How does alcohol&drug abuse affect the workplace?
Alcohol and drug abuse by employees, whether or not the abuse actually occurs in the workplace, poses major potential problems for companies of all sizes, in all industries. Employee abuse can negatively affect an employer and co-workers in a number of areas.ProductivityWorkers who are hungover or distracted by a drug problem simply cannot focus on or do their jobs at an optimum level. They are much more likely to be slower, preoccupied and prone to mistakes.AbsenteeismAccording to the American Council for Drug Education, substance abusers are up to “ten times more likely to miss work” than their drug-free counterparts.AccidentsEmployees with drug or alcohol problems tend to be much more accident-prone than their co-workers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration considers drug and alcohol abuse on the job “an avoidable workplace hazard” and strongly recommends that companies adopt educational and participatory anti-abuse programs.CostClaims filed by workers for health, emot
