By the majority of people, gambling is only perceived as a fun activity that allows you to spend some time enjoying games and relaxing. And while it is true that gambling in and of itself is not problematic and something that should be frowned upon, it is also true that – for some people – it poses a bigger threat than one can initially imagine.
By the majority of people, gambling is only perceived as a fun activity that allows you to spend some time enjoying games and relaxing. And while it is true that gambling in and of itself is not problematic and something that should be frowned upon, it is also true that – for some people – it poses a bigger threat than one can initially imagine.
While the majority of people can approach this activity with a clear head and practice it in a harmless way, some people actually have quite an unhealthy relationship with gambling. Gambling addiction and problem gambling are activities that have been recognized as mental disorders in 1980. That said, both of them are manageable and treatable, but as with any other problematic behavior, they do require special attention and treatment.
With gambling being so easily and widely accessible nowadays, employers should pay attention to this type of behavior among their employees. Additionally, they should find ways to remedy the situation if it turns out that some of their employees are struggling with gambling at work.
Unauthorized use of company equipment
The first issue that needs to be addressed when talking about gambling at work is the unauthorized use of company equipment. Nowadays, every employee that works in an office is provided with their own computer. However, this doesn’t mean that that computer should be treated or perceived as personal computer. It is important to keep in mind that that piece of equipment still belongs to the company and should only be used for company work. One of the biggest risks here is an employee visiting an unsecure website that can, thus, potentially have access to company information.
Lack of productivity
Another issue that can arise form gambling at the workplace is the lack of productivity. As with every addiction, the person suffering from it will be entirely focused on satisfying that addiction. What this can lead to is neglecting their daily obligations and overall ineffectiveness at the workplace. This is particularly a problem nowadays, when gambling is easily accessible online. What’s more, it doesn’t even have to be enjoyed over a computer – it can easily be accessed via any mobile device. So, if an employer notices that their employees are slacking at work and not managing to fulfill their daily tasks, they should try to get to the bottom of the issue.
Potential financial issues
If it is still not clear just how detrimental gambling at work can be, we must consider some of the most common behaviors of an addict. As it is already known, an addict will do anything to satisfy their addiction. And while gambling certainly doesn’t have such adverse effects on health as drugs or alcohol abuse does, that doesn’t mean it’s any less dangerous. If you have an employee that is suffering from gambling addiction or if they are even showing signs of problem gambling, yet they have any type of access to company finances, your business is in danger. It is not rare that we hear about cases of an employee using company finances to their personal gain. What’s worse, if they are careful and do this in not too obvious of a manner, it may take years before the issue is uncovered.
How to determine if you have a problem?
As mentioned earlier, a person suffering from a gambling addiction usually doesn’t display any obvious physical signs. So, it can be quite difficult to notice this problematic behavior. Additionally, addicts are usually great at keeping their vices under the radar, so this poses another obstacle when trying to spot the issue. That is why every employee should create a risk assessment and management plan, to prevent this from ever becoming an issue. Therefore, the best way to go about this is to consult your HR department and see how you can create such a plan an put it in use. If, however, such a behavior is uncovered, it would be best to see how to remedy the situation instead of just firing the employee(s) in question.
Additional considerations
In many countries, employers are under legal obligation to provide their employees with a safe and healthy working environment. And while gambling addiction is certainly not something people initially think about in such an instance, it is important to keep in mind that it falls under these regulations as well. Unfortunately, many employers fail to realize this on time, so what sometimes ends up happening is the situation escalates to the point of legal actions. Not seldom do employers get eligible for legal actions against them, in case they have organized any type of similar activity in the workplace.
With everything previously mentioned, it becomes quite clear that gambling in the workplace should not be either encouraged or tolerated. Sure, enjoying gambling, by nature, is not an activity that should be frowned upon. However, it is also not something that belongs in the workplace – unless you are running a casino.
That is why it is the employer’s responsibility to keep an eye on their employees and take action as soon as they notice that something is not right. That is the only way they can not only prevent bigger problems from happening but also ensure that they provide their employees with the necessary – and obligatory – workplace health and safety conditions.