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Training for Line Managers and Employees
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How to Support Staff with Drug and Alcohol Problems
HOW IS DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE AFFECTING YOUR WORKPLACE?
- Substance misuse costs workplaces an estimated £7bn a year. The cost includes lower productivity through sickness-related absence, inappropriate behaviour, and poor performance, as well as shorter working lives. In the workplace anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol can be a hazard to themselves and others. This can often lead to significant financial, legal and reputational costs for the business.
- Contrary to popular opinion the vast majority of regular drug and alcohol users are in employment.
- 10% of those in employment struggle with addiction – yet only 1 in 5 employers have ever referred a member of staff to specialist treatment and/or rehabilitation services.
- Only a quarter of HR professionals are even aware of ‘smart drugs’ such as Modafanil despite their increasing use in workplaces.
VITAL QUESTIONS FOR YOUR WORKPLACE?
Is your Drug and Alcohol Policy up to date to reflect all the new legislation?
Are your Line Managers trained to identify the signs that one of their team is struggling with addiction?
Is your company at risk of prosecution if an employee causes an accident while under the influence?
How would you effectively support an employee who discloses that they are addicted to cocaine or alcohol?
How long does cannabis stay in the system?
Is your Company Insurance valid without a rigorous Drug and Alcohol Policy?
How do the new ‘Drug Driving’ laws affect your employees?
Where do you stand if an employee drinks alcohol or smokes cannabis while working from home?
We can help you with all of the issues raised by the above questions.
COVID-19 AND WORKPLACES
COVID-19, the related restrictions and the stress and anxiety caused by economic and work insecurity, have already led to an increase in drug and alcohol problems in the U.K. This will undoubtedly have an impact on workplaces and on the health and wellbeing of employees.
Research this year by the drugs charity Release has found that the use of cannabis and anti-anxiety drugs such as Xanax have increased since the pandemic – with social media sites such as Instagram now becoming key sources for purchasing illegal drugs. Similarly, recent research by Drinkaware found that more than a quarter of people working from home said they were drinking more – with many saying that they were having their first drink earlier in the day.
Even before COVID-19 the most recent Crime Survey for England and Wales found that just under 10% of adults had taken an illegal drug in the last year (up from 8.3% in the 2016 survey). Cocaine and cannabis being the two most popular illegal drugs. Dame Carol Black’s independent review into the impact of drug and alcohol addiction on employment outcomes states that ‘around a million adults in this country have some form of alcohol dependence’.
Research by Drinkaware found that 15% of the UK adult population are classed as ‘high-risk drinkers.’ It’s important to state that the vast majority of those regularly using drugs and alcohol are in full time employment.
These are challenging times for many workplaces as they try to support staff who may be struggling with their mental health and in turn self medicating with drugs and alcohol.
We provide effective solutions to the problems you may be facing by encouraging a proactive and preventative approach to these issues.
Solutions For Your Workplace: Training Workshops for Managers and Employees
Workplace Drug and Alcohol Use – Essentials for Managers
This interactive workshop focuses on the latest trends in use, how drugs such as cocaine and cannabis may affect employee’s performance, how to identify the signs of use and how Line Managers can effectively manage the issues in their team.
The session also outlines the key legislation – such as the Misuse of Drugs Act and the recent Drug Driving laws – that employers need to consider mind when developing or updating their Drug and Alcohol Policy.
Understanding Addiction in the Workplace
This important session focuses on how and why addiction develops – and how addiction to substances, like alcohol and cocaine, may negatively impact on an employee’s performance and wellbeing.
The session also outlines the treatment options available for helping employees overcome their addiction and return to work as a fully productive member of the team again.
Policy Awareness Workshop for Employees
This session is tailored to your workplace, the specific issues you may face and the type of Drug and Alcohol policy you have.
It explains to your employees WHY your policy is required and the important safety and legal issues that they need to consider.
The session can also cover the way that particular substances may impact on their abilities to perform their roles effectively. With decades of experience in this field Liam is always able to effectively answer any questions that employees may have.
Solutions For Your Workplace: Consultancy Services
Policy Development
We provide expert advice and consultation on developing your Drug and Alcohol Workplace Policy.
Whether it’s a case of creating a robust and effective new policy document or reviewing your existing policy to ensure that you are legally compliant, minimizing risk and doing all you can to support staff during difficult times.
Supporting Staff With Drug and Alcohol Issues
With provide expert advice on how to offer practical support to support staff who may be struggling with substances or addiction – including sources of outside help such as residential treatment centres, community based addiction services and 12 Step Programmes.
We passionately believe that companies should do everything they can to support a valuable member of staff who may be going through a difficult period. Dismissal may not only be very damaging for the employee, but also financially for the company.
Impartial Advice on Drug Testing
We can help you decide whether drug testing should be part of your approach. Liam provides completely impartial advice on the options, where they may be appropriate and where the inappropriate use may infringe civil liberties and damage staff relations.
If testing is appropriate, then Liam can advise on the pro’s and con’s of alternative methods such as urine, hair and saliva testing.
Contact us today to let us know the solutions that we can provide for your organisation
“Organisations must train line managers so they feel confident to respond appropriately to an employee disclosing a problem with alcohol or drugs, as well as guidance on how to support them to get help. Line managers are best placed to spot early warning signs of drug and alcohol issues, and signpost people to support, but they need to have the training to feel confident and capable to do so effectively.”
CIPD 2020
“Long working hours, remote working, monotonous work, poor supervision and job insecurity have all been identified as key risk factors for the development of drug and alcohol problems by employees.”
The Impact of Drugs and Alcohol on Employment 2016
Liam Watson (MSc, BSC (hons.), PGDip, MBAR)
Liam has been providing expert training and consultancy in the field of substance misuse for over 20 years. In that time he has helped organisations across the UK understand and manage the complex issues around substance misuse in the workplace. As an experienced University Lecturer, Consultant and trainer Liam has the ability to run training, workshops and seminars to engage staff at all levels of your organisation.
Liam firmly believes that issues around drug and alcohol use should be viewed primarily as a wellbeing, rather than a purely disciplinary, issue. He can help your organisation take a proactive and preventative approach to the issue so that drug and alcohol use does not become a serious problem for your organisation or your staff in the first place. His goal is to help your workplace stay safe, support staff who may be struggling and remain legally compliant. Liam has an excellent reputation and appeared on the BBC, ITN and other news outlets over the years discussing substance misuse issues.
Read what previous clients have said about Liam:
Katie Ford, Human Resources Manager, Sofa Workshop, Llantrisant
We were very fortunate to tap into Liam’s knowledge and expertise. We would definitely recommend him to others.
Bill Pitt, Training Manager, Canary Wharf Ltd, London
Liam provided two excellent half day training sessions for our Line Managers and Health and Safety Team. Both groups found the sessions to extremely worthwhile and were discussing the important issues raised in later team meetings.
Angela Griggs, Training Officer, Transport for London
Liam has provided training for TfL over a number of years. We have always been very impressed by both the content of the courses – and his engaging style of delivery.