Derek was identified at work as really conservative person who had a superb attendance record. He never went to any of the happy hours immediately after work and it was well-known throughout the office that he was an incredibly religious individual who normally spoke about the pitfalls regarding alcohol abuse and addiction to alcohol in our country.

Try to think of the shock in the workplace when one Monday morning Derek didn’t show up for work and nobody had heard from him. In fact, it wasn’t until approximately 8:30 in the morning that the human resources department received a phone call about Derek from the local city jail.

Derek Goes Out Partying With a Number of His College Dorm Mates

Apparently, Derek went out drinking along with a few of his university pals Saturday night and at some time close to 3:00 Sunday morning, Derek was arrested for “driving while intoxicated”. Considering that his blood alcohol content level (BAC) was very elevated, he had to spend two days in the county jail.

Derek Talks to His Manager and The Human Resources Director

When Derek came to work on Tuesday morning, he instantly informed his superior what had happened and he asked if he might possibly go and talk to the Human Resources manager about his DWI arrest.

When he got to the HR department and met with the manager, he discussed that he had not been intoxicated since his university days and that he was quite humiliated about his DWI arrest. He also stressed the point that he wanted some assistance selecting a professional and successful DUI attorney who would represent his “driving under the influence” case. Stated more precisely, Derek really wanted the Human Resources director to agree that he needed to see a DUI attorney.

The Human Resources manager told Derek that he ought to schedule an appointment with someone within the company employee’s assistance program to discuss any future drinking issue that he might have. The HR director also articulated that he needs to explain his wish to employ a “drunk driving” attorney to represent him regarding his DWI case.

In addition, the Human Resources director told Derek that it was good that he wanted to employ a “driving while intoxicated” lawyer simply because of the difficulties and difficult issues that are linked to a DWI conviction.

The Human Resources director could tell that Derek was apparently upset and humiliated by this total problem. Consequently, he told Derek that while he doesn’t believe that responsible people should ever get behind the steering wheel right after consuming alcohol, regrettably these conditions sometimes come about to very good individuals.

The Human Resources manager then said that since such a predicament can’t be undone, what’s critical is what the particular person does from this moment in time forward. As reported by the Human Resources director, “does the particular person learn from his or her errors or does he or she develop a pattern of alcohol related issues that cause the individual chronic pain and suffering”?

Fortunately, Derek Did Not Have a History of Abusive and Heavy Drinking

Just before completing their discussion, the Human Resources manager informed Derek that it was very positive that he doesn’t have a track record of irresponsible and excessive drinking. Not only this but he hasn’t had an alcohol-related situation since his college days (which was almost 19 years ago). As a result, Derek ought to be able to face his “drunk driving” arrest with embarrassment but also with some assurance knowing that he will confront and work through this obstacle and become a better person in the long run.

Derek thanked the Human Resources manager for his practical and encouraging thoughts and then walked over towards the company employee’s assistance program to discuss his “drunk driving” arrest, his participation in irresponsible drinking drinking over the past weekend, and his wish to employ a “driving while intoxicated” attorney to represent his “drunk driving” case.

After listening to Derek’s “story,” the nurse that was part of the company employee’s assistance program articulated Derek’s immediate “action plan” that he needed to address and follow. First, he would be required to take a DUI class to learn more DUI facts and information. Second, he would also be required to take an alcohol abuse class to address his possible drinking problem. Third, he would have to see a counselor, therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist about his depression.  And finally, it would be a particularily sensible thing to do if he were to meet with a DUI lawyer about his DUI arrest.

Derek Feels a Sense of Relief Knowing That He Will Learn From His Blunder and Become More Sensible

It was clear that Derek was really distressed with the complete “driving while intoxicated” circumstance, but right after talking to the Human Resources director and to the healthcare professional inside the company employee’s assistance program, he felt encouraged that he would actually learn from his mistake and turn out to be even more healthy, more dependable, and an even more grateful person.

Russ dropped out of high school when he was sixteen years old and eventually got a job at a local chemical plant. For the past seven years he has gained a reputation as a hard-working and conscientious individual who infrequently calls off work due to illness.

Nearly four-and-a-half months ago he started dating a young woman named Emma. They appeared to hit it off immediately and looked as if they had a lot of good times with one another.

The Excessive and Hazardous Drinking Begins

When Russ met Emma, he rarely drank. This situation totally changed when they started seeing each other on a fairly normal basis. In point of fact, their relationship was going great until Emma called Russ one night about 3:30 AM and said that she had to call off their relationship and that she couldn’t explain the reason at that particular time.

