1. Employees Gambling In The Workplace Behavior
2. Employees Gambling In The Workplace Against
3. Employees Gambling In The Workplace Violence

So you didn’t win the Powerball jackpot? There are still plenty of opportunities to win big in the next few weeks as Super Bowl 50, March Madness, and even the Oscars quickly approach. Many employees will likely be solicited by their fellow co-workers or supervisors to participate in office pools or football squares. However, employers should not allow conduct that is inappropriate, and in some states illegal, to interfere with business operations.

Employees Gambling In The Workplace Behavior

1. Gambling in the Workplace: It’s Anything But a Safe Bet A fine line to walk. Working together to complete and then follow the results of a March Madness tournament bracket, for. You can’t condone illegal activities. Bookmaking is also illegal in many states. With many employees working remotely.
2. Most workplace policies will prohibit gambling, some with a few exceptions, such as donating all winnings to a charity or creating no-entry-fee pools in which the employer provides a prize.

Some employers may view voluntary wagers made among employees at work as friendly competition or harmless fun. In some cases, periodic or seasonal workplace rivalries may even increase morale as different offices or different departments compete against one another for bragging rights. Working together to complete and then follow the results of a March Madness tournament bracket, for instance, may give employees who do not usually converse outside of their day-to-day job duties an opportunity to relate to each other on a different level. However, such activity could lead to division and alienation if some employees feel excluded for potentially discriminatory reasons related to race, gender, disability, religion, or other protected characteristics. Moreover, employees who already feel they are being treated unfairly may point to their exclusion from workplace wagers as further evidence of harassment, as may employees who are ridiculed by their co-workers for refusing to participate (perhaps due to their objection to gambling on religious grounds).

Employees Gambling In The Workplace Against

Whilst it can be difficult to diagnose a gambling problem in an employee, there are a red flags you should watch out for: Increased absenteeism Disheveled appearance Taking large blocks of vacation at short notice Excessive use of company telephones Mood swings Theft of company property Arguments. Likewise, the creation of on-line gambling allows employees to place bets anytime, anywhere – including from their offices or cubicles. Even though workplace gambling is unlikely to result in criminal investigation or prosecution, employers should not turn a blind eye or otherwise appear to condone any illegal conduct occurring in the workplace. Workplace has allowed Station Casinos' culture to flourish, and management to make employee learning and engagement a top priority. As well as empowering their people with the right tools, Station Casinos has experienced some of the fantastic things that happen when people come together at work. Work tools that change everything.

In addition, employees spending time during business hours to confer and place bets, as well as regularly following their picks, can lead to reduced productivity. Employees may cause interference with the company’s network operations if they stream live events on their laptops or smartphones. While the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards are held during the weekend, the March Madness tournament spans four weeks during both weekends and weekdays. Employers should be cautious not to endorse activities that will result in a significant loss of productivity.

Bookmaking is also illegal in many states. With many employees working remotely or across state lines, the risk of unknowingly committing a crime multiplies. Likewise, the creation of on-line gambling allows employees to place bets anytime, anywhere – including from their offices or cubicles. Even though workplace gambling is unlikely to result in criminal investigation or prosecution, employers should not turn a blind eye or otherwise appear to condone any illegal conduct occurring in the workplace.

In order to help minimize potential exposure to liability, employers should make it clear what is and is not permitted in the workplace. If employers conduct business in a state in which workplace gambling is illegal, employers should notify their employees that it is expressly prohibited and that employees will be disciplined if they engage in such prohibited conduct on the job. Even if employers conduct business in a state that permits private bookmaking, employers should avoid formally sponsoring pools or wagers where money will change hands. If employers choose to allow employees to participate in non-monetary wagers, employers should remind their employees that they must comply with all company policies, including those policies related to appropriate workplace conduct and the acceptable use of company resources.

