Gambling is harmless when practiced in a controlled way but can be addictive and harmful. Gambling addiction affects someone’s ability to control or stop even when they want to or don’t have resources to support it. Employees addicted to gambling can spend their working hours betting thus affecting their productivity. One is considered as a gambling addict when they consistently gamble even after losing several times or have significant problems. They also attempt to stop the behavior unsuccessfully and end up overlooking other activities to gamble. This post will discuss the impacts of gambling in the workspace.
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Impact of Covid-19 on Gambling in Workplaces
Covid-19 pandemic impacted a lot of things including business and how people work. The pandemic made most businesses and workers to switch to remote working with the aim or curbing the spread of the virus. It also resulted to social isolation which made most people to turn to online gambling. Boredom and stress due to being out work turned employees into gamblers while seeking a form of entertainment.
This became a problem even after life returned to normal and businesses resumed. The tendency of employees to bet even when they are at work has affected business leading to concentration problems and lower productivity. Covid-19 also caused job losses and insecurity, making many workers to use gambling as a way to manage their debt and uncertainty.
How Gambling Can Affect an Organization Negatively
For your business to run seamlessly, become productive, and make profit, you need to work with dedicated employees. Employees addicted to gambling cannot fully dedicate their time to work and this can cause numerous problems.
Reduced productivity– the likelihood of an employee who is addicted to gambling to get tempted to gamble at work is high. This can distract them from their responsibilities preventing them from working effectively and efficiently.
Low morale– in case some team members are addicted to gambling and fail to do their work, it means that other members have to work extra. This can cause resentment and reduce work moral within the team.
Work absence– addicted gamblers tend to take extra time on working days or even full days to concentrate on gambling. This affects the company’s productivity since some work will not be completed.
Risk of fraud and theft– gambling problem causes financial problems and this can lead to theft at work. For instance, an employee who has access to company funds can fraudulently access company assets or steal to cater for their gambling financial problems.
How to Protect Employees from Gambling
It is the duty of any employer to protect their workers and take care of their welfare at work. It is important to know signs of gambling addiction to develop company policy and manage health risks of gambling. You can set up an employee assistant program to help employees deal with gambling, improve morale and boost business productivity. For example, you can offer an outpatient gambling program that helps counsel and treat addicted employees while still continuing with their work.
In conclusion, gambling addiction does not only affect an individual’s personal life but also affects their performance at work. In return, this affects the organizations productivity and growth. Working remotely, which increased due to covid-19 increased gambling problem? Organizations should create ways to help employees with this problem to eliminate work absence, increase morale, and boost productivity.
Janice has been with businesskinda for 5 years, writing copy for client websites, blog posts, EDMs and other mediums to engage readers and encourage action. By collaborating with clients, our SEO manager and the wider businesskinda team, Janice seeks to understand an audience before creating memorable, persuasive copy.