Catch a drunk? Fire him!
I had a discussion with a colleague the other day about alcoholism. He wondered why companies don't intervene when someone gets a drunk driving conviction or is caught drunk on the job.
Rather than cut ties with that employee and fire him, why not offer the option of immediate treatment, even placement in an inpatient program with intense outpatient followup afterward?
Once through the program, the valued employee could gradually return to work. In that way, the employer would save the person's job, help the person heal and save a valued member of the team.
It seems most companies include the chance to 'seek help' if you feel you're in getting into trouble with gambling, drugs or alcohol. But you've got to do that on your own, before those issues become a problem. But it also seems that addictive behaviors often cause someone to tumble out of control before the person outwardly admits there's a problem. So maybe it would be worthwhile to recognize that tendency. Just something for employers to consider.
By Jeff Hansel, member Association of Health Care Journalists
Health Reporter for the Post-Bulletin newspaper, 18 1st Ave. S.E. in Rochester, Minnesota 55904
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