Essay about Alcoholism in the Workplace - 1364 Words

Alcoholism in the Workplace In the United States, 17.6 million people – about one in every 12 adults, abuse alcohol or are alcohol dependent. (NIH: National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2012) The Mayo Clinic defines alcoholism as a chronic disease in which your body becomes dependent on alcohol (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2010), and indicates that more than 100,000 Americans die annually from alcohol related causes (Johnson) . Aside from the physical problems that alcohol addiction can create, there are frequently emotional and social complications. Alcoholism is a disease that harms not only the alcoholic, but also the co-workers and family of the alcoholic. Society has given us stereotypical images of the alcoholic. Some of†¦show more content†¦In addition to dinner, the menu included an open bar. What originally started out to be an innocent and business appropriate function turned into a wild free-for-all that lasted into the late hours of the night, and behaviors erupted that should never occur in any business relationship. The following morning, a large percentage of those in attendance at the party were absent from work, and many of those who did show up were tardy and ill, incapable of performing their duties. Productivity was significantly decreased for the entire day, and for some, even into the following day. In light of that single event, the practice of â€Å"open bar† social gatherings between the financial office and the dealerships was abolished. It is not surprising to note that according to the United States Office of Personnel Management, the rate of absenteeism is estimated to be 4 to 8 times grea ter among alcoholics and alcohol abusers (LEtoile, 2011) . Furthermore, the rate of on the job accidents and injuries is likely to increase due to the use of alcohol. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, between 10 and 20 percent of workers who die on the job test positive for alcohol or other drugs, and cites construction, mining, and manufacturing – some of the industries which are already at a high risk for occupationalShow MoreRelated Alcoholism Essay1075 Words   |  5 Pages Alcoholism, or alcohol dependence, is a chronic disease, which is common in our world today. In the United States, 1 in every 13 adults is either an abuser of alcohol or an alcoholic. This disease includes a craving from the victim in spite of any problems or consequences, which they may have or have had. Consequences of this disease are often very severe; for example, job problems frequently arise. 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