Drugs users in treatment or exiting treatments face many barriers to employment when entering the job market. Those barriers may consist of job-specific “hard skills” such as ability to work on a personal computer. In addition to hard skill insufficiencies, unemployed drugs users may lack of general “soft skill” such as punctuality and interpersonal communication skill. To tackle this problem we design two studies to examine the existence and extension of specific barriers to employment in a sample of participant enrolled in a therapeutic workplace intervention for substance abuse.
In study 1, we characterized and examined predictors of participant score on a staff-related scale of interpersonal skills. As predictors, we used three demographic variables: Education, sex, and age. We collected data on demographic variables from Addiction Severity Index-Lite – Clinical Factors, Clinical/Training Version. We conducted a Job Termination to determine duration since last job held and type of termination. We also created a Work Behavior Inventory(WBI) consisting of five subscale (Social Skill, Cooperativeness, Work Habits, Work Quality, Personal Presentation). Participant age, education, sex, time since last job held, and termination type were used as predictors of WBI scores. We calculated intercorrelations for WBI scale scores and found that Social Skill Scale was highly correlated with both Cooperativeness (r (77) = 0.85, p<0.001) and Personal Presentation (r (77) = 0.78, p<0.001), and that the Personal Presentation Scale was also highly correlated with Cooperativeness ( r(77) = 084, p<0.001). Based on these finding, we combined the scales into one average score that was used as criterion variables in a multiple linear regression analysis. The result indicated that participants in our sample did not consistently demonstrated high levels of professional interpersonal skills. Especially higher age was associated with lower scores on WBI, while education, sex, and time since last job were not related to WBI scores.
In Study 2, we examined whether participants had a lower level of computer knowledge than job seekers in general population, and investigated possible predictors of computer knowledge in the sample. Participants in Study 2 (N=29) were enrolled in the same therapeutic workplace. Demographic Variables were collected in the same manner as in Study 1. After then participants completed the Prove It! Version 4.0 Computer Literacy-Basic Test. The test consists of 34 multiple choices and true-false questions and covers five subject areas: hardware, Internet, safety, software, and Microsoft Windows operating system. In order to determine if scores of Study 2 participants differed from test score of community applicants, we compared the mean score of participants with the test’s mean score using one-sample t-test ( test value = 27.
Employers may want to consider combating the stigma which haunts its addicted workers with a resourceful drug rehabilitation education system to both its addicted and non-addicted employees including the scientific facts surrounding addiction and dependence. This education may develop a positive perception of management, trust and introduce an efficient employee assistance program for all those in need to utilize.
Human resource practitioners and I/O psychologists have at their disposal a host of personnel assessment techniques. For example, traditional predictive measures used to screen job applicants have included the use of application blanks, job interviews and psychometric measures of personality and cognitive ability. For the most part these instruments attempt to predict an applicant's potential for success by estimating her current level of functioning on some psychological construct that is believed to be related to job performance. Recently, however, personnel professionals have added a unique assessment technique to their arsenal. Unlike traditional predictive measures of job performance- mental and motor functioning and personality attributes- drug testing attempts to evaluate candidates by chemically screening their urine for mind-altering substances. By collecting urine samples from job applicants and performing chemical tests on them, employers are able tell whether or not these individuals have illegal substances in their blood streams (Muchinsky, 1997). While a negative result on a drug test certainly does not predict a high level of job performance, those applicants who test positive for drugs are generally viewed as less than desirable. Such tests have been shown to be highly reliably; more reliable in fact than most traditional measures used by psychologists. The validity of such measures, however, has been questioned. The issue of drug test validity will be discussed later in this review. The use of drug screening procedures is not limited to job applicants; and it is not uncommon for organizations to regularly test their current employees for the use of illegal substances. Much of the rese...
Even with the study’s shortcomings, it illuminates an important need to not only focus on the individual when dealing with substance abuse, but to take a more holistic approach and deal with many different factors. The environment around the individual plays an important role in whether he—or in this case, she—will abuse substances. While the study specifically focuses on the effects of a woman’s social network, it notes the importance of positive ancillary support such as stable housing and enhanced employment opportunities (p. 21). These supportive factors increase the odds of forging stronger positive and healthier relationships, and thus reducing the probability of substance abuse.
Substance abuse is when a person want their mind to be altered with the use of drugs. Substance abuse affect all ages, race, religion, and income. When it comes to the characteristics of substance abusers there are many factors one must consider such as internal and external, physical, behavioral, and psychological. According to Demand Media (2013), stated that internal substance abuse is when someone feels the need to use drugs regularly, having that feeling like you need the drug to get through problems and have trouble when one is trying to stop taking the drug. External substance abuse characteristic is when people often notice behavioral, physical, and psychological changes (Demand Media, 2013). According to demand media, (2013), stated that physical changes are lack in hygiene, changes in the person pupils such as being dilated or constricted, and changes in their weight. Some behavioral changes are decrease in work performance, changes in the type of friends and interest and asking for/ or need money (Demand Media, 2013). Psychological changes are personality change, mood swings an...
Therefore, when I work with substance abusers I will show empathy, encourage and validate their successes and their feelings about any failures. In addiction, I will help the person learn from their failures and normalize the situation. Furthermore, I would attempt to ensure that the person had several coping strategies in place, to help when he or she finds themselves in a difficult situation. Moreover, I intend to ensure the client has all the tools he or she needs to succeed while getting to the root of their problem through counseling.
