HRM Business Parks -
From years of research, the prevalent medical view is that addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behaviour. But is it? And does this view further enable the addict to continue their destructive behaviour?
Dr Gene M. Heyman, a Harvard Medical School lecturer, recently concluded his research and published a book entitled Addiction: A Disorder of Choice, which casts a different perspective on addiction. Heyman argues addiction is governed by personal and lifestyle choice. His research concludes addicts will cease their self-destructive behaviour if the consequences are significant and dire. Addiction, according to Heyman, is therefore not an involuntary illness or disease.
You have to wonder about the implications of Heyman's position upon public policy should his position gain significant medical, social or politically support. Because addiction is considered a disability, the Human Rights Act imposes a duty upon employers to accommodate it up to the point of undue hardship. However, Heyman's assertion that addiction is a personal and lifestyle choice could drastically affect the way employers deal with employees who are addicted.
The duty to accommodate an addict could possibly become a policy of the past. Employers would have much greater freedom to dismiss employees who have shown behavioural issues (i.e. poor attendance, poor performance, etc.) as a result of their addiction.
For anyone requiring more information on addiction, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health is an excellent resource.
Sylvain Allaire and Tanya Sieliakus are managing partners with HR pros Inc. HR pros is a human resources consulting company providing strategic human resource management services and advisement to small and mid-sized businesses, local governments and the not-for-profit sector. HR pros is based in Halifax and provides services to clients throughout Nova Scotia. For more information, contact Tanya or Sylvain at info@hr-pros.ca, or visit the website at www.hr-pros.ca.
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