Compulsive gambling is a serious problem of which employers should be aware. Alcohol and drug addiction affects about 10 percent of the population and compulsive gambling affects 2 percent to 4 percent.
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Download NowA related statistic from the American Psychological Association finds that for drug and alcohol dependent individuals, the incidence of problem gambling is doubled.
Bensinger, DuPont & Associates (BDA), a Chicago-based provider of employee assistance programs and operator of problem gambling help lines, reports that during a 1-month period, March 2006, 66 percent of callers to the Employee Assistance Program said that employees gamble in their workplace. BDA also reported that close to half (48 percent) of the callers said that gambling negatively impacts their workplace productivity.
Problem Gambling Signs
Here are some of the signs of problem gambling shared by BDA of which you, as an HR professional, shouldbe aware if you see them in your employees:
- Preoccupation with gambling (remembering past gambling experiences or thinking of ways to gamble)
- Needing to gamble, with the amounts of money escalating to achieve a desired level of excitement
- Lying to conceal involvement in gambling
- Suggestions by others that the person might have a gambling problem
- Requesting pay in lieu of vacation time
- Borrowing money and arguing about money with co-workers about money that is owed to them
- Complaining about debt
- Experiencing mood swings, often related to winning and losing streaks
Steps to Take
Whether or not you think your company has problem gamblers in the workforce, there are steps you can take to help prevent compulsive gambling, according to BDA. First, you can create a workplace gambling policy and communicate it to all employees so they know what activities are prohibited.
Next, you can provide education to managers and employees so they can better understand the warning signs of problem gambling.
Finally, you can make problem gambling counseling available to employees who need it, or provide access to outside resources that can offer the help that employees might need.
For more information regarding the issue of problem gambling and resources that can assist problem gamblers, visit the National Council on Problem Gambling at www.ncpgambling.org or the BDA website at www.bensingerdupont.com and click on "Services" in
the menu.