Noah Nordheimer, Founder & CEO of APN, a mind-body health company.
The opioid epidemic made the danger of prescription pills and other substances glaringly obvious—even medications prescribed by a doctor can put someone at risk, and prescribed use can easily evolve into misuse.
Addiction can strike anyone, anywhere, and success is not a shield. Though we sometimes struggle to imagine white-collar leaders suffering from the same mental health issues that impact people outside the “bubble,” the truth is that leaders are also vulnerable.
Throughout my life, I’ve seen all kinds of professionals suffer through addiction—I have even experienced my own struggles in the early years of my career. Corporate leaders aren’t immune to behavioral health stigma either; they must work to overcome the same internalized shame and often struggle with the same fear of judgment from their friends, family and colleagues.
Often, that stigma and the demands of corporate leadership cause execs to forgo treatment until they feel consumed by the disease of addiction. The belief that “high functioning” people don’t need to seek treatment only compounds the crisis.
Stress And Substance Misuse By The Numbers
My company recently conducted a survey among over 500 tech leaders, director level and above, at tech companies with at least 1,000 employees. The participants surveyed have achieved throughout their entire lives to reach a comfortable stage in their career.
Yet, the data shows many of them feel overburdened by stress, and they’re turning to substances for relief: 77% of tech managers reported that layoffs have negatively impacted their health. Almost 1/3 of tech leaders (32%) reported consuming controlled substances to perform better and cope with long work hours and high stress. And 36% say high stress, high expectations and peer pressure contributed to controlled substance and/or alcohol addiction.
These alarmingly high substance use rates are bound to impact other tech employees, businesses, and the industry as a whole. According to American Addiction Centers, nearly one out of every 10 IT professionals has been identified as a problem drinker, and nearly one in five struggles with opioid use. Data suggests substance use disorders rose by 23% among those ages 25–54 since pre-pandemic. In some cases, this could be a result of working from home, a common practice in the tech sector.
If we want to get a handle on the crisis, we must train business leaders on how to create a culture rooted in healthy stress management so all employees feel comfortable asking for help.
How Companies Can Support Employees
Companies must understand that addiction is a disease that prevents someone from doing their job to the best of their ability. In the same way, we would accommodate someone with a physical disability, we should provide support for those struggling with substance use—especially when job stress is a main contributor.
Every company should have protocols for employees who need to take time off to seek addiction treatment.
1. This begins with a culture of acceptance and developing a judgment-free avenue for employees to request time off for mental health treatment—substance misuse or otherwise. Stigma is often the biggest reason people fail to seek treatment. Additionally, companywide training on how to respectfully manage someone seeking addiction treatment goes a long way.
2. Managers should also be skilled in providing the support needed to reintegrate employees back into the work environment post-treatment, similar to an employee coming back from maternity/paternity leave.
3. On a regular basis, companies should highlight mental health resources available to employees, whether insurance-based or part of an overall employee wellness program designed to promote lasting health. As with any other health issue, companies must protect their employees’ privacy and their right to seek professional help.
Rethinking Corporate Culture
Companies must also confront their corporate culture and how it impacts their employees. Is your staff still relying on happy hours for team building? Alcohol use is declining in popularity: Gen-Z drinks 20% less than Millennials.
Drinking-related work activities are not only exclusionary to people who don’t drink for religious, personal, health or other reasons, but research also shows a link between alcohol consumption at work and sexual harassment against women in the workplace as well as physical and verbal aggression. I think it’s time for corporate drinking culture to make its way out.
Instead, consider using the saved drinking money for better mental health coverage and benefits—like a therapy stipend or even a companywide subscription to a meditation app.
According to some reports, tech companies have noticeably decreased beloved benefits, slashing everything from free food to 401(k) matches and healthcare programs. Others go so far as to say we’re experiencing a “perk-cession.”
My company’s research found that 34% of tech leaders say their workplace has noticeably decreased the number of work perks in the past few years. And only 30% of Gen-Zers say they receive the mental health coverage they need, compared to 43% of Millennials, 44% of Gen-Xers and 50% of Baby Boomers.
Reallocating these funds and making other culture-based adjustments can help reduce the risk of substance misuse among all employees while promoting job satisfaction and protecting employee retention.
Why It Starts At The Top
While some find it difficult to sympathize with tech leaders who are navigating budget cuts, we must remember that they rarely navigate these times with ease. Losing colleagues, managing increased workloads and facing job insecurity can compound to create a cycle of guilt, stress and anxiety that can drive alcohol and controlled substance use.
Tech leaders (and business leaders of all kinds) are not protected from the harsh realities of corporate cutbacks and often sacrifice their long-term behavioral health for their immediate job responsibilities.
If those at the top don’t get the help they need, what tone does that set for tech employees in non-management positions? We rely on tech for business, communication, transportation, commerce and entertainment every day—we must protect the well-being of those in an industry that sustains us. When tech leaders have the support they need to thrive, they can take better care of their companies and the employees they manage.
The information provided here is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should consult with a qualified healthcare provider for advice concerning your specific situation.
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