The next morning before he went to work, Russ drove to her apartment and found out almost immediately that Emma had already moved out. Russ took this really hard. In fact, he was bewildered because they seemed to be getting along so well.

When Irresponsible Drinking Leads to Problems at Work

So what did Russ do about Emma’s leaving? Rather than working through his misery and pain, he started getting inebriated almost every night. It didn’t take long for his coworkers or for his boss to notice that Russ was coming to work late at least once per week and that he constantly called off sick. Moreover, some of the workers made an appointment with staff in Human Resources and stated that Russ often came to work with a strong odor of alcohol on his breath or on his clothes.

Russ’s supervisor heard about all of this from Human Resources and also from Russ’s fellow employees. So one Tuesday morning he asked Russ to come into his office. He told Russ that he had recently noticed an extreme change in his attendance, behavior, work performance, and in his sick time.

When a Manager Can Motivate a Worker to Get Help For His or Her Hazardous Drinking

Russ’s manager also said that a number of his fellow employees reported him to Human Resources because he had been coming to work with the strong odor of alcohol. His manager then stated the following: “Russ, your fellow employees are not reporting you to the HR Department to get you into any trouble or because they dislike you but rather because they care about you. And I care too. I don’t want to butt into your life, but it is obvious that you are displaying some of the basic symptoms and signs of abusive drinking. Consequently, I want you to go and see a healthcare practitioner in the employee’s assistance program to discuss your drinking.”

“Russ, I’m no healthcare professional or a therapist, but I have seen quite a few of my relatives and friends go through some very negative alcohol side effects. Furthermore, I have also witnessed the signs of alcoholism first-hand in my own family. When individuals experience problems with drinking, these issues not only affect the drinker, but they also make an impact on his or her co-workers, friends, neighbors, relatives, and family.”

Russ respected his manager a lot and as a consequence followed through with his recommendation the next morning when he called and scheduled an appointment with a psychologist in the employee’s assistance program.

Russ is Still Depressed But Experiences Some Hope That He Will Get His Life Back on Track

Even though Russ didn’t automatically feel any better or less depressed about the hurt he still has about Emma, he felt some reassurance knowing that his supervisor and his fellow employees cared about him and wanted what’s best for him. This gave Russ some psychological relief for the first time in several weeks and he frankly felt some hope that he would get his life back on track.

Shelly was identified at work as an extremely conservative human being who had a very good work record. She in no way attended any of the happy hours following work and it was regarded through the workplace that she was quite a religious individual who many times talked about the dangers of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency in our country.

Try to imagine the surprise within the workplace when one Monday morning Shelly didn’t show up for work and no one had heard from her. In reality, it wasn’t until around 10:15 in the morning that the human resources department received a phone call about Shelly from the local jail.

Shelly Goes Out Partying Along With a Several of Her College Pals

Apparently, Shelly went out drinking together with a few of her college friends Saturday night and at some time close to 4:45 Sunday morning, Shelly was arrested for a DWI. Since her blood alcohol content level (BAC) was very elevated, she was mandated to spend a day-in-a-half in the county jail.

Shelly Talks to Her Manager and The Human Resources Manager

When Shelly came to work on Tuesday morning, she instantly shared with her manager what had occurred and she asked if she could possibly go and talk with the Human Resources director about her “driving while intoxicated” arrest.

When she got to the Human Resources department and met with the director, she explained that she hadn’t been drunk since her college days and that she was really humiliated about her DUI arrest. She also stressed the point that she required some assistance getting a highly skilled and effective “drunk driving” lawyer who would represent her “driving under the influence” case. Stated another way, Shelly really wanted the Human Resources manager to agree that she needed to see a DUI attorney.

The Human Resources director told Shelly that she ought to make an appointment with someone in the company employee’s assistance program to go over any possible drinking problem that she may have. The HR manager also articulated that she needs to discuss her desire to employ a “drunk driving” lawyer to represent her regarding her “driving while intoxicated” case.

Furthermore, the Human Resources director told Shelly that it was a good thing that she wanted to employ a “driving under the influence” attorney because of the difficulties and harsh implications which are linked to a DWI conviction.

The Human Resources director could tell that Shelly was clearly distressed and embarrassed by this entire situation. As a consequence, he assured Shelly that while he doesn’t believe that responsible men and women ought to ever get behind the wheel after drinking, regrettably these situations sometimes occur to incredibly good persons.

