Alcohol tolerance norms and risky work climate moderate the cognitive effects of workplace substance abuse prevention

Abstract

Workplace substance abuse policies and prevention trainings form employees' beliefs and attitudes about organizational sanctions for drug use, being drunk on-the-job, and using the Employee Assistance Program. While training is effective for everyone on average, it could be less effective for some groups of employees who share their safe work environment and temperance of drinking. This research examined the independent and combined influence of workgroup drinking norms and safety climate on the cognitive outcomes of prevention. Employees from 72 workgroups ( n = 347) were randomly assigned to attend Team Awareness training n = 116), enhanced information training ( n = 117), or a control group that did not receive training until after follow-up questionnaires ( n = 114). Questionnaire measures of workgroup drinking norms and safety climate were assessed 2 to 4 weeks prior to training, and outcome measures of policy knowledge and attitudes were assessed 2 to 4 weeks before and after training. A multivariate analysis of covariance showed that trained-employee cognitive outcomes scores were significantly higher than scores from untrained employees. There was a significant effect of the interaction between safety climate, drinking norms, and training on attitudes that policy is effective. Policy attitudes became more positive among employees from workgroups that tolerate drinking during the team and informational training, but attitudes became more negative for temperate groups who work in safe environments. Comparison of regression results between drinking subcultures showed that informational training was effective at increasing policy knowledge for groups that tolerate drinking, and the informational training had no effect on groups that disapprove of drinking. Team training was followed by higher policy knowledge and attitudes relative to control group in temperate workgroups, but the team training had no effects for tolerant workgroups. Standard informational workplace substance abuse prevention training was ineffective for temperate groups in safe and dangerous climates. Temperate workgroups might benefit more from training that reduces classroom stress and compensates for the negative evaluative bias associated with stress. Effective training will focus on prohibition of drunkenness and drinking problems rather than on all drinking, and place even greater emphasis on healthy lifestyles that include problem vigilance and willingness to seek help.