Work organisational stressors and substance abuse: the role of employee assistance programmes

Abstract

The institution’s responses to workers’ needs are of utmost importance to a healthy work setting. Pressures originating from numerous aspects in the work environment can produce undue strain and undesired responses for the employees. Occupational stress has been related with extreme weights and absence of support which has an unfavourable consequence on overall wellness of workers. The disproportionate high job demands and uncooperative work setting result to a considerable reduction in life and job unfulfillment. Individuals are unique, they react to stress andutilise coping methods in a different manner such as the use of substance which is considered a dysfunctional coping strategy. An example of maladaptive measure used by some employees to help mitigate work-related stress is the abuse of alcohol and other addictive substances. Alcohol and drugs are addictive and harmful to a person’s wellbeing if overused. Drugs and substance abuse is of a main alarm at a workplace. As it is the case in other countries, the abuse of drugs and other substances is also prevalent within the South African workforce, and it is recognised as a temporary coping method by some employees. The effects of employee substance abuse can be far-reaching for any work organisation and employees themselves (namely, absenteeism, possible poor employee relations and job-loss, risks of injuries and damage of organizational property). This conceptual paper argues that social workers through work organisational initiatives, such as employee assistance programs (EAP) and related labour relations policy activities play effective roles to mitigate the challenge of employee substance problem. For organisation to manage substance abuse problems, The paper draws from literature that organisational administration, culture and policies, salaries, and collegial support are of importance in a work environment as it can either positively or negatively influence the employees. Such work organizations will, therefore, ensurethat they have in place institutional interventive measures such as EAPs in place.