The Human Resources manager then explained that because such a scenario can’t be undone, what’s significant is what the person does from this moment in time forward. As acknowledged by the Human Resources manager, “does the particular person learn from his/her mistakes or does the person develop a pattern of alcohol related difficulties that cause the individual long-term pain and suffering”?

Fortunately, Shelly Did Not Have a History of Irresponsible and Hazardous Drinking

Just before finishing their conversation, the Human Resources manager told Shelly that it was quite positive that she doesn’t have a record of abusive and excessive drinking drinking. Furthermore, she hasn’t had an alcohol-related situation since her university days (which was almost 19 years ago). As a consequence, Shelly ought to be able to face her “driving under the influence” arrest with embarrassment but also with a degree of self-confidence knowing that she will encounter and sort out this obstacle and turn out to be an even better individual down the road.

Shelly thanked the Human Resources manager for his uplifting and motivating words and then walked over towards the company employee’s assistance program to discuss her DWI arrest, her participation in abusive and hazardous drinking drinking over the weekend, and her need to employ a “driving under the influence” attorney to represent her DUI case.

After listening to Shelly’s “story,” the therapist that was part of the company employee’s assistance program described Shelly’s immediate “action plan” that she needed to address and follow. First, she would be required to take a DUI class to learn more DUI facts and information. Second, she would also be required to take an alcohol abuse class to address her possible problem drinking. And finally, it would be an especially intelligent thing to do if she were to consult with a DUI lawyer about her DWI arrest.

Shelly Feels Encouraged That She Will Learn From Her Oversight and Grow To Be More Responsible

It was obvious that Shelly was very upset with the entire DUI situation, but after talking to the Human Resources director and to the psychologist inside the company employee’s assistance program, she felt comfort knowing that she would in truth learn from her blunder and grow to be even more healthy and balanced, even more sensible, and an even more thankful individual.

Shelly was identified at work as an extremely conservative human being who had a very good work record. She in no way attended any of the happy hours following work and it was regarded through the workplace that she was quite a religious individual who many times talked about the dangers of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency in our country.

Try to imagine the surprise within the workplace when one Monday morning Shelly didn’t show up for work and no one had heard from her. In reality, it wasn’t until around 10:15 in the morning that the human resources department received a phone call about Shelly from the local jail.

Shelly Goes Out Partying Along With a Several of Her College Pals

Apparently, Shelly went out drinking together with a few of her college friends Saturday night and at some time close to 4:45 Sunday morning, Shelly was arrested for a DWI. Since her blood alcohol content level (BAC) was very elevated, she was mandated to spend a day-in-a-half in the county jail.

Shelly Talks to Her Manager and The Human Resources Manager

When Shelly came to work on Tuesday morning, she instantly shared with her manager what had occurred and she asked if she could possibly go and talk with the Human Resources director about her “driving while intoxicated” arrest.

When she got to the Human Resources department and met with the director, she explained that she hadn’t been drunk since her college days and that she was really humiliated about her DUI arrest. She also stressed the point that she required some assistance getting a highly skilled and effective “drunk driving” lawyer who would represent her “driving under the influence” case. Stated another way, Shelly really wanted the Human Resources manager to agree that she needed to see a DUI attorney.

The Human Resources director told Shelly that she ought to make an appointment with someone in the company employee’s assistance program to go over any possible drinking problem that she may have. The HR manager also articulated that she needs to discuss her desire to employ a “drunk driving” lawyer to represent her regarding her “driving while intoxicated” case.

Furthermore, the Human Resources director told Shelly that it was a good thing that she wanted to employ a “driving under the influence” attorney because of the difficulties and harsh implications which are linked to a DWI conviction.

The Human Resources director could tell that Shelly was clearly distressed and embarrassed by this entire situation. As a consequence, he assured Shelly that while he doesn’t believe that responsible men and women ought to ever get behind the wheel after drinking, regrettably these situations sometimes occur to incredibly good persons.

The Human Resources manager then explained that because such a scenario can’t be undone, what’s significant is what the person does from this moment in time forward. As acknowledged by the Human Resources manager, “does the particular person learn from his/her mistakes or does the person develop a pattern of alcohol related difficulties that cause the individual long-term pain and suffering”?

