HOW TO HANDLE AN EMPLOYEE WITH A GAMBLING PROBLEM
Compulsive gambling affects any kind of gambler and all for different reasons. Sometimes someone you least expect may be suffering from compulsive gambling. You can learn more on this issue over at Spinathon. We hear stories of the high-rollers of Vegas and imagine that it’s only those types of people that gamble, but in fact it is not. Your friends, bartender, boss, etc. could be the compulsive gambler in your life. What happens if you are the boss and have come to know about a compulsive gambler at your workplace? This article will guide employers on what to do with an employee with a gambling problem.
There are various signs that will lead you to suspect that your employee may be having a problem with compulsive gambling. These include;
-Mishandling time
Employees with compulsive gambling problems will come into work late repeatedly. While they are there, you may spot them frantically scoping newspapers/ gambling sites instead of focusing on the work at hand. Spending excessive time on the work telephone or internet is also a major red flag. They also tend to take longer lunch breaks than usual or leave work earlier. These employees also take unpredictable sick leave patterns.
-Lack of productivity
An employee who is busy focusing on the next gambling session or the last won’t be very productive at the workplace. He/she gets agitated now and then- probably the impatience of waiting to clock out, so they can go gamble. This also goes hand in hand with lack of concentration. Because of the services, the employee may begin to deliver incomplete work, forget to carry out certain tasks and soon.
-Misusing finances
When a gambler makes it to a point where they need to borrow money to gamble, that’s when you know they are in deep. If they fail to get money from friends and family, the next alternative may be their employer.
This type of employee asks for a raise frequently and borrows money from his workmates. Another sign of problem gambling is hearing that your employee is receiving calls at work from companies chasing payment. You may also notice your employee covering extra shifts even though they are clearly physically and mentally exhausted.
– Misusing finances for criminal purposes
If you ignore the mild signs, you might end up dealing with bigger problems like an employee embezzling funds, so he/she can gamble. This has happened several times before. Some employees have successfully stolen company money, lived the high-roller life in Vegas and gambled the money away. As glamorous as the story sounds, ultimately the employee was reported by a colleague and arrested.
How to deal with it
-Approach them: A supervisor should do this in the most supportive manner possible. The last thing you want to do is make them feel attacked. You should explain problem gambling resources you are willing to offer to help.
-No judgement
Make sure you reiterate that you are doing this out of nothing, but concern. You need to also approach them calmly in a safe environment. Pin pointing them could raise suspicions at the workplace which is likely to make them feel uncomfortable working with others. It’s like everyone knows your dirty secret.
-It’s all business
A great employer is genuinely concerned about his/her employee’s state of mind, but at the end of the day this is a business and the reality is that they need to perform. Give them time off and assure them that if they don’t come back better, the job is off the table.
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