The consumption of tobacco and alcohol has increased among employees. It is the occupational physicians, nurses, psychologists and ergonomists who intervene in companies who say so. For nearly half of employees, since the start of the health crisis, these consumptions have been increasing. Interviewed by the National Institute for Research and Security (INRS), they talk about addictive practices in the workplace.
For almost two thirds of them, 64%, the consumption of alcohol and cannabis is “widespread” at work. Occupational doctors estimate the proportion of employees in difficulty with alcohol at 8.6%. This is a stable figure compared to the same survey carried out in 2009. On the other hand, they estimate that those concerned by a Cannabis addiction is on the rise, at 7% today, two points more than in 2009.
Doctor Philippe Hache, who conducted this study, believes that these addictive practices can be the cause of several factors, coming from both private and professional life. But three quarters of occupational health professionals believe that there is a link between the consumption of these products and work. According to them, the factors that most favor consumption are psychosocial risks, that is to say the stress of not meeting the requirements, violence at work, internal and external, burn-out, follow-ups by atypical hours, isolated work, pots in the company and teleworking.
Teleworking would therefore encourage addictive behavior. According to a recent survey conducted by Odoxa, 41% of employees and 47% of managers believe that addictions are more frequent in telework. According to occupational health specialists, teleworking makes these practices less visible. And the fact of working in a group, in a company, acts as a regulator to these practices, as a brake.
Left to their own devices, the teleworking employee can increase their consumption of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis or medication. But he can also indulge in other addictions, such as those relating to screens. With, for example, a risk of hyperconnection, for fear of missing information.