Fortunately, Shelly Did Not Have a History of Irresponsible and Hazardous Drinking

Just before finishing their conversation, the Human Resources manager told Shelly that it was quite positive that she doesn’t have a record of abusive and excessive drinking drinking. Furthermore, she hasn’t had an alcohol-related situation since her university days (which was almost 19 years ago). As a consequence, Shelly ought to be able to face her “driving under the influence” arrest with embarrassment but also with a degree of self-confidence knowing that she will encounter and sort out this obstacle and turn out to be an even better individual down the road.

Shelly thanked the Human Resources manager for his uplifting and motivating words and then walked over towards the company employee’s assistance program to discuss her DWI arrest, her participation in abusive and hazardous drinking drinking over the weekend, and her need to employ a “driving under the influence” attorney to represent her DUI case.

After listening to Shelly’s “story,” the therapist that was part of the company employee’s assistance program described Shelly’s immediate “action plan” that she needed to address and follow. First, she would be required to take a DUI class to learn more DUI facts and information. Second, she would also be required to take an alcohol abuse class to address her possible problem drinking. And finally, it would be an especially intelligent thing to do if she were to consult with a DUI lawyer about her DWI arrest.

Shelly Feels Encouraged That She Will Learn From Her Oversight and Grow To Be More Responsible

It was obvious that Shelly was very upset with the entire DUI situation, but after talking to the Human Resources director and to the psychologist inside the company employee’s assistance program, she felt comfort knowing that she would in truth learn from her blunder and grow to be even more healthy and balanced, even more sensible, and an even more thankful individual.

Russ got suspended from high school when he was sixteen years old and eventually found employment at a local asphalt manufacturing plant. For the past seven-and-a-half years he has gained a reputation as a hard-working employee who seldom calls off work due to illness.

Roughly nine months ago he started dating a young woman named Emma. They seemed to hit it off right away and gave people the impression that they had a lot of fun with one another.

The Heavy and Abusive Drinking Begins

When Russ met Emma, he almost never drank. This totally changed when they began seeing one another on a fairly normal basis. Actually, their relationship was going fine until Emma called Russ one night nearly 2:30 AM and said that she had to call off their relationship and that she couldn’t explain the reason at that particular time.

The next morning before he went to work, Russ drove to her apartment and immediately discovered that she had already moved out. Russ took this particularly hard. As a matter of fact, he was surprised because they appeared to be getting along so very well.

When Excessive and Heavy Drinking Leads to Work Problems

So what did Russ do about Emma’s departure? Rather than working through his pain and sorrow, he began getting intoxicated almost every night. It didn’t take long for his buddies at work or for his boss to notice that Russ was coming to work late at least once per week and that he over and over again called off ill. Not only this but some of his co-workers made an appointment with staff in Human Resources Department and stated that Russ time after time came to work with a strong odor of alcohol on his breath or on his clothes.

Russ’s manager heard about all of this from Human Resources and also from Russ’s fellow employees. So one Tuesday morning he invited Russ into his office. He told Russ that he had recently noticed a profound change in his behavior, work performance, attendance, and in his sick time.

When a Boss Can Motivate a Worker to Get Help For His or Her Hazardous and Abusive Drinking

Russ’s boss also articulated that a number of his fellow employees reported him to Human Resources because he had been coming to work with the strong smell of alcohol. His supervisor then stated the following: “Russ, your fellow employees are not reporting you to Human Resources to get you into trouble or because they don’t like you but instead because they care about you. And I care too. I don’t want to interfere with your personal life, but it is apparent that you are displaying some of the characteristic signs and symptoms of problem drinking. As a result, I want you to go and see a therapist in the employee’s assistance program to discuss your drinking circumstance.”

“Russ, I’m no medical doctor or a counselor, but I have seen several of my relatives and friends go through some very bad alcohol side effects. Furthermore, I have also witnessed the signs of alcoholism first-hand in my own family. When people have problems with drinking, these difficulties not only affect the drinker, but they also make an impact on his or her friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers, and family.”

Russ respected his boss quite a lot and as a consequence followed through with his recommendation the very next day when he called and scheduled an appointment with someone in the employee’s assistance program.

Russ is Still Depressed But Feels Some Hope That He Will Get His Life Back on Track

Even though Russ didn’t necessarily feel any better or less depressed about the pain in his heart about Emma, he felt some reassurance knowing that his supervisor and his fellow employees cared about him and wanted what’s best for him. This gave him some emotional relief for the first time in several weeks and he frankly felt some hope that he would get his life back on track.