Employers might also want to remind their employees of the procedures available for reporting any issues or concerns that may arise related to office pools or other workplace bets, and consider training their supervisors to monitor workforce conduct during the traditional office pool/betting season to help ensure policies are being equally and consistently applied. Finally, employers are advised to watch out for situations in which employees are excluded from or pressured to participate in office pools and other wagers. While nothing is ever a safe bet, being cognizant of the issues that can arise during betting season may increase the odds of maintaining a congenial workplace.

The row in the tabloid newspapers over England striker Wayne Rooney’s alleged 700,000 gambling debt, supposedly run up in just six months, has turned the spotlight on the problem of workers who gamble.
Q How big a problem is internet gambling?
A You may think that gambling is not a problem an employer needs to be worried about, and is just ‘a bit of fun’ and part of everyday culture. However, online gambling is making it easy for employees to get hooked. According to eMarketer (March 2006), global online gambling revenues reached 6.25bn last year, up 28%. In the UK, 53bn was spent last year on all forms of gambling (including the National Lottery), with one million people regularly gambling online.
Q What are the tell-tale signs that an employee is gambling?
A Gambling has been called ‘the hidden addiction’. Unlike drug or alcohol addiction, it may be difficult to detect as there are no obvious physical signs of a compulsive gambler. Like other addicts, however, they will typically deny any problem until they are desperate for help.
It is important, therefore, for managers and occupation health practitioners to look out for tell-tale signs. These might include persistent lateness or absenteeism and excessive use of the telephone or rest rooms.
Among the clearest indications of a serious gambling problem are: borrowing money to bet or pay off debts; any effort to conceal their gambling, as this implies guilt that there is a problem; and the amount of leisure time devoted to gambling.
Before the advent of online gambling, compulsive gamblers might have had poor attendance records, but it may now be necessary to look for subtler signs such as: only having half their mind on their job; appearing withdrawn and less of a team player; secrecy; reduced productivity; irregular time-keeping; or general capability issues.
Q How bad can it get?
A Research shows that by the time most compulsive gamblers seek help, they are hugely in debt and their family life is a shambles. About 80% seriously consider suicide, and up to 20% attempt or succeed in killing themselves.
Three studies of Gamblers Anonymous members and others in treatment found that roughly two-thirds admitted to committing crimes or fraud to finance their gambling. In another study, 47% of the Gamblers Anonymous members surveyed admitted to carrying out some form of insurance fraud, embezzlement or arson.
Q What is the government doing?
A The Gambling Act 2005 comes fully into force in September 2007. Proposed new rules governing the future of gambling in the UK were also published by the Gambling Commission in March. They include:
Operators publishing policies and procedures for promoting ‘socially responsible gambling’
Information and advice for problem gamblers being prominently displayed
Online operators telling customers how much time and money they are spending on their sites.
Q What are the legal implications of gambling in work time?
A If an employee is gambling in work time they may be in breach of contract if they are not carrying out their duties and employers should use their disciplinary procedure. If the individual is involved in fraud or theft then it could amount to gross misconduct.
Depending on an employer’s disciplinary procedure, internet gambling at work could be viewed as gross misconduct involving the potential misuse of company property, unauthorised internet use, and the misuse of company time. As individuals get “sucked in deeper” to this problem they run greater risks and may get involved in breaches of confidentiality, workplace espionage, theft and fraud.
Employers should make it clear in their computer and internet policies and disciplinary procedure that gambling at work is unacceptable and will be treated as a disciplinary matter.
Q What can managers do?
A If managers suspect an employee is regularly gambling using the internet, they should talk to the employee about any stress they might be experiencing, as people gamble when they can see no way out, and an early intervention could resolve this. If you find an employee has been gambling online during work hours, use an informal warning. If their work appears to be suffering, you could go down the capability route if the problem persists.

Employees Gambling In The Workplace Violence

Just as with alcohol or drug addiction, the employer should consider offering support to any employee it suspects is involved in regular gambling, such as an employee assistance programme and debt counselling.
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