SHRM promotes alcohol- and drug-free workplace

Clinical director Sandra Bordello of West Care Pacific Islands Guam talks during a Society for Human Resource Management NMI Chapter meeting at Fiesta Resort & Spa in Garapan. (Bea Cabrera)

The promotion of an alcohol- and drug-free workplace was the center of discussions at the Society for Human Resource Management meeting yesterday at Fiesta Resort & Spa in Garapan.

Clinical director Sandra Bordello and veteran advocate Daniel Duenas of West Care Pacific Islands in Guam led the talk to reinforce the drug-free policy of private corporations on island.

Bordello said she and Duenas were invited by West Care CNMI to conduct an alcohol and drug abuse presentation for the benefit of the human resources department of private corporations in the CNMI.

“This talk is meant to support human resources… and a prelude of what we can do in the community—for the people and the government as well. Employers invest a lot in their employees and…we are saying that help is available for these employees,” Bordello added.

Duenas said the program also help bring awareness not only here on CNMI but also in Guam where employers face problems in the workplace.

“This talk also makes the employers know that when an employee has an alcohol or drug addiction problem, you do not need to fire them on the spot but instead offer assistance to the employee and that if an employee asks for help, this is where we can come in,” he said.

“So employers can seek our assistance and provide training in the workplace. Supervisors don’t have to stress out and have any conflict with the employee. We can intervene and reach out to the employee as we provide both preventive measures and treatment,” he added.

Frances M. Sablan, program coordinator of West Care CNMI, said that they have the resources and expertise of licensed practitioners.

“This is the first time that we are presenting to SHRM but we have been conducting trainings for the Office of Personnel Management of the government such as the supervisors,” she said.

“We have trained since May last year 52 supervisors in the government and, on Friday, we are going to be presenting to about 20-30 supervisors on Rota and then Tinian,” she added.

According to Sablan, West Care Pacific Islands also targets autonomous agencies.

“We are not only catering to the private companies that SHRM represents but also the government. We are also reaching out to autonomous agencies…because alcohol and substance abuse is just about everywhere and awareness is key to preventing these addictions,” she said.

“We are also working with Department of Corrections in terms of trying to provide services for their employees [and] the inmates because we have an inmate program. Schools are one of the autonomous agencies that we are reaching out to because principals and teachers not only affect their peers but especially their students,” she added.