The most valuable resource of any company, large or small, is its people.
Without healthy, productive, capable employees, no business can remain competitive and profitable.

Compulsive addictions can dramatically affect an employee’s ability to contribute to your company’s success. In economic terms, an addiction can lead to a drop in productivity, reduced product quality, increased absenteeism, and higher health care costs. In human terms, an addiction can lead to failed marriages, broken homes, severe emotional problems, and even death. Depending on the nature of the individual’s work, public safety can be jeopardized.

Because an addiction impacts every facet of a person’s life, the problem must be addressed at many different levels, including the place of employment. Viva Consulting allows employers to offer a comprehensive program of evaluation, treatment, counselling and support for employees and their families.

Viva Consulting was established in 1998 to help persons with addictions lead comfortable and productive lives without the use of mood-altering drugs or compulsive behaviors. We achieve this goal by providing a variety of educational programs, and counselling services designed to help our clients as well as their families and employers.

1. The most frequent addiction in the workplace today is:
   a) Marijuana
   b) Alcohol
   c) Gambling
   d) Cocaine
   e) Heroin
   
   
2. When a person has an addiction, the likelihood of him or her having an accident on the job:
   a) Increases by two times
   b) Does not increase
   c) Increases by four times
   d) Decreases
   
   
3. Continued addiction by an employee can cause:
   a) Loss of family and friends
   b) Loss of the job
   c) Endangerment of other employees
   d) Loss of personal health and possible death
   e) All of the above
   
   
4. In a responsible company, if an individual admits a drug or gambling problem to a supervisor, he or she will most likely:
   a) Be fired on the spot
   b) Be referred to an Employee Assistance Program
   c) Be subject to instant arrest and incarceration
   d) Not lose his or her job
   e) b and d
   
   
5. If a person decides to get help through an Employee Assistance Program, the problem will:
   a) Be kept strictly confidential
   b) Be shared with his or her supervisor and others in management
   c) Probably lead to termination
   d) Never be solved
   
   
6. Addiction affects everyone in the workplace because of
   a) Added stress in the workplace
   b) Increased productivity
   c) Increased risk of injury
   d) Added job security
   e) a and c
   
   

If you have never thought about these issues before, you may be missing important signals that there is a problem. This is especially likely if it is a hidden addiction, such as gambling.

Six possible symptoms of addiction in the workplace:

1. Change in work attendance or performance
2. Alteration of personal appearance
   
3. Mood swings or attitude changes
   
4. Withdrawal from responsibility
   
5. Unusual patterns of behavior
   
6. Defensive attitude concerning the object of addiction
   

If you have reason to believe an employee is having a problem with alcohol, drugs, gambling or other compulsive behaviors, contact Viva Consulting for more information.

Learn how you can avoid costly problems before they hurt your company.