Selection Sunday is on March 15, 2009, kicking March Madness into high gear. As soon as the NCAA Tournament field is announced, the mad dash to fill out the brackets ensues. The NCAA estimates that one in 10 people complete a bracket for the NCAA tournament. For most, this is usually just harmless small time betting, but for others it doesn't stop there.
“Employers need to beware,” cautions Pat Jessie, Senior Clinical Associate of Bensinger DuPont & Associates, a Chicago-based provider of employee assistance programs. "While one bet a year doesn't mean a person has a problem, seemingly innocent office pools are often catalysts for some people to become involved in sports betting because they get a taste of the world of gambling."
Moving beyond the office and into the world of online betting, March Madness is the biggest event next to Super Bowl. The difference is that while the Super Bowl lasts for only three hours, March Madness lasts for three weeks --- providing more time for would-be gamblers to jump on the bandwagon.
According to The National Council on Problem Gambling, in any given year, roughly 1% of US adults, or some 2.3 million people, are considered to be pathological gamblers addicted to the risk and excitement of the bet. Another 2-3%, or between 5-7 million adults, have serious gambling problems, and another 15 million are considered to be at risk.
Knowing the warning signs is a critical first step for employers to make sure employees get the help they need ---- before the problem escalates out of control. While there are a number of general indicators of problem gambling, others are more specific to the workplace. Warning signs include:
changes in absenteeism, tardiness
absences from the work area
excessive phone use
higher number of illnesses, ailments, injuries, work-related accidents
mood swings, anxiety, irritability
complaints from customers, co-workers, others
changes in productivity and quality of work
changes in ability to concentrate
making excuses for poor performance
“Employers need to realize that harmless March Madness office pools are often catalysts for some people to become involved in sports betting because they get a taste of the world of gambling,” says Jessie. “As these warning signs indicate, problem gambling is a serious mental health disorder that needs immediate and appropriate attention. It is important that employers make problem gambling counseling available: At-risk employees can get the confidential help they need from a company’s employee assistance program.”
Bensinger DuPont & Associates is a privately owned professional services company that is dedicated to promoting healthy outcomes for employees, the workplace, individuals and their families through a wide range of consultation, training and counseling services. For additional information, Pat Jessie can be reached at 1-800-227-8620.