Addiction in the Workplace: A Growing Risk for Employers
Addiction can affect any organisation and often remains hidden until performance, safety, or wellbeing are impacted. We work with employers to raise awareness of addiction-related risks — including gambling, alcohol, substances, and behavioural addictions — and to build confident, informed responses through
training, education, and prevention programmes.
Supporting Employers to Address Addiction in the Workplace
From increased absenteeism and reduced productivity through to safety issues and fraud, the impact of addiction-related harm — particularly alcohol, drugs, and behavioural addictions — can be significant.
For employers
Project Wellbeing helps businesses understand addiction-related behaviours and the risks they pose. We support employers to raise awareness, spot early warning signs, and embed effective risk mitigation and support within existing workplace policies and wellbeing programmes.
For employees
Raising awareness to reduce stigma around addiction in all its forms — including alcohol, substance, and behavioural addictions such as gambling, day trading, Crypto and gaming-related harms. We help employees recognise concerning behaviours and access appropriate support.
85% of businesses in the UK have an alcohol and substance misuse policy. Yet less than 5% have a policy for gambling.
The real time nature of gambling and trading, means that employees may be gambling in the workplace.
Often described as a hidden addiction, harmful gambling may go unnoticed for years.
As an employer the numbers you need to know
1 in 10
UK adults have personally experienced addiction
53%
Would be uncomfortable speaking with their employer about their addcition
64%
Of employees report drinking alcohol for work-related reasons, often linked to job stress, anxiety and pressure
34%
Of employees said they have used or witnessed substance use or addictive behaviour (including drug use) during working hours
Sources: IPSOS Oct 2025 | Censuswide Jun 2025 | BUPA April 2025
Addiction is complex, with each individual having unique triggers and motivations. In the workplace, its effects can be significant — impacting productivity, attendance, safety, team dynamics, and employee wellbeing. Addiction can affect not only the individual but also colleagues, managers, and the wider organisational culture, making early awareness and supportive interventions essential.
- Financial difficulty, debt and bankruptcy
- Relationship breakdown (including divorce)
- Isolation and loneliness
- Low self-esteem, depression, stress and anxiety
So how does this affect business?
- Safety risks
- Absenteeism and Presenteeism
- Reduced productivity and work quality
- Conflict and team disruption
- Mental health and wellbeing challenges
There are people in your workplace
struggling
with addiction.
Addiction in the workplace is putting business performance and employee wellbeing at risk.
Wellbeing programmes
Wellbeing programmes should raise awareness of all types of addiction, including substance use, gambling, gaming, and other behavioural addictions. Recognising their impact on mental health and workplace wellbeing is essential for supporting employees and maintaining a healthy, productive workforce.
Risk management
Employees affected by addiction may experience reduced focus and concentration at work, and particular attention should be given to those in high-risk roles. Individuals with significant decision-making responsibility, access to financial systems, or roles critical to safety can pose substantial risks to the organisation.
Governance and fraud
Certain addictions can have severe financial or behavioural consequences that may affect an individual’s judgement and decision-making. Organisations with robust compliance, anti-bribery, and risk management processes should be aware of these behaviours and the potential risks they pose.
Treat all addictions equally, support every employee
Policies should prevent addictive behaviours at work while encouraging employees to seek support when needed. Workplace policies should be accessible to all staff and make it clear that disclosing an addiction will not result in discrimination.
Reputational management
There are many instances where employees have acted unethically or misused resources to support an addiction. Harmful behaviours linked to addiction can also damage an organisation’s reputation if left unaddressed.
Addiction does not discriminate
Addiction can affect employees of any age, gender, or income level. Some may struggle with gambling or trading, including crypto, while others turn to alcohol or behavioural addictions as a way of coping with stress. Younger employees are increasingly affected by online and digital addictions. Organisations need to recognise that anyone can be at risk and ensure support is available for all.
The case for addiction awareness improving
wellbeing in the workplace
45%
Of employees would hide an addiction rather than seek help
£1,800
The estimated average cost of poor mental health to employers per employee, per year
57%
Of employees report struggling with some form of addiction, with alcohol, gambling, and drugs the most common
£7Billion
The cost of alcohol misuse to the UK economy every year
Sources: BUPA April 2025 | NHS Health Survey 2024
How Project Wellbeing can help
Project Wellbeing works with corporate, public sector and not-for-profit organisations to build awareness and understanding of addiction in the workplace.
Sessions draw on founder Chris Gawor's own experience of addiction and his 20+ years in commercial leadership. That brings a practical, workplace perspective to a subject that is often hard to recognise and harder to talk about.
