Employee Assistance Programs, 1

'He was the best employee I ever had. Then, about two years ago, he started drinking. I really can't justify keeping him on the payroll, but I owe it to his wife and kids. In two more years, he can retire and then I will be free of this problem. Besides, if I fired him after this many years on the job, he'd probably sue me and win.'

Sound familiar? Is your business burdened with an impaired employee? Are you enabling this employee to continue in this destructive pattern? Why?

Is it a sense of loyalty or obligation? Is it guilt? Do you feel this employee is harmless? Or is it frustration because you don't know of a way to handle this problem?

Reflect for a second, on your potential additional costs of such an employee in:

'Well, I knew I had a problem, but I hadn't considered the seriousness of it. What can I do without losing my mind from guilt or my business from the legal system?'

In recent years, an entirely new professional service has been developed. Employee Assistance Programs are now gaining in popularity and usage. Many employers, either through in-house personnel or contract services, are providing individual assistance to employees and their families. This assistance helps the employees identify problems and directs them to the proper source for solutions. Problems as diverse as financial, drugs or alcohol, family interaction, etc. can be identified and addressed.

If your employees and their families had better solutions for their problems, wouldn't they be more productive? Is it time for you to consider an Employee Assistance Program for your business?