and can result in reduced risky behaviors such as alcohol abuse and/or addiction.

Alcohol in the workplace is a liability for any company. Intoxicated employees represent a constant danger to their surroundings. Setting up preventive measures to avoid alcohol abuse is vital for a safe work environment and will mitigate the effects of alcohol abuse in the workplace. If you would like to know more about the options that can be used to prevent alcohol-misuse in your company, please make sure you contact us. At Timely Testing we have multiple years of experience in helping companies throughout Nevada, manage and mitigate alcohol misuse in the workplace.