Completing Coworker Interventions

Coworker interventions are those that are completed in the workplace. Some coworkers may feel that this is inappropriate or might worry about how others will view them once they start the intervention. Work-related repercussions and a desire not to bring personal life into work might be another reason coworkers think they should avoid a coworker intervention. However, it’s important to know that coworkers can provide an unbiased view of their colleague, which can him or her receive the help he or she needs. The colleague may also favorably respond to coworkers asking him or her to receive help because coworkers are normally unbiased.

Reasons Why Addiction Intervention Is Necessary At Work

Some coworker interventions may arise because of one person coming to work after drinking too much alcohol for a number of days in a row. Realize that completing the intervention, as opposed to ignoring the issue, could save the coworker’s life. When speaking about coworker intervention, the identified patient is the addict that the coworkers are helping. The identified patient may show signs of aggression, broken promises, forgetfulness, mood swings, anxiety, and other issues. Problems may occur in the office that are noticeable by others, such as fights over the worker refraining from drinking or doing a drug. If this is occurring where you work, you may wish to speak to a health care provider about the situation.

Workplace interventions are common because the patient may feel secure enough to share feelings and problems in his or her life with his or her colleagues. It is important, as a coworker, to collaborate with the patient’s family to help them get the help they need. Reach out to a medical facility beforehand to determine the best route for the intervention. A professional interventionist can be called. This is highly recommended, as this person is trained to understand addictions and to defuse tense situations.

How To Plan An Addiction Intervention For A Co-worker

There are many steps to planning a coworker intervention. First, gathering information is important. Collaborating with the family and other coworkers is one of the base elements to a good intervention. Learning from resources provided by an interventionist can help give you insight of how an intervention may go and what you should expect as an outcome.

Before the intervention begins, the drug and alcohol treatment program should be notified. Payment terms and other factors are determined beforehand, making it an easier transition for the patient. The treatment plan chosen should be logical and feasible. This may be done over the phone or in person, depending on the abilities and time available to the coworkers.

An intervention also relies on coworkers stating how the patient’s actions have affected them in their lives. This might be anything from missed copies of reports to forgetting to carpool. It is also important to use the term “I” instead of confronting the patient by using “you.” Interventions should be non-judgmental and should not be confrontational. However, there should be guidelines that the patient will need to understand by the end of the intervention, such as what will occur if he or she doesn’t seek help. This might be something like taking away benefits like the company car, or something as serious as unemployment.

If the patient seeks treatment after the intervention, a coworker or family member should already be decided on for transporting the patient to the facility. It is important to make sure the family has already gathered the patient’s belongings and all items necessary for the smoothest transition to the treatment center. From here, the coworker’s intervention is primarily complete, and the patient is taken to the treatment facility and transitioned from normal life to rehab.

After coworker interventions, the interventionist normally keeps in contact with the family and coworkers to inform them about the patient and the patient’s progress. If you or a family member would like more information about coworker interventions, consider calling 800-660-0986 or filling out a short contact form where the company can reach you.