and they are showing a significantdecrease in profit before they relize they have an employee substance abuse problemon their hands (Loomis). Then they wonder where are they losing all of their money? But by the time employers notice that they are losing money it is often too late to avoida serious employee substance abuse problem. So how can this be avoided? There areseveral options that employers can choose from in order to determine the nature of theproblem and to prevent it before it starts. First of all, supervisors need to be able torecognize the symptoms and tell tale signs of substance abuse by their employees. Signs are easier to recognize when supervisors already have a consistent and reliablemethod to measure the performance of their subordinates (Loomis). Most problemscan easily be recognized by just comparing current performance evaluations with pastor other employee evaluations. Here are some of the general indicators of substanceabuse that you want to be aware of:increased mistakeserrors in judgment suddenly unable to meet deadlines excessive sick leave patterns in absenteeism extended coffee breaks excessive time on the phone Another thing to look out for is the employees behavior and appearance.Sudden changes in these factors could indicate a substance abuse problem. Somesymptoms include:sloppy dress unshaven Page 3sleepiness slurred speech unsteady movementscold, sweaty palms dilated pupils red eyes unusual weight loss or gain smell of alcohol on breath stealing from company violent impatience depression suspicious attitude toward others excessive talkativeness smell of alcohol on breath deteriorating family relationships complaints from customers regarding attitudes and work quality As if this is not enough to worry about, substance-abusing employees are notsafe employees. Employee problems can begin manifesting themselves in workrelated safety records. These employees are usually involved in more work related...
