A new survey has found that 1 in 3 employees (34%) admit to either using or witnessing substance use or addictive behaviours during working hours.
Another 57% say they have struggled with some form of addiction, including:
- Alcohol (cited by 15%)
- Gambling (14%)
- Recreational drugs (7%)
Others report addictions to social media, prescription medication and cryptocurrency trading.
The study, compiled by Bupa, surveyed 1,503 employees and 1500 employers.
Of those who have battled addiction, 48% said they turned to addictive behaviours as a way to cope with professional stress, while 46% said work-related pressure was a contributing factor.
Nearly half of the employees surveyed said they would rather hide an addiction than discuss it at work, and 43% have avoided medical or professional support altogether due to fear of repercussions at work.
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Dr Robin Clark, Medical Director at Bupa UK Insurance, said, “It’s clear that addiction is a taboo topic in the workplace, this is often due to the stigma, lack of understanding and the fear of repercussions at work. However, both employees and employers see the impact addiction has on the individual and on the business as a whole.
“In the last five years at Bupa, we’ve had over 26,000 claims related to different addictions, which shows how prevalent the issue is.
“While businesses acknowledge the growing scale of the issue, it’s important they create a culture where people can feel supported and comfortable opening up about what they’re going through and have access confidential services to help them get treatment when they need it. If they don’t, they run the risk of not being able to retain valuable talent.”
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