Friends in high places (addictions)

Citation

Orton-Jones, C. (2008), "Friends in high places (addictions)", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 16 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/hrmid.2008.04416fad.008

Friends in high places (addictions)

Article Type: Abstracts From: Human Resource Management International Digest, Volume 16, Issue 6

Orton-JonesC.Financial Management (UK), March 2008, Start page: 20, No. of pages: 4

Purpose – Looks at the employment problems arising from addiction. Design/methodology/approach – Asserts that in London, 25 percent of adults are harmful users of alcohol and 1 percent harmful drug users, and quotes statistics to show that the problems are increasing. Admits that most firms do not have proactive policies on substance abuse, urges employers to make it a sackable offence and describes the workplace drugs tests offered by one provider. Summarizes the names, dangers and symptoms of some common drugs and the legal penalties for using them. Notes that although almost half of UK human resources managers think that obesity harms productivity, and obese employees are protected by the Disability Discrimination Act, two-thirds believe that their organizations do not discuss this topic enough. Originality/value – Alerts readers to the need for policies to tackle substance abuse and obesity. ISSN: 1471-9185 Reference: 37AH105

Keywords: Employee behavior, Drugs, Alcoholic drinks, Obesity, Corporate strategy, United Kingdom