Mental Health, Alcoholism and Substance Abuse - Issues Employers Cannot Ignore
REPEATED on Wednesday at 7:30am.
According to one recent study, 40% of adults in the U.S. have reported symptoms of anxiety or depressive disorder during the pandemic, up from only 10% pre-pandemic. At the same time, reports of alcoholism and substance abuse are also increasing. With more individuals admitting to being under the influence of alcohol or drugs while working remotely, human resources professionals are on the front lines of managing this crisis. Learn to identify the red flags and develop strategies to guide your businesses through these complex issues through the application of real-world examples.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the drivers of mental health and substance abuse issues in the workplace.
- Learn how to approach and respond to employees who need assistance.
- Understand obligations and responsibilities when it comes to accommodating employee requests due to mental health, alcoholism or substance abuse.
- Learn and apply top legal strategies for managing this latest crisis while ensuring legal compliance.
In-person session offerings are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Lara de Leon, Esq.
Lara is an experienced trial lawyer and client advocate. Her extensive career has involved representing companies of all sizes, across many industries, in all aspects of employment law. Lara has successfully defended clients in the courtroom, before administrative agencies, and on appeal.
In addition to litigation, Lara has spent her two-plus decades of experience partnering with clients to counsel them through complex issues involving discrimination, retaliation, accommodation, and wage and hour compliance. Lara has also developed a passion for guiding clients through high-stakes matters involving pay equity, harassment, leave of absence and accommodations. Lara has had the distinct experience of working as in-house counsel for two large, multi-national corporations, which gives her a unique perspective on how to address the intricate issues facing organizations and their employees.
Lara is an accomplished speaker and presenter, having presented on cutting edge employment law topics at local and national events, as well as many online forums. Lara is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.