Zona de Azar Brasil – Brazil: Companies Concerned About Employee Sports Betting
Brazil, November 13, 2024 www.zonadeazar.com Three out of ten companies are concerned about employee sports betting, according to a survey by It’sSeg, part of Acrisure, conducted with 205 companies of various sizes and sectors. Since August, there has been an increase in demand for talks, guidance, and psychological support from companies.
“Our clients are very interested in understanding how they should handle this issue. In most cases, they want to understand what they should do to guide employees and prevent them from developing any type of gambling addiction,” explains Danilo Nakandakare, a physician and superintendent of health management at It’sSeg.
According to Danilo, the main impacts of excessive gambling include addiction, financial losses, and mental health issues. “People who make it a habit often fail to realize that it’s becoming an addiction. This dependency can lead to serious problems, such as high debt, anxiety, stress, depression, social withdrawal, decreased productivity, and even job disinterest,” he warns.
The specialist notes that those immersed in constant betting often show inappropriate behaviors, inconsistent with a healthy workplace. The main warning signs are:
– Watch for atypical behaviors: excessive cell phone use, conversations about betting, along with decreased productivity or increased absenteeism, may indicate online gambling issues.
– Frequent financial requests: requests for salary advances or loans can indicate financial difficulties caused by gambling.
– Voluntary resignation: although rare, some may view leaving the company as a “quick solution” to pay off debts using compensation funds.
Some actions can help curb or minimize these behaviors within companies. Wallace Souza, Health Promotion and Well-being Coordinator at It’sSeg, offers the following recommendations:
- Continuous Awareness:
It’s important to maintain awareness of the impact of sports betting with talks and educational materials that address financial and emotional risks.
- Offer Support:
Provide support through partnerships with financial advisors to help restructure finances, in addition to offering information on benefits and psychological support programs.
- Monitoring:
Implement a confidential system for employees to seek help without fear of exposure. Monitor signs and statements that may indicate excessive gambling or stress to provide preventive support.
“It is essential for companies to be attentive to the signs of financial and emotional problems that may affect their employees. Sports betting addiction is a growing challenge, but with the right support, it’s possible to prevent more serious consequences. By fostering a supportive environment, offering resources for assistance, and financial education, we can help employees face these challenges in a healthy way,” concludes Wallace.
Edited by: @_fonta www.zonadeazar.com
