Melanie Veness, CEO of the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business.
One of the most difficult management responsibilities is the management of human resources. If one looks at it very simplistically, the employment relationship is a contract. It says that Employer X requires a particular job to be done during specified hours and that he/she is prepared to pay someone a set amount to perform this function.
People indicate their willingness, a suitable candidate is selected, agreement is reached on the terms and the relationship begins.
If only it were that simple.
People are complex beings and if we are to lead successful teams, then we, as business owners and managers, cannot afford to lose touch with our humanness, aspects of which are tolerance, compassion and understanding. As the Dalai Lama says: “Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.”
We are naturally conflicted when posed with human challenges, because our focus is generally on productivity, and we often struggle with what would be considered a reasonable approach.
We are privileged to have some of the most advanced labour legislation in the world, legislation that protects the rights of both employees and employers.
One of the workplace challenges that enterprises are facing more and more each day is that of substance abuse.
According to a study by the Medical Research Council, in conjunction with the Human Sciences Research Council and UCT, South Africans consume more than 5 billion litres of alcohol a year, and in some communities as many as |30 percent of the male population and between 10 and 15 percent of the female population consume more than 30 litres of pure alcohol every year.
If alcohol is abused in the community at large, one can rest assured that the effects of this are being felt in the workplace.
Drug abuse statistics in SA show an increase in the number of users and a decrease in their average age. Drug abuse statistics confirm repeatedly that this growing and dangerous problem is universal and that it undoubtedly has a serious effect on business.
According to the American Council for Drug Education, substance abusers are five times more likely than other workers to injure themselves or co-workers and cause 40 percent of all industrial fatalities.
They are 10 times more likely to miss work, five times more likely |to file a workmen’s compensation claim and are 33 percent less productive. So essentially, they raise costs and reduce profits.
How do we, as managers, approach this problem?
Most larger companies have structured employee wellness programmes that adopt a holistic approach to developing well-being, and often these include employee assistance plans to assist with challenges like substance abuse.
Businesses have a responsibility to try to assist employees that are substance dependent. A distinction needs to be drawn between people who knowingly abuse substances and those who are substance dependent.
Those who knowingly abuse substances may be disciplined for misconduct in the normal way. Those who are addicted need to acknowledge dependence and agree to seek help. Those who don’t co-operate with planned assistance programmes may be disciplined.
Affected employees may, over time, find themselves on a performance management programme, which seeks to establish whether they are capable of performing their jobs, and they may, down the line, find their employment terminated as a result of incapacity owing to non-performance or ill health.
Because substance abuse is such a personal battle, agreement is often reached to treat each case independently. Employers are expected to take reasonable steps to try to assist employees.
The South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence offers excellent advice and assistance.
The important thing to remember is that both parties need to be reasonable. One must be compassionate, but remember to consider the business imperatives as well – due consideration must also be given to productivity.
If you are unsure, seek advice from a labour expert.
* Melanie Veness is the CEO of the Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business.
