Everyone is well aware that drinking and driving is a dangerous combination, but drinking or using drugs in the workplace is equally hazardous. Impaired workers might not be able to concentrate on the task at hand, and depending on the job, an error could cause injury or even death to the worker or a co-worker.
All employees share responsibility for workplace safety. If you know a co-worker is impaired on the job, report the condition to a supervisor immediately. If you choose to look the other way, you could be putting yourself or others at risk. Your supervisor can assist the employee in finding a company-sponsored or community-based treatment plan. Many employers maintain a Drug-Free Workplace program.
Key Points to Consider
- Difficulty in job performance can be caused by unrecognized personal problems, including addiction to alcohol or other drugs.
- Help is always available to any employee who is struggling with substance abuse.
- It is an employee’s responsibility to decide whether or not to seek help.
- Addiction is both treatable and reversible.
- An employee’s decision to seek help is private and will not be made public.
Employee Assistance Plan (EAP)
If your company offers an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) and you or a co-worker seeks help through the plan, you can be assured that:
- Conversations with an EAP professional or other referral agent are private and protected.
- All information related to performance issues will be maintained in the personnel file, but data relating to treatment referrals will be kept separately.
- Information about treatment for mental illness or addiction is not public record and cannot be shared without a release signed by the employee.
- If an employee chooses to tell co-workers about his or her private concerns, that is the employee’s decision.
- When an employee tells a supervisor something in confidence, supervisors are required to protect that disclosure.
EAPs can coordinate with community treatment providers or insurance resources such as Substance abuse clinics (outpatient) insurance to help employees access care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I suspect a co-worker is impaired at work?
Report your concern to a supervisor or HR immediately so the situation can be assessed and addressed safely.
Will seeking help through an EAP affect my employment record?
Information about treatment referrals is kept separate from performance records and is protected, but performance issues are handled through normal personnel processes.
Is substance use in the workplace treated the same as other medical conditions?
Substance use disorder is considered a medical condition, and employees are often eligible for confidential support and treatment through EAPs or health plans.