Leadership, or the lack thereof, plays a crucial role in addressing addiction among employees.

Something that affects many industries, is addiction and how it intersects with leadership. Last year I had the privilege of speaking with Kimberly Flear, founder of Last Call Coaching, as she shared her own journey through addiction and recovery in the hospitality industry, shedding light and imparting hope my podcast. 

Creating an open dialogue doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

Compassionate leadership means recognizing that your team’s well-being is just as important as any other aspect of your business. The culture of silence surrounding addiction in industries like hospitality can be toxic. However, with the right approach, it’s possible to create a space where employees feel supported in their recovery rather than being shamed for their struggles.

You don’t need to be a therapist to listen with empathy or to offer resources that can help employees in need. As Kimberly said, you can be a resource or a bridge to the help they need. Whether that means partnering with addiction coaches or bringing in outside experts to talk to staff, the most important thing is to start the conversation.

Addiction in the workplace, particularly in service-oriented industries like hospitality, is often stigmatized or ignored.

Sharing her experience of losing several positions due to drinking on the job, Kimberly pointed out how, despite knowing that many of her coworkers were battling similar issues, she was singled out and stigmatized because she couldn’t hide her struggles as well as others.

What was missing from her experience? Compassionate leadership.

As leaders, we have a responsibility to not only recognize the signs of addiction but also to create an environment where employees feel safe seeking help. During my conversation with Kimberly, she noted that during her years of working in the restaurant industry, she was never once asked if she needed help. No one offered resources or simply asked, “How are you doing?” This silence only fueled her addiction and feelings of isolation.

Leadership isn’t just about managing tasks and achieving goals; it’s about seeing the people behind the work.

Kimberly mentioned how one of the biggest barriers to addressing addiction in industries like hospitality is the fear of disrupting the culture. Owners and managers are often afraid that if they open the door to conversations about addiction, it will overwhelm them—like letting the floodgates open. But this fear only perpetuates the cycle of silence and stigma.

So, how do you take the first step?

Start by acknowledging the problem. Offer open communication and educate yourself on the resources available for addiction and recovery.

Partner with local organizations, or even bring in someone like Kimberly to provide training and support.

As a leader, your role is to guide—not to have all the answers.

Provide the tools and resources that will allow your team to thrive both personally and professionally.

By embracing compassionate leadership, we can help break the stigma surrounding addiction and create healthier, more supportive workplaces.

Let’s work together to make that change.

If you are looking for help for yourself or your organization,  you can find Kimberly at www.lastcallcoaching.com .

With love, Dr Mary

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