Impairment
Summary: Impairment can arise from various factors such as substance use, family or health issues, trauma, and employee stress. These factors have the potential to hinder an individual's capacity to perform their work in a safe and effective manner. These free resources can help.
For individuals
Addiction is characterized by behaviour that is beyond one's control. Individuals may not always recognize their substance use as problematic, even when it is. If you care about someone and want to offer support, there are resources to help you prepare for the conversation.
For leaders
Effectively managing a situation where an employee seems impaired can be challenging for leaders. Rather than diagnosing impairment, supervisors should establish a clear definition of impaired behaviour, implement an impairment policy, recognize signs and symptoms, and have processes in place to address concerns.
Impairment articles and resources
The list that follows includes the resources linked to above as well as related information that may be more specific to your current situation:
Information to help identify the signs of impairment and respond effectively. These strategies can also help accommodate an employee’s return to work after treatment.
Impaired employees could exhibit erratic behaviours that can escalate to a workplace crisis. Learn how you can develop, communicate and implement an effective impairment policy.
Questions and strategies to help you have a supportive conversation when someone you care about might be struggling with an addiction.
Tactful words to use when referring employees to mental health resources for a variety of reasons. While the examples use Mental health awareness videos, you can adapt them for any resource.
Questions for assessing an employee's propensity for violence in the workplace. Consider recommending that the employee see a trauma counsellor.
The information and strategies offered here are intended to help you avoid engaging in addictive behaviours at work. This isn’t about treatment or medical advice.
Tools and resources for managing your own health and wellness, as well as information for helping others. Find credible information about managing well-being and mental health-related concerns.
How to help someone who is experiencing psychosis until professional help arrives or the crisis resolves. Learn about warning signs, symptoms, de-escalation and how to be supportive and safe.
Sleep deprivation is one of the most commonly reported areas of dissatisfaction for many working adults and it can affect both your mental and physical health. On this page, we’ll share some habits that can help as well as what might disrupt and impact sleep.
Questions and strategies to help you have a supportive conversation when someone you care about appears to be drinking a lot.