How to Detect Alcoholism at Work

Alcoholism affects every aspect of life, both personal and professional. While a manager or coworker isn't necessarily obligated to step in if there is an alcoholic in the office, the disease can create problems that affect the entire business. Alcoholics are rarely forthcoming about their addiction while in the throes of it--and some may be in denial--so it's important to look for signs. Once you detect it, you can determine an appropriate way to intervene (or fire the employee if necessary).

Instructions

• 1

  Look for issues surrounding attendance. Alcoholism impairs the ability to meet certain responsibilities. Simply put, you can't get to work on time if you're sleeping off a bender. Look for frequent absences or sudden use of sick leave, especially absences that come without explanation. There may be a rash of "emergencies" that the employee cannot justify adequately, or she may simply not show up. In particular, look for patterns of absences, such as not showing up on Mondays or Fridays, or an absence the day after pay day. At work, an alcoholic might disappear from her desk for lengthy periods--again, sometimes with only the barest pretense of an excuse.

• 2

  Watch for deteriorating workplace behavior. High-functioning alcoholics can often disguise the fact that they're drunk, but if signs of inebriation appear at work, it may be time to step in. The employee may show bloodshot eyes, have difficulty walking, become sweaty or shaky, or be found sleeping at his desk. You may be able to detect the smell of alcohol around him or notice that he uses a lot of breath mints or mouthwash. His physical appearance may suffer from a lack of grooming or cleaning, grubbier clothes and the like. Most importantly, his overall demeanor and relationship with his coworkers may begin to deteriorate. He may lose his temper easily or pick fights with coworkers more readily. Look for snappish or ill-tempered behavior early in the morning or on Mondays after the weekend.

• 3

  Monitor the employee's work for a deteriorating performance. The employee may begin missing deadlines and prove incapable of finishing tasks he once performed with aplomb. There may be mistakes in the work he does complete, or an overall "sloppiness" of performance. When confronted with such problems, he may offer a number of excuses or become excessively defensive. Keep an eye out for increased accidents, particularly if your workplace involves heavy machinery and other such hazards. Alcoholics are more than three times as likely as others to be involved in on-the-job accidents.