A FEW WORDS FOR SUPERVISORS

ADDICTIONS – Corporate Responses

About 10 percent of Internet users are abusers and about 6 percent are addicted according to a recent ABC News study. The study used criteria developed for gamblers, such as Internet use having made negative changes in their lives; their using the Internet to escape problems and their neglecting their obligations as a result. This confirms other studies that suggest that the Internet can be as addicting as alcohol, drugs and gambling.

This has important implications for the workplace. Research shows that 85 percent of employees send and receive personal email at work. One out of two surf the web for personal reasons at work and one-third download software for personal reasons while at work.

More than two-thirds of the companies responding to a recent survey said that the sites workers are most frequently surfing during work hours are sexually explicit. More than 60 percent of the personal email employees admit sending and receiving are adult-oriented.

Since this could get quite costly to productivity, many companies are creating policies for Internet use and strategies for enforcing them. The EAC is well aware of the "new addiction" and includes it in its checklist of problems to address.

Studies show that EAP follow-up for alcohol and drug problems reduces relapses that result in hospitalization by 15 percent. When an employee comes through the EAC for alcohol and/or drug problems, follow-up includes one year of monitoring by an EAC counselor. Those who seek help on their own without the one year follow-up are 24 percent more likely to need additional treatment and access drug and alcohol medical benefits.

Consider using the EAC when employees seek treatment voluntarily. The studies show that when the EAP holds individuals accountable it increases treatment success.