Workplace services
Workplace Addiction Awareness
Addiction doesn't always look the way we expect it to.
These interactive sessions help employees understand how addiction can develop, why it often stays hidden, and how it can affect life at home and at work.
Sessions cover alcohol, drugs, gambling, trading and other behavioural addictions, challenge stigma, and help people understand where to find appropriate support.
Tailored to your organisation and delivered virtually or in person.
Corporate Speaking
Keynotes, panels and fireside chats on hidden addiction, gambling and trading harm, and what it's like to experience addiction alongside a successful career.
Drawing on lived experience and more than 20 years in commercial leadership, Chris brings a perspective that challenges assumptions about what addiction looks like and who it affects.
Manager & HR Training
Addiction can be particularly hard for managers to recognise and respond to.
Designed for managers, HR and People teams, this training covers how addiction may show up at work, potential warning signs, and how to approach a conversation when someone may be struggling. It also covers the limits of a manager's role and where to signpost people for appropriate support.
Many workplace policies focus on alcohol and drugs. We also look at whether your current approach recognises gambling, trading and other behavioural addictions.
The aim isn't to turn managers into addiction experts. It's to give them the awareness and confidence to respond appropriately.
Corporate Speaking with Chris Gawor
Chris experienced a 12-year addiction to share dealing and stock trading, much of it while working in senior commercial leadership roles. From the outside, very few people knew.
Today he uses that experience to challenge assumptions about what addiction looks like, who it affects, and how easily it can stay hidden at work.
Speaking topics
Hidden Addiction in High-Performance Cultures
How addiction and compulsive behaviours can stay hidden within successful careers, and their impact on performance, judgement, relationships and workplace culture.
Gambling Harm, Trading Addiction & Financial Risk
Where investing, trading, gambling and addiction can blur together: the warning signs and what that can mean for individuals and organisations.
Leadership, Addiction & Psychological Safety
Why seniority and professional success offer no protection from addiction, and how workplace culture can influence whether people feel able to speak up and ask for help.
Recovery, Resilience & Rebuilding
A personal perspective on recovery and what it means to rebuild your life, relationships and career after addiction.
Available for keynotes, panel discussions, fireside chats, leadership events and corporate wellbeing programmes.
Client Testimonials
What are companies saying?
Network Rail
Chris is a passionate and authentic ambassador for addiction awareness and his lived experience really brings home the ease in which gambling can become an addiction.
Chris facilitates the sessions with sensitivity, humility but doesn’t shy away from the hard lessons he has learnt himself. The work he has done with my team has enlightened them and made them much more aware of the different types of gambling and the signs to watch out for, for themselves and also those close to them.
Whilst this is a tough topic, Chris embodies hope and hopefulness and ensures the group know where they can turn to for help if needed.
Steph Oerton - Head of People & Leadership at Network Rail
EssenceMediacom (WPP)
I would certainly recommend Chris’ training session on raising awareness around gambling harms. It was especially important to hear from someone who had first-hand knowledge and experience. Hearing Chris' personal testimony on such an important topic led to a really thought-provoking training session.
Within the session Chris challenged perceptions about gambling, helping to change thinking and introduced action points to take away. It is a vital training session on an important subject, in and out of the workplace.
I’d recommend Chris’ gambling harm session to any organisation, however big or small. To educate and advise on real life issues within the workplace that some people don’t want to face or challenge.
Avelon Thompson - Head of Inclusion & Impact at EssenceMediacom
About Project Wellbeing
Project Wellbeing was founded by Chris Gawor to help organisations understand addiction in the workplace and how it can affect people at every level.
Chris brings together lived experience and more than 20 years in commercial leadership.
For 12 years, he lived with an addiction to stock trading, much of it while working in senior commercial roles. From the outside he was successful: leading teams, hitting targets, building his career. No one knew what was happening behind the scenes.
His story shows that addiction doesn't always look the way people expect. It can affect anyone, including those who appear successful and in control, and it can stay hidden for years.
Chris now draws on his experience of both addiction and recovery to help organisations raise awareness, challenge stigma and better understand how addiction can develop and remain unnoticed at work. He has particular insight into gambling, trading and other behavioural addictions, which are often the hardest to spot.
Chris is also an ICF ACC-credentialed executive coach, working with senior leaders and founders. That work keeps him close to the pressures leaders face and to the importance of creating environments where people feel able to speak up.
Contact Us
Contact Us
Contact us directly
info@projectwellbeing.org.uk
07808 890 609
Project Wellbeing Limited
Crown Business Centre,
10 High St,
Otford,
Sevenoaks
TN14 5PQ