Employees Gambling In The Workplace
The row in the tabloid newspapers over England striker Wayne Rooney’s alleged 700,000 gambling debt, supposedly run up in just six months, has turned the spotlight on the problem of workers who gamble.
Q How big a problem is internet gambling?
A You may think that gambling is not a problem an employer needs to be worried about, and is just ‘a bit of fun’ and part of everyday culture. However, online gambling is making it easy for employees to get hooked. According to eMarketer (March 2006), global online gambling revenues reached 6.25bn last year, up 28%. In the UK, 53bn was spent last year on all forms of gambling (including the National Lottery), with one million people regularly gambling online.
Q What are the tell-tale signs that an employee is gambling?
A Gambling has been called ‘the hidden addiction’. Unlike drug or alcohol addiction, it may be difficult to detect as there are no obvious physical signs of a compulsive gambler. Like other addicts, however, they will typically deny any problem until they are desperate for help.
It is important, therefore, for managers and occupation health practitioners to look out for tell-tale signs. These might include persistent lateness or absenteeism and excessive use of the telephone or rest rooms.
Among the clearest indications of a serious gambling problem are: borrowing money to bet or pay off debts; any effort to conceal their gambling, as this implies guilt that there is a problem; and the amount of leisure time devoted to gambling.
Before the advent of online gambling, compulsive gamblers might have had poor attendance records, but it may now be necessary to look for subtler signs such as: only having half their mind on their job; appearing withdrawn and less of a team player; secrecy; reduced productivity; irregular time-keeping; or general capability issues.
Q How bad can it get?
A Research shows that by the time most compulsive gamblers seek help, they are hugely in debt and their family life is a shambles. About 80% seriously consider suicide, and up to 20% attempt or succeed in killing themselves.
Three studies of Gamblers Anonymous members and others in treatment found that roughly two-thirds admitted to committing crimes or fraud to finance their gambling. In another study, 47% of the Gamblers Anonymous members surveyed admitted to carrying out some form of insurance fraud, embezzlement or arson.
Q What is the government doing?
A The Gambling Act 2005 comes fully into force in September 2007. Proposed new rules governing the future of gambling in the UK were also published by the Gambling Commission in March. They include:
Operators publishing policies and procedures for promoting ‘socially responsible gambling’
Information and advice for problem gamblers being prominently displayed
Online operators telling customers how much time and money they are spending on their sites.
Q What are the legal implications of gambling in work time?
A If an employee is gambling in work time they may be in breach of contract if they are not carrying out their duties and employers should use their disciplinary procedure. If the individual is involved in fraud or theft then it could amount to gross misconduct.
Depending on an employer’s disciplinary procedure, internet gambling at work could be viewed as gross misconduct involving the potential misuse of company property, unauthorised internet use, and the misuse of company time. As individuals get “sucked in deeper” to this problem they run greater risks and may get involved in breaches of confidentiality, workplace espionage, theft and fraud.
Employers should make it clear in their computer and internet policies and disciplinary procedure that gambling at work is unacceptable and will be treated as a disciplinary matter.
Q What can managers do?
A If managers suspect an employee is regularly gambling using the internet, they should talk to the employee about any stress they might be experiencing, as people gamble when they can see no way out, and an early intervention could resolve this. If you find an employee has been gambling online during work hours, use an informal warning. If their work appears to be suffering, you could go down the capability route if the problem persists.
The office, however, simply isn’t an appropriate place for gambling. It’s called a workplace for a reason: It’s the place where we’re supposed to work. Things that interfere with doing our jobs well should be done before or after work. As a matter of policy, XYZ Corp. Prohibits employee gambling: (1) at all places during work hours, and (2) on company premises at all times—including breaks. In other words, don't gamble when you should be working, and don't ever gamble on company property. Likewise, the creation of on-line gambling allows employees to place bets anytime, anywhere – including from their offices or cubicles. Even though workplace gambling is unlikely to result in criminal investigation or prosecution, employers should not turn a blind eye or otherwise appear to condone any illegal conduct occurring in the workplace. With the dust from Super Bowl and fantasy football pools barely settled, many employees throughout the Golden State will soon turn to their March Madness brackets. With all the chances to bet on sporting events, on the due date for a colleague’s baby, or on presidential primary results, one might think that friendly workplace wagers.
Employees Gambling In The Workplace Behavior
Just as with alcohol or drug addiction, the employer should consider offering support to any employee it suspects is involved in regular gambling, such as an employee assistance programme and debt counselling.
Employee fraud up 200% in three years www.personneltoday.com/34397.article
Spotlight on… employee debt
With March Madness coming up, you might have been invited to join an office pool — maybe a toonie buy-in, or something a little bigger, pricier, and more competitive. This is nothing new: from co-workers betting on big games to staff members checking out poker websites on their lunch break, gambling can be a surprisingly pervasive part of the workplace.
Employees Gambling In The Workplace Against
In fact, one workplace survey cited by the Toronto-based Centre for Addiction and Mental Health found nearly 60 per cent of respondents said employees at their organizations have been involved in Super Bowl pools, with 39 per cent saying people at their office pooled money to buy lottery tickets.
But is allowing (and participating) in this kind of activity at the office a bit of a gamble? It can, after all, be a bit of a slippery slope. To protect yourself (and your employees), it might be time to implement a gambling policy.
Here are some reasons for and against.
Pros and cons of workplace gambling
Before you prohibit all the aforementioned forms of “gambling,” keep in mind that these group activities can actually be a benefit to staff and company morale.
“If the stakes are really low, and it’s more about instilling some competitive spirit in the team, I don’t see much harm in that,” says Eric MacIntosh, an associate professor of sport management at the University of Ottawa. “People should have a little fun at work, and something like an office pool can be a way to have that fun and bond with co-workers.”
But before you call a company-wide hockey pool for the upcoming playoffs, keep in mind that you might alienate those who don’t want to participate (or, in this case, those who don’t know anything about sports).
“What if you’ve got 20 people in the office, and 15 want to be part of this office pool, and five don’t?” MacIntosh asks. “Does that make those five people a subculture in the organization?”
Chris Higgins, professor emeritus at Ivey Business School, echoes MacIntosh’s sentiment that a little office pool is generally harmless fun, but cautions to also be on the lookout for signs of trouble. “The real problem,” Higgins says, “is people spending time on gambling websites — be it online poker or sports betting — at the office. That can lead to a drop in someone’s productivity and could be a red flag for bigger issues, like gambling addiction,” he says.
According to the Centre for Additional and Mental Health (CAMH), employees with legitimate gambling problems may also be experiencing other mental and physical health issues such as depression, anxiety, lack of sleep, or stress-related illnesses.
Why gambling policies are helpful
When it comes to online gambling, Higgins says the answer is simple: Don’t allow it.
“I would restrict access to gambling sites … turn the switches off,” he says, adding most companies already block these types of websites.
As for office pools and friendly bets among coworkers, MacIntosh says there should be a “clearly articulated” set of parameters in a formal document to guard against potential problems. So what would that kind of policy entail? According to CAMH, they should focus on harm reduction and providing supports, and require backing from top levels of management.
The mental health centre also recommends blocking gambling sites, keeping accurate records on workplace performance, including gambling information in financial services for employees, and organizing social events at places other than casinos or racetracks.
Looking for more information on office gambling? Check out CAMH’s ‘Gambling and the Workplace’ resource online.
See also:
4 (free!) ways to boost employee engagement
How to build a healthier, happier office
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