Lost productivity due to alcohol use costs the UK economy more than £7 billion each year.
For those who employ, supervise, oversee, and rely upon, good quality, committed staff, the impact of alcohol on the workforce can become all too familiar. The combination of absenteeism, due to overindulgence the night before, presenteeism, when staff may be present in body but not in mind and spirit, as well as chronic illness as a result of long term over consumption, can have a major impact on businesses. And good news, the World Cup is just around the corner!
40% of employers mention alcohol as a significant cause of low productivity. More than 25 million adults in England regularly drink alcohol and, unlike the use of illicit drugs, most hazardous or harmful drinkers are likely to be in employment. It is by no means uncommon for dependent drinkers to be highflyers and high achievers. This means the effects of overconsumption of alcohol are often felt in the workplace and seen in your bottom line. It also means that the workplace can be a good place to help people identify alcohol problems and to overcome them.
Is it better; more productive, more cost effective, more ethical, to invest in the mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing of staff, rather than go through the process of performance management, disciplinaries, dismissal and recruitment?
For example, have you been concerned about an employee routinely arriving late or leaving early, being late or absent after lunch, making frequent or long trips to the bathroom, taking frequent sick days or having unexplained absences? Have you experienced staff who have a decline in productivity or hours worked, who overreact to criticism or blame others for mistakes, show mood swings, are irritable and unpredictable or show signs of depression and anxiety? You may even see staff who are clearly under the influence or smell of alcohol in the office. Other red flags include client complaints about performance, accessibility and communication or a gradual deterioration in appearance, personal hygiene, or general health.
Any of these might be caused by other things, but if several of these are present, we encourage you to speak with a professional to ask for further assessment.
Gladstones Clinics’ residential rehab programmes are designed to place equal emphasis on physical health, mental well-being, and emotional connection. It is our belief that alcohol misuse is merely a symptom of a deeper unresolved and underlying issue. Getting to the original root of the problem and healing the wound, offers the best chance of permanent recovery from the cycle of alcohol misuse. Gladstones takes pride in being flexible in our approach to treating drug, alcohol, and behavioural addictions. We work with Health Insurers: BUPA, AXA, Cigna, and WPA.
If you think we can be of assistance, or you would like to know more, please contact us for a confidential chat on freephone 0808 258 2350.
Gladstones operates addiction rehabilitation and recovery clinics throughout the West Country, covering Cotswolds, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire as well as London and the home counties. All of our clinics follow the same treatment model and non 12-step philosophy.
Research published by Alcohol Change UK
