A British study finds that 40 percent of employers believe that employee drinking is a major cause of absenteeism and poor productivity, and one-third feel the same is true of illicit drugs, the BBC reported Sept. 16.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) study found that 22 percent of employers test workers for alcohol and other drugs, while 9 percent plan to do so. About one-third of companies surveyed reported firing workers with alcohol problems over the past two years, and more than one in four said they would report workers with drug problems to police.

But CIPD also cited the need for more rehabilitation services for workers. CIPD employee-relations adviser Ben Willmott said that 60 percent of workers who received help with addictions from their employers were able to overcome their problems and stay on the job.

Just half of the employers surveyed gave workers access to counseling, however, while only 38 percent offered coordinated rehabilitation. Those figures haven't changed since 2001, said Willmott.

"Clearly drug and alcohol misuse is an issue which needs to be taken seriously," he added. "Yet only a third of employers train managers in how to manage these sorts of issues at work."