Duygu Biricik Gulseren, associate professor in the School of Human Resource Management, was recently featured on the global podcast Business Talk, which brings together leading scholars and practitioners from around the world to discuss research with practical implications for organizations and society.
In the episode, Gulseren discussed her latest research on workplace substance policies and organizational inclusion, exploring how companies can rethink substance-related policies by moving beyond a narrow focus on impairment and prevention. Drawing on her integrative review, Keeping In or Pushing Out? An Integrative Framework of Substances and Substance-Related Control in Organizations, she explains how substances influence workplaces not only through individual use, but also through organizational norms, informal cultures and formal policies. She discusses “substance surfacing” a new framework describing how substances become organizationally relevant even when no substance use is physically present, highlighting how assumptions, stigma, workplace cultures and institutional policies shape hiring, inclusion, employee well-being and organizational decision-making.
Gulseren also discusses the intersection of substance-related policies with chronic pain, invisible disabilities and psychological safety. Since organizations can unintentionally exclude employees who rely on prescription medications or who manage chronic health conditions, she encourages leaders and HR professionals to adopt a broader perspective on substance-related issues—one that recognizes both the intended and unintended consequences of organizational policies and balances safety with inclusion.
Gulseren holds a PhD in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Saint Mary’s University. Her research focuses on work disability, leadership and healthy, sustainable work.
Listen to the episode on or wherever you stream podcasts.