Reliance on alcohol, the use of illegal drugs and the misuse of prescription medication can all be highly problematic in the workplace. Simply dismissing people who exhibit such problems can mean the loss of valued employees who are going through a bad patch in their lives – a move that can prove quite costly in the long run – with the additional cost that others may perceive the organisation as uncaring and unsupportive of its staff. Such a perception may then lead to problems of recruitment and retention. But, if the problems of alcohol and drugs misuse in the workplace are not tackled, the cost to the organisation and its employees can be even greater. A good understanding of the issues involved is therefore an important thing to develop.
Shift Work and Family Routines
Submitted by Kamu Laird, M.Sc.
Shift work affects the entire family since family routines can never be fully set. Participation in outside activities such as clubs and sports becomes complicated. Shift workers usually have less time to spend with their family and friends, since they are often at work when regular social activities are scheduled and at home when others are at work. Therefore, shift workers may spend less of their time-off involved in social and recreational activities.
Fatigue may also prevent shift workers from enjoying those recreational and social activities that they are able to participate in. This may be particularly true of parents who have family duties after work. Shift workers may have family obligations that shorten their sleep time, such as caring for young children or elderly family members. Consequently, they tend to sleep poorly.
Effective Strategies for Shift Workers
- Maintain regular eating patterns as much as possible.
- Time meals carefully. Afternoon workers should have the main meal in the middle of the day instead in the middle of the work shift. Night workers should eat lightly throughout the shift and have a moderate breakfast. That way they should not get too hungry while sleeping during the day and digestive discomfort should be minimal.
- Pay careful attention to the type of food eaten. Eat crackers and fruit instead of soft drinks and candy bars during work breaks. Reduce the intake of salt, caffeine, and alcohol.
- Avoid excessive use of antacids, tranquilizers and sleeping pills. It is healthier to watch what and when you eat, and use relaxation techniques to aid sleep.
- Relax during meals and allow time for digestion.
- Take leisure seriously.
- Make time for quiet relaxation before bed to help get better sleep.
- Plan dates with your partner and times to communicate about issues of concerns (parenting, finances).
- Make sleep a priority and enlist the entire family’s cooperation in ensuring shift workers get their rest.
- Get a big calendar and use lots of lists. E-mail notes to family members.
- Call your spouse and kids on your breaks to stay in touch.
- Create rituals that bring the whole family together.
Assertiveness for Safety
It is important for one’s survival to be assertive about certain matters of safety. If you are in a vehicle with a ‘tipsy’ driver speeding on the highway, having consumed more than two drinks, and you stay quiet; you are contributing to criminal negligence.
You may be on your way to hurting another person in the oncoming vehicle, a pedestrian on the sidewalk or on the verge of hurting yourself and your friends in your vehicle. You may not be the trigger but you are part of a vehicle that has the potential to become a weapon of mass destruction.
To stay quiet and peaceful, if that is possible at all, is not an option. If you do, you are being negligent and criminally so. You are being passive, in the moment when assertiveness is required.
Assertiveness is the ability to stand up for your rights, opinions, ideas, beliefs and desires while at the same time respecting those of others. In this case, your passivity ignores your need for safety and self preservation. Assertiveness is the emotionally intelligent way of having your needs met; it takes into account your thoughts, ideas and feelings as well as those of the other party in a way that works to your mutual benefit. Assertiveness is communicated both through the words you use and the way you use them, and through body messages. Stand up, speak up, and raise an alarm for the safety of yourself and others.
What’s your Parenting Style?
Psychologists have long recognized that parenting styles have a profound effect on the formation of children’s character. Among the most influential findings is Diana Baumrind’s description of three major styles. See if you can identify which style is closest to yours. Remember there are very few “pure” parenting styles, so think more in terms of a tendency than an exact description.
AUTHORITARIAN: “Iron Rod”
- Attempts to shape and control a child’s behaviour according to a set standard of conduct, usually an absolute standard. Excessive force and punishment used with little concern for the child’s needs.
- Obedience valued and forceful measures favoured to curb self-will when child’s actions or beliefs conflict with parents idea of right conduct. Involves inconsistent demands that magnify parent’s authority.
- No verbal give-and-take encouraged. The belief is that the child should accept the parent’s version of what is right. A harsh, dictatorial style. An unsympathetic, cold manner from an impatient, angry, uncontrolled adult who magnifies the child’s wrong-doing.
Consequences: Destruction of a child’s cheerfulness and ambition, broken will, indecision, nervousness, an “I don’t care” spirit and determined rebellion.
PERMISSIVE: “Do as you please”
- A non-punitive, accepting, affirmative manner towards child’s impulses, desires and actions. Treats children as pets or ignores behaviour. Allows child to regulate his/her own activities and to rule. Avoids exercising control and does not encourage obedience of parental standards.
- Parents presents self as a resource for child to use as he/she wishes, but not as a active agent responsible for altering child’s behaviour. Blindly indulges.
- Makes few demands. Consults child about policy decision and gives explanations for family rules.
- Coaxes and bribes. Submit to a child’s will.
Consequences: Open rebellion from child who defies authority. Creates stubborn self-will in child who follows own headstrong, ungoverned will and uses deceit/evasion to avoid punishment.
AUTHORATIVE: “With love and firmness”
- Seeks to direct child’s activities but in a rational, manner with consistent limits. Considerate of child’s needs. Does not hem the child in with restrictions but exerts firm control at points of parent-child divergence.
- Has warm relationship with child and shows acceptance, love and kindness. Uses great tact and gentleness and demonstrates empathy and understanding. Parent is self-controlled.
- Set standards for conduct and uses reason as well as power to achieve objectives. Is firm, patient, loving and reasonable and does not see self as always right. Encourages verbal give-and-take and shares with the child the reasoning behind parent’s policy. Teaches child to reason and make choices. Values both autonomous self-will and disciplined conformity.
Results: Preserves self-respect of child and inspires with courage. Child obeys from principle not compulsion or desire to avoid punishment. Leads to strong self-esteem, self-discipline, self-control and strong moral character. Results not apparent at once but develop over a lifetime.
( Written by Arlene Amann-Maximay, M.Sc., first published in EAP/LINK March 2004)