How can we foster a safe environment in the workplace?

The latest event in our Swindon Mindful Employer Network series took place earlier this month in person and focused on the topic of fostering a safe environment in the workplace. With July being alcohol awareness month and Samaritans Awareness Day, our expert speakers included representatives from Alcoholics Anonymous, the Samaritans and Change Grow Live.

How and where employers can seek help with Alcoholics Anonymous

First up to speak was Sarah E, Regional Employment Liaison Officer with Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), whose role is to help raise the visibility of AA as a free resource for employers to utilise in supporting employees with a drink problem. 

Sarah informed us that although many ‘still suffering’ alcoholics may still be in employment and functioning in the workplace, unless addressed, the progressive nature of alcoholism often leads to declining work performance and productivity, absenteeism, Health and Safety risks and reputational damage. 

Sarah explained how AA, a mutual-aid peer led fellowship offers the problem drinker a genuine solution and opportunity to achieve long-term sobriety through its 12-step recovery programme and with the support of a sponsor.  By signposting employees with a drink problem to AA, Sarah emphasised the positive impacts employers can create for the employee and the organisation. 

With over 4000 AA meetings across the UK each week including a mix of face to face and online meetings, AA aims to be accessible and inclusive to all, with some meetings catering for particular demographics, such as LGBTQ and Younger People.

As part of AA’s public information activity, Employment Liaison Officers can talk to individual employees wishing to seek help from AA and arrange for someone to take them to their first AA meeting. They can also attend workplace health and wellbeing events and deliver information sessions to your Occupational Health and EAP providers, line managers and indeed the wider workforce. 

The role of the Samaritans

Next up we heard from Liza Wozniak and Roger Martins from Swindon and District Samaritans who stressed that their most important role is as listening volunteers. This involves taking calls, emails, and having online chats with people who are in distress.

Lisa explained that the Samaritans are there for people from the beginning, when they start to feel like something isn’t right. We heard that many callers are feeling anxious and/or lonely. The Samaritans are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. With over 200 branches and locations, there are around 23,000 Samaritans volunteers. The Swindon and District Samaritans branch answers 1,200 calls every month and has over 100 volunteers. The service is essential. We learnt that every 90 minutes, someone in the UK or Ireland takes their own life and that males are three times more likely to die by suicide than females.

The Samaritans work closely with employers, such as Network Rail, to raise awareness and support aimed at lowering the risk of people taking their lives. This crucial work involves training for rail staff to recognise signs of someone in distress and be able to intervene and provide support. Post incident support takes place and national campaigns encourage people to look out for each other.

Samaritans Training and Engagement Programmes (STEP)

These one or half day workplace training courses can be tailored to an employer’s needs and help organisations to train their staff to identify and support anyone struggling to cope. Courses can take place in person or online by an expert Samaritan’s facilitator. STEP supports organisations with mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention training. Over 500 courses were delivered to 180 different organisations in 2023 offering valuable support and advice to employers, from the experts.

Alcohol intervention training

Our next speaker was Sian Orton, Quality and Partnership Lead from Change Grow Live, a charity specialising in substance misuse. Sian reminded us that as a culture, we are surrounded by alcohol. For example, big events involve alcohol and when the weather is sunny, the beer garden calls. Many workplace cultures also encourage drinking as a form of socialising. There has also been a shift in drinking habits, with wine at home the most popular choice.

We learnt that alcohol is the main risk factor for all early deaths among 15 – 49 year olds and lost productivity due to alcohol use cost the UK economy more than £7 billion each year. 

In terms of the workplace, Sian raised that there are some factors that can encourage drinking such as stress, poor working conditions, low job security and a drinking culture being perceived as normal at work. 

So, how can employers help? Firstly, if you have one, look at your alcohol policy and familiarise yourself with this. Awareness raising activities are imperative. It’s important to encourage your employees to think about how much they are drinking. Are they aware of what constitutes 14 units of alcohol and the implications of regularly exceeding the recommended guidelines? For example, ill health and poor job performance. 

An important takeaway from Sian’s presentation is that intervention is key. If employers recognise that an employee has a drink problem, Change Grow Live can help by offering evidence based interventions, motivational interviews and CBT techniques as well as signposting to other support.

How can the Individual Placement and Support service benefit employers?

A new Individual Placement and Support service (IPS) has recently been adopted at Change Grow Live and Faye Turner, IPS Senior Employment Specialist, joined us to explain how this can be of benefit to employers.

We learnt that many individuals accessing treatment for substance misuse want to work. However, there is a large employment gap. IPS is a free employment service that helps people find purposeful employment. The service helps candidates with their job application and interview and continues to provide assistance once they are in role.

There are many benefits of employment for those undergoing treatment, such as higher chances of successful treatment completion, reduced substance use and a boost in confidence and motivation. 

Faye explained that IPS focuses on a place then train approach, with tailored support provided to clients and employers. Relationships are built with employers to understand their individual priorities and get people accessing treatment into the right job quickly. IPS support both the employer and individual throughout the process.

There is evidence to show the effectiveness of IPS such as higher employment rates, longer job retention and getting a job quicker. In addition, employers benefit from a free service, training is available to meet the needs of the new employee and crucially, candidates are motivated and want to work. Employers will also be helping to make a difference to the lives of people in their local community. 

 These are crucial conversations to have

The Swindon Mindful Employer Network series is in partnership with Swindon & Gloucestershire Mind and Swindon Borough Council. During the events, we discuss different challenges and issues that employers might be faced with and how to become a more mindful employer. Our next event will be taking place online on 10th September.

If you would like to refer to any of the advice and contact information shared during this event, you can view the slides here.