3 ways to support sobriety in the workplace

Provide choices. If you regularly host work parties or events that feature alcohol, consider a change in time or venue that better accommodates non-alcoholic options. A daytime picnic or brunch in lieu of a cocktail party, for example. Also, make sure to offer a variety of alcohol-free drinks at work-sponsored activities. Options include juices and sparkling water as well as mocktails and alcohol-free beer and spirits. Serve them in glasses and garnish them so everyone feels festive and included.
Facilitate employee support. Educate employees about events such as Sober October. Make it a topic of conversation, explaining how it can positively impact physical and mental wellbeing. Organize activities including workplace challenges, morning meditations, lunchtime hikes or other opportunities for participants to gather and share their tips and experiences. Set up a workplace support group so teams can discuss their progress and struggles.
Promote existing benefits. While many health plans include benefits to treat diagnosed substance use disorders, employers who offer flexible spending accounts (FSAs) or health savings accounts (HSAs) can help employees proactively manage their alcohol use by educating them about telehealth services that may qualify as eligible FSA and HSA expenses. The optimal solution will provide resources, tools, and individualized support to help employees gain control over their alcohol use, and to educate them about how to navigate social situations without compromising their personal goals. Providing employees with confidential and always-available telehealth and online resources removes potential social and logistical barriers to care. Better still, giving them easy access to engage with these services online using their FSA or HSA increases the likelihood that they will take the first step toward a healthier relationship with alcohol.

It's important to recognize that not everyone who drinks is addicted to alcohol. Yet, employers and HR teams should not ignore the growing sober curious movement and the fact that employees appear eager to find ways to use alcohol on their terms, free from social pressures, and in ways consistent with their personal health and wellbeing goals. Providing the means for them to do so and making it affordable is a smart investment for any organization.

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Are your employees sober curious? 3 ways to support sobriety in the workplace

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