Canadian HR Reporter

CANADIAN HR REPORTER CANADIAN HR REPORTER May 5, 2014 May 5, 2014 16 FEATURES FEATURES New in this edition ȕ #BTJD0DDVQBUJPOBM)FBMUIBOE4BGFUZ"XBSFOFTT 5SBJOJOHȋ new Regulation (O. Reg. 297/13) introducing mandatory basic health and safety awareness training for workers and supervisors, revoking O. Reg. 780/94 (Training Programs) and amending O. Reg. 414/05 (Farming Operations) (November 14, 2013, July 1, 2014). ȕ 5SBJOJOH3FRVJSFNFOUTGPS$FSUBJO$PNQVMTPSZ 5SBEFTȋ new Regulation (O. Reg. 87/13) and amending Regulations (O. Regs. 88/13, 89/13, 90/13, 91/13 and 92/13) amending R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 854 (Mines and Mining Plants), R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 950 (Set Fines), O. Regs. 213/91 (Construction Projects), 67/93 (Health Care and Residential Facilities) and 414/05 (Farming Operations) to reflect the coming into force of the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009 (April 8, 2013, April 8, 2014). ȕ Updated list of OH&S Resources and the index and revised the Table of Contents. Carswell's Green Book helps you stay up to date on new legislation Available risk-free for 30 days Order online: www.carswell.com Call Toll-Free: 1-800-387-5164 In Toronto: 416-609-3800 0SEFS Softcover approx. 980 pages March 2014 978-0-7798-6072-2 Available on standing order subscription Multiple copy discounts available Shipping and handling are extra. Price subject to change without notice and subject to applicable taxes. New Edition 1PDLFU0OUBSJP0)4"DU3FHVMBUJPOT ȋ$POTPMJEBUFE&EJUJPO MENTAL HEALTH Lending a friendly ear goes a long way A personal view on the importance of reaching out – and listening – to employees struggling with addiction, mental health issues By Allan Kehler A ddictions remain a seri- ous problem that many individual s str ugg le with, and the workplace feels the effects of this with lower productivity, attendance and team morale. Two-thirds (67 per cent) of HR professionals consider substance abuse and addiction to be one of the most serious issues they face in the workplace, according to a 2007 survey of 300 American professionals by Hazelden. However, only 22 per cent of those professionals felt their com- pany openly and proactively dealt with these issues. Do you feel you can eff ectively recognize and manage these is- sues in the workplace? What is the first image that comes to your mind when you think about an addict? Many peo- ple envision a person staggering down a back alley with a bottle in hand or a needle protruding from her arm. However, 77 per cent of drug addicts and 90 per cent of alco- holics are employed, according to 2004 fi gures from the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. e addicts of today include nurses, lawyers, surgeons, teen- agers, soccer moms and grand- mothers. And while the face of addictions has changed over the past 50 years, the challenges re- main the same. HR profession- als continue to face the chal- lenge of getting employees to acknowledge or talk about their issues around substance abuse or addictions. Unfortunately, the issue of ad- dictions continues to be soaked with stigma. Employees are em- barrassed to speak out because they fear they will be labelled as weak or unreliable or it will pre- vent them from receiving future promotions. We need to remember that just as a person does not choose to have depression or schizophrenia, nobody chooses to become an ad- dict. While writing in my Grade 12 yearbook beside the question "What do you want to be when you grow up?" I certainly did not write "an addict." As I visit various companies, I fi nd the focus from HR is typi- cally directed toward individuals who are personally challenged with substance abuse issues. But what about the employees who have a loved one struggling with addictions? One-quarter (26 per cent) of employees had substance abuse or addiction issues in their families, according to the Hazelden study. Of these, nearly one-half reported being distracted and less produc- tive in the workplace as a direct result of this. It is important to realize someone who has a loved one struggling with an addiction will often display many of the same signs in the workplace as some- one who has an addiction himself. How HR can help I encounter countless people who have great intentions to assist people who are struggling with addictions, but fail to understand how to do so. e reality is nobody can address something they do not understand. Information is power and a deeper understanding provides individuals with the opportunity to make informed decisions. e workplace can be a safe and supportive environment that en- courages individuals to acknowl- edge their challenges and find their voices to move forward in a healthy way. It is imperative for people to understand their feel- ings are valid and common and there are resources in society that can help. A proactive approach from the workplace will allow people to step out from the shadows of shame and embarrassment. Growing up, I was fortunate enough to excel in many areas. I was elected student president, athlete of the year and I received numerous academic awards. However, my world changed in grade 11 as I began to struggle with mental health issues and sub- stance abuse. Teachers observed many changes and took notice as I failed to use my potential. Sadly, I graduated without a single teacher approaching me directly. Like other individuals in a similar situation, the message I received was they did not care. Now, I know they did care — they simply did not possess the tools to know how to approach me. It was a university professor, Ian McNeil, who had the tools. He ap- proached me after one of his class- es and gently asked me to stop by his office later that afternoon. When I approached his offi ce, his door was wide open. He pointed to an empty chair, gesturing for me to take a seat. With sincerity he asked, "How are you doing to- day, Allan?" Every day, people ask us how we are doing and, like robots, we automatically respond with "good." However, McNeil's ap- proach was slightly diff erent. He added the word "today" — which brought me to the present — and he added my name to make it personal. My professor had com- passionate eyes and expressed genuine concern as he leaned forward, ready to listen. We all possess a basic need to be seen and heard. His one line met both of these basic needs. I opened my mouth and I began to talk about what was really go- ing on in my life. ere was no novel or elaborate theory to his approach. What McNeil provided me with was an invitation, an empty seat, compassion and a space free from judgment. He made it clear he was not a counsellor, but he could listen. e more I talked, the more I was able to release my darkness and, in turn, there was more room for light. Before I left, he provided me with some resources and he made sure I knew his door always re- mained open. Every employee and employer can benefi t from these invitations, and it does not have to take place in an offi ce setting. Another non-invasive ap- proach when someone is strug- gling is to gently say, "I don't mean to pry but I just wanted to let you know I am concerned. I wanted to let you know that if you ever needed to talk, I would be happy to listen." It is critical to remember if an individual does eventually ap- proach you with her challenges, you should drop what you are doing and listen. e person took one courageous step forward and a failure to listen will likely cause her to take two steps backwards. Many people in our society point to alcohol, marijuana or cocaine as the problem. Actor Russel Brand may have said it best: "Drugs and alcohol are not my problem. Reality is my prob- lem. Drugs and alcohol are my solution." As an addict, I was never afraid of death. Rather, I was afraid of life. I did not know how to live and I certainly did not know how to feel. What if we taught people how to live as opposed to merely exist? What would that look like? Silence will always be the ene- my of recovery. As long as people feel like they can't use their voice, they will not be able to truly live. A proactive approach towards the issues of mental illness and addic- tions can change a person's life. It certainly changed mine. Allan Kehler is a Saskatoon-based speaker and author of Stepping Out from the Shadows: A Guide to Un- derstanding and Healing from Addic- tions. He can be reached at awkehler@ gmail.com or visit www.outfromthe- shadows.ca for more information. Credit: Lightspring/Shutterstock

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