Page 170 - The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous

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TO EMPLOYERS 149
any alcoholic problem.” This same company spends
millions for research every year. Their cost of produc­
tion is figured to a fine decimal point. They have
recreational facilities. There is company insurance.
There is a real interest, both humanitarian and busi­
ness, in the well-being of employees. But alcoholism
—well, they just don’t believe they have it.
Perhaps this is a typical attitude. We, who have col­
lectively seen a great deal of business life, at least
from the alcoholic angle, had to smile at this gentle-
man’s sincere opinion. He might be shocked if he
knew how much alcoholism is costing his organization
a year. That company may harbor many actual or
potential alcoholics. We believe that managers of
large enterprises often have little idea how prevalent
this problem is. Even if you feel your organization has
no alcoholic problem, it might pay to take another look
down the line. You may make some interesting dis­
coveries.
Of course, this chapter refers to alcoholics, sick
people, deranged men. What our friend, the vice
president, had in mind was the habitual or whoopee
drinker. As to them, his policy is undoubtedly sound,
but he did not distinguish between such people and
the alcoholic.
It is not to be expected that an alcoholic employee
will receive a disproportionate amount of time and
attention. He should not be made a favorite. The
right kind of man, the kind who recovers, will not
want this sort of thing. He will not impose. Far from
it. He will work like the devil and thank you to his
dying day.
Today I own a little company. There are two