Chapter Ten: To Employers
What should one do with an alcoholic employee? Before being presented with the explanation of alcoholism as an illnesss that affects both the body and the mids, we may have thought the alcoholic was foolish and irresponsible. Now we can see that while actually very sick the alcoholic who adopts this solution can recover.
Practical measures that can be taken to deal successfully with an alcoholic employee are given in the chapter "To Employers". A suggested approach is illustrated (141:19-142:17). The criteria for evaluating whether an employee should be retained is if the employer believes the employee is sinceere in wanting to quit drinking (142:8). Medical treatment for detoxification is recommended for the alcoholic (142:19). Directions are given for supervisors and executives caught between acting in the best interests of the firm and covering for their subordinates and hoping that the situation will improve (147:6-148:6).
Alcoholism is so common that most companies have experienced dealing with alcoholic employees. Retaining valuable employees is in the best interest of all concerned.