MAN 05 : DRUG ABUSE IN THE WORKPLACE - STEMMING LOSES, REGAINING PROFITS
DURATION: 5 DAYS
COST: Kshs. 30,000
DATES:
COURSE ABSTRACT:
Most employers not only feel a moral responsibility to their employee's well-being, but to such an extent that they will go the extra mile for them. Often because of extra special abilities or personal ties or fondness, the employer will keep on a member of staff much longer in spite of their evident problems than is prudent.
These employers will try everything they can think of to help this employee who keeps promising that they will pull up their socks and finally when they are sacked the employer cannot be cited for lack intolerance having already gone beyond what is expected.
But since these are alcoholics, problem drinkers and other types of drug addicts or are non-users but are married to, living with or have children who are users, many employers are totally unaware that this is a disease whose symptoms can sometimes be summed up in one word - madness.
What is needed is a true understanding to end genuine and sincere but misguided attempts to help which usually result in failure. Once employers really understand for example what really ails an alcoholic then they can see what part to profitably take to salvage their employee.
But when one looks at the probable alcoholics in your organisation aren't they usually not brilliant, fast-thinking imaginative and likable? When sober, is it not true that they work hard and really get things done? Then ask yourself if they had these qualities and did not drink would they be worth retaining? Should they have the same consideration as other ailing employees? Are they worth salvaging? If your answer is yes then whether for humanitarian or business reasons or both then the need for this workshop and the setting up of an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) cannot be ignored.
The problem of alcohol and other drug use on the reduced performance, morale and productivity of any organisations' staff is well documented and indisputable in western and other developed countries.
But in the developing nations Kenya included the problem of alcoholism is not even understood nor talked about as indeed use of other drugs. The stigma and shame attached to alcoholism and the use of other drugs is so great that most Kenyans prefer not to talk about it but rather keep quiet hoping that it will miraculously go away.
Chemical use, however, cuts through all Kenyan institutions from the home through to government and industries.
Alcoholism is a disease and that treatment interventions can be done by an educated and thus empowered staff, thereby giving an alternative to tragic, wasteful and needless dismissals. By doing this we not only increase the organisation's bottom line, but equally important the family's.
Employers are in a unique position to arrest this situation as they have a lot of clout without realising it. For as someone once said, "Parents beseech, teachers teach and preachers preach, but when the boss says 'get well or get out' the alcoholic or addict looks for help."
COURSE OUTLINE:
1. The world of drugs, classifications and why do we use and abuse them. In this section participants will be introduced to the different types of drugs commonly used and abused in Kenyan society and hence the workplace as well as their classifications and why we continue to use and abuse them.
2. The Problem: Alcohols and other drugs in the workplace. Participants are familiarised with the problems of having chemically impaired employees and how not addressing the issue will mean a constant drain on the company's bottom line.
3. Understanding drug addiction: Through the prism of alcoholism. Participants will be enlightened on drug addiction specifically through looking at alcoholism. This will help understanding the exact nature of the problem being dealt with.
4. Dealing with denial. There is denial from the individual that they had a problem as well as from their families. Yet the most damaging denial for organizations is managerial denial. What is it and how to get past it.
5. Getting started. Preparing your organization for the implementation of alcohol and other drug use policies
6. Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs). What are EAPs and what preparations are needed to set them up?
7. Training the core team. Who is eligible and what is involved in training this team who will in essence set the ball rolling
TARGET AUDIENCE:
CEO's, Directors, Senior Managers, Finance Managers, Human Resource Managers, Personnel Department Heads/Staff, Head Teachers, Supervisors
INSTRUCTORS:
Mr. David Ogot Snr. Founder/Programmes Director goinghomedotcom Trust.
