by David Braybrooke

Created on: March 27, 2007   Last Updated: December 19, 2010

Working for a boss with a drinking problem is certainly no laughing matter!  It may even be quite difficult to do anything to help the drinker as in many cases a reliance on alcohol can negatively effect a person's behavior to the degree where any assistance offered from others can be interpreted as being unwanted interference.  If you do happen to work for an employer who displays an alcohol problem then the following suggestions may help you to effectively deal with what can be an extremely trying situation.

If you suspect there is a drinking problem with your boss make sure you find hard evidence of this before you attempt to offer any type of assistance; keep in mind that many people with alcohol addictions take great pains to hide this from others so it may be quite difficult to observe.  Try not to be too obvious when watching for signs of drinking and ask yourself the following questions: Does their breath have tell-tale alcoholic fumes?  Is their behavior radically altered at times, reflecting someone who may indeed be inebriated?  Have you seen empty liquor bottles in the boss's office or perhaps seen them secretly taking a swig from a concealed flask now and again?  Does their appearance seem unusually unkempt at times, a common sign that somebody is not taking care of themselves and often being the result of an alcohol problem?  If you answered 'yes' to any or all of the above questions then you may feel concerned enough to try to assist your boss through some means of constructive intervention.

It helps to accurately determine how severely your employer's performance at work is affected by their drinking problem.  The main issue being that the overall output of the workplace may be severely compromised by the boss's unhealthy habit and thus directly affect your job and possibly your future at work.  Simply stated, a boss with a drinking problem is not likely to be an asset to the company they work for, even if they in fact own this same organization.  Make an effort to speak with your colleagues on the job to find out their opinions on the drinking problem.  Be subtle and explain that you have a genuine concern and that you are hoping to garner the support of others in order to come up with an effective strategy when approaching the boss; pool ideas and devise a clear course before face-to-face discussions begin.

Make sure to choose your time carefully

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