Caroline J. Berdzik, partner and chair of the firm’s Employment and Labor and Health Care practice groups, was featured in a Q&A with The National Law Review giving insight and ideas on how employers should proceed when an employee demonstrates an indication of substance abuse.

In “Employer Concerns with Employee Substance Abuse and Drug Use: A Q&A with Caroline J. Berdzik of Goldberg Segalla,” Caroline talks about legal requirements, potential risks employers face with employees struggling with addiction, and issues to consider when discussing an addiction with an employee.

“Unfortunately, substance abuse addiction and its ramifications cannot avoid the workplace,” Caroline says. “There is an acknowledgment that this is not an issue that has social or economic boundaries, anyone from highly compensated executives to hourly employees may struggle with addiction. Addiction can take many forms including alcohol abuse, opioid dependency, or the use of other illegal or legally prescribed substances. Employers need to be concerned about legal issues when dealing with an employee who is struggling with addiction.”

Read the full Q&A here:

“Employer Concerns with Employee Substance Abuse and Drug Use: A Q&A with Caroline J. Berdzik of Goldberg Segalla,” The National Law Review, November 7, 2019

More about Goldberg Segalla’s Caroline J. Berdzik:

Caroline devotes her practice to helping businesses, organizations, and management navigate the panoply of employment law issues, from proactive counseling through alternative dispute resolution and trial. She represents companies in diverse industries such as health care, transportation, retail, construction, insurance, and finance, as well as nonprofit organizations and educational and religious institutions. In every matter, Caroline draws upon her previous experience as an in-house counsel to bring a deep understanding of and sensitivity to the daily challenges and cost considerations companies face.