Advice to Slough employers about drink and drug abuse
Slough Borough Council’s DAAT (Drugs and Alcohol Action Team) are holding a drug and health awareness session at TVU for employers and employees in Slough about the effects drink and drugs can have in the workplace.
It will also raise awareness on workplace policies, including exploring the employer’s responsibility towards the care of their staff.
DAAT believe that substance and alcohol misuse should be considered as another health problem and that support should be provided to employees to seek treatment.
The impact for the employer could include loss of productivity, absenteeism and poor quality of work from staff as well as other costs such as disciplinary actions, legal actions and health and safety implications.
Jatinder Matharu, Slough DAAT programmes coordinator, said: “We are hosting a number of health workshops during March at local businesses with a view to supporting them in 2007/08 to develop drug and alcohol workplace policies.
“Sometimes people forget many professionals get caught in the cycle of drink and drug abuse, especially if they have a very stressful job.
“With our workshops, we hope to bring awareness to employers so they can detect any signs of substance or alcohol abuse and offer their staff help and advice.”
Cllr Sean Wright, Slough commissioner for community safety, added: “It is really important that employers know how to recognise signs of drink or drug addictions within their staff and how to help them.
“The DAAT team are experts at being able to advise people on how to seek professional help for others.”
Slough Borough Council