With March Madness nearly upon us, many employers across the United States will undoubtedly see NCAA basketball tournament ‘brackets’ at their workplace. Are these harmless fun or should employers be concerned?
In this video, Mary Drexler, Executive Director for the Connecticut Council on Problem Gambling, tells BLR about the potential ramifications of problem gambling in the workplace. Drexler addresses both the dangers posed by condoning an NCAA tournament bracket/office pool and by employees with a potential gambling problem.
In the video, Drexler answers the following questions posed by BLR editor Kyle Emshwiller:
- What makes employee gambling related to March Madness more disruptive than for other sporting events?
- Should an employer be concerned if its employees organize or participate in a March Madness office pool?
- Why should an employer be concerned about an employee’s potential gambling problem?
- What are the warning signs that an employee may have a gambling problem?
- What proactive steps should employers take to guard against workplace problems due to employee gambling?