More Professionals Vulnerable to Addictions

She was at the top of her game. She was a lawyer who traveled all over the country, handling big shopping mall real estate deals. She had four young children, a terrific nanny, an easy-going husband, and a family proud of her achievements.

But what no one knew was that she was an addict. That is, until she was arrested by an undercover narcotics officer when she tried to buy cocaine.

And despite her promises to get help, she eventually was disbarred after a second arrest for buying cocaine, was divorced by her husband, and lost custody of her children. She now attends addiction meetings daily, has a small apartment and a dog, and works in an antiques store.

She is my cousin.

Experts say professionals like her all too often become addicted to everything from pornography to drugs to gambling. And, with the stressful business times being felt from Wall Street to Main Street U.S.A., it can serve as a catalyst to more addictions in the executive ranks.

But unlike other addicts, executives often need a different kind of rehabilitation — one that emphasizes that while they are successful professionally, they need help in their personal life. In fact, top-notch professionals often have to be taught that while they are smart -- it's their thinking that got them into the addiction mess in the first place.

Also, experts say these kinds of addicts are different because these high-ranking employees are more secretive. In other words, you're not going to see them sit in a bar and drink. And, it's another reason they can become addicted to online porn or gambling -- it's easier to hide from others.

But let's back up for a minute and look at where it all started. Experts say these executive addicts often were the kind of children who wanted to achieve a great deal, even from a young age. Often, that meant less playtime and less social interaction. These kids wanted to be the family standout, to go to college and become as self-sufficient as possible, as soon as possible.

And while such self-reliance can lead to professional success, it also feeds narcissistic tendencies that keep these hotshots away from forming close personal relationships. Still, the driven executive often doesn’t think of this as a problem — until he or she begins handling stress with too much drinking, or stealing from the company coffers, or buying cocaine -- instead of turning to personal relationships for support.

At the same time, it is that driven, focused personality that makes executives good candidates for rehabilitation, because they understand how much they have to lose. Let's hope they get the message before it's too late and they lose everything they've worked so hard to gain.




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Job sharing challenges

In covering the workplace for more than 15 years, I've heard plenty of companies talk about how they have a "family friendly" environment and programs in place to help employees achieve "work/life" balance.
I've also read lots of nice feature stories in various publications that have named employers to their "best" lists regarding companies that support employees in achieving this balance between their personal and professional lives.
Unfortunately, I don't think we're hearing the whole story.
Too many employees have told me that while their companies have these programs on the books, in reality they feel little support for achieving a work/life balance. Their managers, they tell me, still pressure them to put their personal lives behind their professional dutues, regardless of the circumstances. These workers believe that if they don't sacrifice their personal lives, then they will be hurt professionally, losing out on pay upgrades, promotions or top projects.
In my interview with Kelly Watson of Career Partners, she told me that her company recruits executive women who want to job share. She says that by acting as a sort of traffic cop, her company makes sure these job sharing arrangements can work by supporting women (and men) throughout the process. As she notes: "Bosses feel that if you're serious, you stay at your desk."
Job sharing is an arrangement that appeals to a lot of employees. Workers who have aging parents, baby boomers who are nearing retirment and want to cut back and parents who need to juggle child and work needs are attracted to the idea.
And while Watson's company may be a solid step toward helping employers and employees achieve a work/life balance, the sad reality is that many workers who need that support the most-- lower income or single wage earners -- continue to struggle to cope with increasing work and family demands in this 24/7 environment.