If concerns have been raised regarding an individual related to their gambling it is important that action is taken as gambling harm can escalate quickly leading to more severe issues for both the individual and the organisation.
Firstly, establish if the person has actually done anything wrong. Check your organisations gambling policy, if gambling is permitted with another provider outside of worktime and this has been observed then with regards to this policy the person has not done anything wrong and it is important not to display any predjudice towards gambling and/or gambling harm. “Would I lose my job if I had an issue with gambling?” is our most common FAQ and it is this misconception that leads people to be more secretive about their gambling and sadly results in situations where gambling harm has escalated to a point where gross misconduct has been committed.
Pro-active work here can help prevent this scenario, raising awareness through training and awareness campaigns such as Safer Gambling Week, combined with literature and information as to where to access support such as the material included on these pages is a good start. Does your organisation have an Employee Assistance Programme, and can you confidently recommend safer gambling tools and further support if needed?
If it is established that an offence has been committed such as poor performance, timekeeping or personal conduct that is a result of a gambling issue or other personal issue involving mental health or a personal trauma, it is important that the individual still receives the support they need to recover. Organisations that can support are listed below see “Sources of help”. Even in cases where gross misconduct such as theft, fraud or abuse has taken place which has led to the termination of their employment signposting to third party providers as detailed below should be given in the hope that the further escalation of harm is prevented and the person involved can begin their recovery. People can and do recover from gambling harm.