The Effects of Addiction on Attendance in the Workplace

Attendance and availability are time-tested measures for identifying troubled employees and should be monitored by supervisors. Alcohol and drug addictions affect an employee's ability to get to work on time due to their uncontrollable effects. As a drug or alcohol problem worsens, employees will take greater liberties to be away from the worksite reasoning that it won't be noticed, won't matter, or that circumstances will minimize the obvious absence. Employees with alcohol and/or drug problems are absent three times more than other employees.