December 2, 2020
Author: The Link Between
This year has been a challenging one for everyone. Business owners are having a particularly difficult time as they struggle to keep their doors open and staff employed. And for those individuals who have been fortunate enough to keep their employment and work from home, the home/work reality has manifested its own set of adversities including work overload, loneliness and an overall feeling of uncertainty.
As a result, some have turned to alcohol or narcotics as a way to cope with the stress and overwhelming sense of insecurity. Substance use disorders have always existed, but with the majority of Canadians now working from home, these dependencies have become more widespread. In fact, substance use disorders represent 33% of employee mental health issues. However, a staggering 90% of Canadians do not get the treatment they need due to stigma, job concerns, cost and lack of availability.
As an employer, you have the ability to help activate positive, healthy change in the lives of your employees. Encouraging a healthful lifestyle just became easier with a substance-use employee-benefit program, such as this one from ALAViDA, available through Agile Benefits. This service offers your employees access to prevention, detection, treatment, aftercare and family support for substance use – from a single platform.
Therapy, counselling and medical support are provided by licensed practitioners specializing in addiction and addressing the use of alcohol, cannabis, opioids (prescribed or otherwise), cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates (sleep or anxiety medications, etc.), among others. The plan’s content and features adapt to your employees’ needs in a confidential, approachable and stigma-free manner with personalized, rapid and seamless access from any device.
The truth is that alcohol costs business-owners 6.2 times more in long-term disability and 4.4 times more in short-term disability than all other substances combined. By providing your employees with the help they need while they are still active at work, you are not only keeping your productivity and engagement levels high, you are also showing your employees that you support and value both their mental and physical well-being.
Times are tough and we really don’t know what the future holds for any of us in terms of work or returning to the workplace. Strengthen your workforce and secure your business by providing your staff with the accessible, confidential and stigma-free substance-use support that they need.