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# JAN’S ACCOMMODATION FACT SHEET SERIES

**Job Accommodations for People**

**with Alcoholism**

Alcoholism is a chronic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. Alcoholism is characterized by a continuous or periodic impaired control over drinking; preoccupation with alcohol; and use of alcohol despite adverse consequences and distortions in thinking, most notably denial. Alcohol abuse is a pattern of problem drinking that causes health problems, social problems, or both. Alcohol dependence, or alcoholism, refers to a disease that is characterized by abnormal alcohol-seeking behavior that leads to impaired control over drinking. 

The following is a quick overview of some of the job accommodations that might be useful for employees with alcoholism. For a more in depth discussion, access JAN's publications at http://askjan.org/media/atoz.htm.  To discuss an accommodation situation with a consultant, contact JAN directly.

**Attendance Issues:**

· Allow use of paid or unpaid leave for medical treatment

· Allow use of paid or unpaid leave or flexible scheduling for counseling

· Provide a self-paced workload or the ability to modify daily schedule 

**Maintaining Concentration:**

· Reduce distractions in the workplace

· Provide space enclosures or a private office

· Plan for uninterrupted work time

· Allow for frequent breaks

· Divide large assignments into smaller tasks and steps

· Restructure job to include only essential functions

**Difficulty Staying Organized and Meeting Deadlines:**

· Provide clerical support

· Make a daily to-do list

· Use electronic organizers

· Maintain a current calendar

· Remind employee of important dates

· Schedule weekly meeting with supervisor to determine goals and address employee’s questions, concerns, and work progress

· Write clear expectations of employee’s responsibilities and the consequences of not meeting them

· Establish written long term and short term goals

**Difficulty Handling Stress:**

· Provide praise and positive reinforcement

· Refer to counseling and employee assistance programs

· Allow for the ability to modify daily schedule

· Allow for frequent breaks

· Do not mandate job-related social functions where there would be exposure to alcohol

**Maintaining Stamina during the Workday:**

· Allow flexible scheduling

· Allow for longer or more frequent work breaks

· Encourage the employee to use company sponsored health programs

**Resources Specifically for People with Alcoholism**

**Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. (AA)**

475 Riverside Drive

11th Floor

New York, NY 10115

Direct: (212) 870-3400

http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org

**National Association on Alcohol, Drugs & Disability (NAADD)**

2165 Bunker Hill Drive 

San Mateo, CA 94402-3801

Direct/TTY:(650) 578-8047

Fax:(650) 286-9205

http://www.naadd.org

**National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information**

PO Box 2345

Rockville, MD 20847

Toll Free: (800) 729-6686

Direct: (301) 468-2600

 TTY: (800) 487-4889

http://www.ncadi.samhsa.gov/

**National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism**

Division of Clinical & Prevention Research

6000 Executive Blvd.

Suite 505

Bethesda, MD 20892

Direct: (301) 443-0788

http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/

Updated 3/22/10. 

This document was developed by the Job Accommodation Network, funded by a contract agreement from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (DOL079RP20426). The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Job Accommodations for People with Alcoholism

Fact Sheet Series