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Serious topic...addiction

I haven't been on since my wedding, but I have something thats troubling me and I wanted to get a prespective from people that are completely removed from a situation. 

 It appears that one of my cw has been smelling of alcohol, using cruder than normal language, taking more 'talking breaks' and is overall acting differently.  My coworkers and I have told our supervisors (although there are no hr people in our office).  We're concerned for our cw...and the cw's kids.

What should I do?  Logic tells me that my cw will only change if they want to change.  But I would feel horrible if something happened to the cw's kid b/c of the alcohol addiction. 

thoughts??? thanks (sorry to be a debbie downer)

Re: Serious topic...addiction

  • first of all it is a tough situation to be in for sure. i have been a few work situations like this that is pretty sad when i come to think of it. Most recently it was someone who I worked with directly. She was actually hiding her vodka in the bathroom and also at the starbucks in row of stores bellow our building. she would put it in her coffee and gosh did it smell. they had to let her go because she was really coming unglued and then had to get a restraining order because she made threats. Another time I worked with a girl who had kids. She finally realized she hit rock bottom when she passed out at the pool with her two small children and they couldnt wake her. It is tricky with coworkers for sure because they are not friend or family but you certainly care about them. Is your direct supervisor aware of the situation? I would make sure that you personally don't cross any HR lines by saying she has an issue. That is the worst thing that you could do. So my suggestion get a boss involved if HR cant be involved. protect yourself :) 
  • imagecathnator:

    I haven't been on since my wedding, but I have something thats troubling me and I wanted to get a prespective from people that are completely removed from a situation. 

     It appears that one of my cw has been smelling of alcohol, using cruder than normal language, taking more 'talking breaks' and is overall acting differently.  My coworkers and I have told our supervisors (although there are no hr people in our office).  We're concerned for our cw...and the cw's kids.

    What should I do?  Logic tells me that my cw will only change if they want to change.  But I would feel horrible if something happened to the cw's kid b/c of the alcohol addiction. 

    thoughts??? thanks (sorry to be a debbie downer)

    although there are no hr people in our office

    Are they located in another location?  You should contact them and notify them of your concern. Then be done with it. You can offer your support of the cw, but I would not confront him/her directly about it especially b/c this is in the workplace.

    my cw will only change if they want to change

    You are absolutely correct. You cannot make this cw change, even though there is a child or loved one that is affected by their drinking. 

    Alcoholism is a terrible disease, and can linger for years. There are probably more "functional" alcoholics out there than you can imagine. If they have a job, or a steady responsibility, then they convince themselves that there is no way they have a problem.

  • imageerbur78:
    imagecathnator:

    I haven't been on since my wedding, but I have something thats troubling me and I wanted to get a prespective from people that are completely removed from a situation. 

     It appears that one of my cw has been smelling of alcohol, using cruder than normal language, taking more 'talking breaks' and is overall acting differently.  My coworkers and I have told our supervisors (although there are no hr people in our office).  We're concerned for our cw...and the cw's kids.

    What should I do?  Logic tells me that my cw will only change if they want to change.  But I would feel horrible if something happened to the cw's kid b/c of the alcohol addiction. 

    thoughts??? thanks (sorry to be a debbie downer)

    although there are no hr people in our office

    Are they located in another location?  You should contact them and notify them of your concern. Then be done with it. You can offer your support of the cw, but I would not confront him/her directly about it especially b/c this is in the workplace.

    my cw will only change if they want to change

    You are absolutely correct. You cannot make this cw change, even though there is a child or loved one that is affected by their drinking. 

    Alcoholism is a terrible disease, and can linger for years. There are probably more "functional" alcoholics out there than you can imagine. If they have a job, or a steady responsibility, then they convince themselves that there is no way they have a problem.

    I have to agree, there's not much you can do aside from talking to HR.  If your management is already aware of it they should be talking to the HR dept.  If there is no HR dept I would think the manager would need to sit down and talk to her and say that they have noticed that her drinking seems to be affecting her work and offer her support, like time off to enter a treatment program.  If she declines there's not much your work can do other than fire her if her alcoholism is causing her to not be able to do her job.   

    LilySlim Weight loss tickers
  • i had a boss at a former place of employment that my coworker and i thought might have been an alcoholic but there was no way to prove it so we didn't say anything. 
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