Benefits of Constructive Confrontation for DOT Supervisors

Confrontation is the supervisor playing the appropriate role of confronting the employee with documented evidence of job performance problems and motivating the employee to use the EAP before disciplinary action becomes necessary. Constructive confrontation works because almost all employees are fearful of job loss. This confrontation is not the act of diagnosing the employee. Instead, the employee is referred to EAP solely upon job performance problems that may be ongoing. Although supervisors will be confronting employees, no discussion should be made of the possible alcohol or drug problem. If discussion arises the employee is referred to the EAP.