Gambling problems can directly affect an employee’s job performance.  The stress associated with gambling problems can lead to health problems and difficulties in work performance.

Decreased Productivity

Rates of absenteeism and lateness may be higher among individuals with problems related to gambling due to lack of sleep resulting from long hours of gambling.

If 50% of the pathological gamblers are late by an average of five hours a month, and the average wage is $30,000 a year or $15 an hour, then the overall loss to employers amounts to a minimum of $45 million per year.  (Ladouceur et al., 1994).

• This same study (Ladouceur et al., 1994) also reported 14% had skipped entire workdays to gamble and 36% had lost jobs due to gambling-related problems.

• Employers should be concerned about problem gambling among employees for several reasons including fatigue, decreased productivity, lowered morale and occupational risk for other employees (Paul & Townsend, 1998)

Occupational Health and Safety 

Human rights law prohibits discrimination in employment on the grounds of disability including duty of care to employee.  Employers are obliged to take every reasonable precaution to ensure the safety of employees.  

• Legal precedents for dealing with problem gambling in the workplace are very limited. In general, if an employee requests accommodation for a disability, including an addiction, employers are obligated to accommodate to the point of undue hardship.  They also have the responsibility for taking all reasonable precautions for the health and safety of all employees. 

• In order to avoid future problems, employers should address gambling in the workplace through the development of a workplace gambling policy.   

Risk Factors for Gambling in the Workplace 

There are specific factors in the workplace associated with the likelihood that an employee will become involved in gambling activities.   

Unsupervised time: for example travelling sales people, site managers, etc.

• Work conferences in gambling venues: for example conferences, seminars, work lunches etc.
• Lunchtime gambling spilling over into work time and taking the focus off of work
• Socially condoned/institutionalized employer based gambling: for example sports pools.
• Work stress, boredom.