Influences on Formal and Informal Supervisor Intervention with Troubled Workers

The role supervisors play in linking workers with mental health, substance abuse, and other personal problems to formal and informal helping resources has not been thoroughly examined. This cross-sectional case study combining multiple methods of data collection from the perspective of supervisors and workers sheds light on the occupational, organizational, and personal factors related to supervisor intervention with troubled workers. Supervisors' personal experiences in getting help for their own problems significantly influenced their intervention behavior with troubled workers. Supervisor intervention was also explained by supervisors' positive attitudes about help giving and seeking, being trained to identify and help workers, and being aware of workers' problems. Overall, the results indicate that supervisor intervention with troubled workers is more apt to be informal (talking with workers, listening, and being supportive) than formal (referring workers to helping resources within the company or community). Employee assistance providers can help supervisors learn to be more responsive to workers' problems, to help develop peer assistance within work groups, and to establish linkages to employee assistance programs and community resources so that troubled workers get help.