Here4TN Leader’s MonthlyNovember 2018

Handling substance use disorder at workAs a supervisor, you may at some point have an employee who shows signs of drug and alcohol use. It’s important to know and watch for signs of potential drug and alcohol use. Some are obvious:

• Slurred words

• Incoherent and profane speech

• Poor coordination

• Glassy eyes

• Drowsiness

• Confusion

• Mood swings

• Uncharacteristically messy appearance

Others are less apparent:

• Restlessness

• Appearing anxious

• Being forgetful

• Inattentiveness

Overcoming discomfort

The possibility of confronting a drug or alcohol problem may be uncomfortable for you. And, of course, not everyone whose productivity dips or who snoozes in a meeting has a drug or alcohol problem. Mental health, medical conditions and other personal events such as the death of a family member may be in play. So it’s important not to prejudge.

Continue on to page 2 »

Here4TN.com© 2016 Optum, Inc. All rights reserved.

As a leader, it can be hard to keep up with all of the programs and services you and your employees have available. That’s where your new Here4TN Leader’s Monthly can help.

This program should not be used for emergency or urgent care needs. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. This program is not a substitute for a doctor’s or professional’s care. This program and its components may not be available in all states and coverage exclusions and limitations may apply.

Continued from page 1 »

Here4TN.com855-Here4TN (855-437-3486)

But if your employee has an addiction issue, consider this: The faster a person gets help, the better his or her chances for recovery. Serious drug and alcohol problems rarely go away on their own. Instead, they tend to escalate. What’s more, addiction is a chronic condition — much like diabetes or asthma — and it is treatable. There should be no stigma with seeking help for it. Understanding these facts may make it easier for you to intervene.

In these cases, it’s important to have resources that can help. Whether you’ve dealt with this issue or want to learn more, here’s a training you can schedule, offered through Here4TN:

Substance abuse in the workplace

Managers will learn important information about substance abuse and drug testing. Topics include identifying substance abuse problems in the workplace and addressing those problems in accordance with company policy. Attendees learn how to confront an employee and document observations. The program can help participants:

• Be aware of the extent of substance abuse in the workplace

• Understand the drugs of abuse, including alcohol

• Recognize signs and symptoms — physical and behavioral — that may impact a safe and productive work environment

• Reinforce skills relating to effectively dealing with problematic workplace performance or behavioral issues

• Understand what actions and circumstances constitute “basis to believe” and impairment

• Be aware of resources for assistance and how to use them

We can help

Call 855-Here4TN (855-437-3486) for more information or go here to complete a training request form and get started today.

If you’re concerned about an employee, yourself or someone you know who may have an opioid or other pain medication addiction, call 855-Here4TN (855-437-3486) to connect with Here4TN. If you suspect an opioid or any other drug overdose, call 911 immediately.

Sources:

Drugs and alcohol in the workplace. National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. Accessed October 3, 2018.

Drug abuse and addiction. Helpguide.org. Accessed October 3, 2018.

Overcoming drug addiction. Helpguide.org. Accessed October 3, 2018.

Understanding drug use and addiction. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Accessed October 3, 2018.

Continue on to page 3 »

This program should not be used for emergency or urgent care needs. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. This program is not a substitute for a doctor’s or professional’s care. This program and its components may not be available in all states and coverage exclusions and limitations may apply.

Here4TN.com855-Here4TN (855-437-3486)

Continued from page 2 »

Managing work, family life and everything in between can be challenging. At times, it may even cause overwhelming stress. But if stress persists over time, it can put extra strain on one’s body and negatively affect their long-term health. While different people experience stress in different ways, over time, stress can lead to:

• Problems with thinking and focusing. Continued stress may impact concentration and memory, or even lead to poor judgement or negativity.

• Physical problems. Continued stress may contribute or exacerbate health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. It can also cause issues with weight.

• Emotional issues. Continued stress may contribute to depression and anxiety. It can also cause anger, moodiness and isolation.

• Behavior problems. Stress may impact sleep, lead to binge eating or even skipping meals.

Get help with on-site training

To support your employees and help them manage stress better at work, Here4TN has resources that can help. Whether you’ve dealt with this issue or want to learn more, here are a couple trainings you may want to schedule for your employees:

Managing stress for success (1.5 hours)

In this program, participants are provided with a brief overview of stress basics as well as practical suggestions for coping with stressful situations, especially as they occur in the workplace. The concept of stress hardiness is addressed as a focus for healthy stress management. The program provides tools that help reduce levels of employee stress and help better understand personal and organizational aspects of stress. Here are the program highlights:

• Review stress basics

• Recognize when making a change makes the difference

• Understand the role of communication in stress reduction

• Examine the contributions of stress hardiness

Health and well-being in the workplace (1 hour)

Discover how to enhance your health, well-being and productivity by relieving stress with simple relaxation techniques. The discussion will include work/life balance, how to

Sources:

Stress. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Accessed September 19, 2018.

Fact sheet on stress. National Institute for Mental Health. Accessed September 19, 2018.

How stress affects your health. American Psychological Association. Accessed September 19, 2018.

Stress symptoms, signs, and causes. Helpguide.org. Accessed September 19, 2018.

Helping employees manage stress

Continue on to page 4 »

This program should not be used for emergency or urgent care needs. In an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. This program is not a substitute for a doctor’s or professional’s care. This program and its components may not be available in all states and coverage exclusions and limitations may apply.

Here4TN.com855-Here4TN (855-437-3486)

Continued from page 3 »

establish priorities and the importance of healthy eating and regular exercise. Program highlights:

• Discuss the factors involved in health and well-being

• Identify types of stress

• Determine work styles

• Explore how to create a healthy workplace

We can help

Call 855-Here4TN (855-437-3486) for more information or go here to complete a training request form and schedule a training for your team today.

If you or someone you know is overwhelmed with stress or is having thoughts of suicide or harming others, seek help right away. If you feel there is an immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.