It’s a situation no manager ever wants to be in. Something is wrong with your best employee, and you just can’t put your finger on it. Maybe their work has become careless or sloppy. Perhaps their breaks have gotten longer and longer. Or maybe their once professional appearance has slipped due to poor personal hygiene.

These are just some of the warning signs they may be abusing drugs. But if you suspect an employee is an addict, what should you do? Here are some steps you can take to help get your employee — and your company — back on track.

Addiction and Codependency: Breaking the Cycle of Enabling

Drug and alcohol addiction affects the addict and everyone around them. It’s this circle of influence that plays a key role in either enabling the drug or alcohol addiction, or encouraging recovery. That’s why it is crucial to understand the fine line between encouraging your loved one to get help – or becoming codependent and helping to maintain the addict’s destructive behavior.

What is Codependency?

A ‘codependent’ is someone who has developed an extreme dependency on someone else – in this instance, on the addict. They are often spouses, children or other relatives of the addict.