What attendance changes might suggest a chemically impaired employee?

• A. Regular attendance
• B. Frequent absences without explanation
• C. Occasional lateness
• D. Regular on-time performance

Answer: (B)

Recognizing signs of chemical impairment in a healthcare setting hinges on noticing attendance patterns that affect reliability and safety. Frequent absences without explanation are the strongest signal among the options because unexplained gaps can indicate withdrawal, intoxication, or other substance‑use issues that undermine judgment and performance. Regular attendance and regular on‑time performance reflect steady reliability and safety, which argue against impairment. Occasional lateness can happen for many benign reasons and by itself does not reliably indicate impairment. When such a pattern is observed, follow organizational policies to document concerns and connect the employee with appropriate support or evaluation through the proper channels (e.g., supervisor discussion, EAP).