The purpose of this paper is to determine the level of substance abuse in the elderly community. There is concern that as the population ages in the United States, there will be a significant increase in the number of older adults being treated for substance abuse problems. This paper seeks to understand the issues and concerns that are consequently involved with substance abuse among the elderly.
Individual success at work is a subjective concept. For some it is defined by the rank that they attain within the company, for others it is defined by the lifestyle that their occupation has allowed them to lead. No matter what the personal definition of success at work is, its achievement is largely influenced by the individual’s interpersonal and intra-personal perceptions. Interpersonal perceptions, that is being able to understand others, and their actions, has high significance when working in the diverse team environments of a workplace. While, interpersonal perceptions may not directly contribute to success at work, it contributes heavily towards the individual’s ability to work in teams, which if done successfully, will directly contribute to individual success at work (Poon 2004). Even before the individual is employed, employers look past their academic performance and look closely at how they well they work in a team and to do so they need to have good interpersonal perceptions of their team members (Baker-Evelet...
Becoming a counselor gives you many opportunities to work with different people on different issues. When choosing to work with individuals who have substance abuse addictions, it is important to understand all of the issues that could come up. One place you can get information is the Technical Assistance Publication (TAP) 21. Within this publication is 123 competencies that are essential to counseling those who have substance abuse issues. This paper will give you information on ten of the competencies using knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
Substance abuse complicates almost every aspect of care for the person with a mental disorder. When drugs enter the brain, they can interrupt the work and actually change how the brain performs its jobs; these changes are what lead to compulsive drug use. Drug abuse plays a major role when concerning mental health. It is very difficult for these individuals to engage in treatment. Diagnosis for a treatment is difficult because it takes time to disengage the interacting effects of substance abuse and the mental illness. It may also be difficult for substance abusers to be accommodated at home and it may not be tolerated in the community of residents of rehabilitation programs. The author states, that they end up losing their support systems and suffer frequent relapses and hospitalizations (Agnes B. Hatfield, 1993).
underlining the significance of heterogeneity in workplace interpersonal relationships for positive exchange quality to increase job satisfaction and turnover rates.
With technology rapidly changing as fast as we blink our eyes, it is important for people to learn as much as possible about the computer world if they want to maintain a decent lifestyle because the world we live in revolving around those technologies. As McKee points out, “most jobs now require intelligence and technical skill” (1). Each year, there is something either added or modified to computers, which forces people to learn computer literacy at a steady pace. While some love computers, others despise them. When comparing people’s attitudes towards computers, statistics show a gender gap that proves most females’ attitudes are drastically different from the attitudes of males. Several studies prove that women not only lack an interest in technology, but they also chose not to enroll in computer classes. Since computers and technology play an enormous role in the world today, more technology professionals are needed. It is extremely important for more women to become knowledgeable in these areas. Swain and Harvey argue, “This technology gender gap is affecting half our population and causing it to be unprepared to contribute to the demands of a high-tech twenty-first century” (17). While this may not seem like a serious issue to some, it is an issue that will ultimately lead to a bigger problem if not handled immediately. So why are there so few women in the technology field? To answer that question, I must first find out why are there so few women in the technology and computer classes, considering that this atmosphere is the most common place where the interest for computers is born.
Jackson, S. E., Schuler, R. S., & Rivero, C. J. (1989, Win). Organizational characteristics as predictors of personnel practices. Personnel Psychology, 42(4), 727-786.
The rapid development of information systems and technology brings some positive effects to individuals. In order to use information systems effectively, individuals need to acquire skills and knowledge on using different computer technology. Take an example of an individual working in a project on market research, he needs to learn the way to use spreadsheets for analysing the data. The new knowledge acquired by the individuals will lead to upskilling effect. The innovation of technology brings a lot more new channels of communication, such as e-mail and instant messaging applications, it increases interaction between individuals. The barriers of location is eliminated by technology, people can communicate with one another in anywhere around the world through Internet. In addition, virtual office and work from home are becoming a common practice for companies, people can enjoy more flexibility in working locations and hours, and this is particularly beneficial to individuals who have young children at h...
There is no doubt that computers are firmly implanted in our nation’s daily existence. Everyday I use a computer at least once, either writing a paper, surfing the Internet or checking my e-mail. On a recent trip to the library to do research I was quickly escorted by a librarian to the variety of computer databases, which are the fastest and most current source of information I found a survey in Statistical Abstracts of the United States comparing students use of computers in kindergarten through college from 1984 to 1993. A total of 27.3% of students used computers in schools in 1984, while a total of 59.0% used computers in 1993. This shows a steady rise in scholastic computer use and these figures are probably greatly inflated by now in 1997.
In the year 1977 computers went on sale for the national public. Today in the year 2004 computers with connection to the internet are an essential item to have in the household. Accountants and typists are no longer the only ones buying computers. Age does not matter. Everyone needs a computer in the household. Computers help all kinds of people. Meeting different people’s needs, therefore computers are a useful tool for all age groups. Children, teenagers, adults, and senior citizens all can use the same computer, but they all use the computer for a different purpose.