According to the study, most workers spend about two hours drinking after work, which can extend their day to 11 hours. Alcohol is the most widely misused substance, and frequent drinking can lead to dependence or addiction. While remote work offers the flexibility and autonomy that many leaders and employees enjoy, it’s crucial to address the often-unnoticed undercurrents of social isolation and loneliness proactively. We can create a more engaged, supportive, and healthy remote workforce by cultivating an environment that values and encourages genuine connections, both within and outside the workplace. In this era of digital workspaces, let’s remember the irreplaceable value of human connection in nurturing our professional and personal well-being. To help employers evaluate whether alcohol could be a potential fit for their workplaces, Clarity Way, an addiction and mental health recovery center in south central Pennsylvania, has put together a list of pros and cons.

Employees suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at work will usually deny it, said Kathryn Russo, an attorney with Jackson Lewis in Melville, N.Y. If you have a member of staff with an alcohol problem and would like some advice on your obligations as an employer, our HR consultants can help. If this is the scenario, you need to treat the individual as per anyone else with a serious underlying health condition, including offering reasonable adjustments. Failure to do so could result in a discrimination claim in an employment tribunal.

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However, it is crucial to be mindful of the intake to avoid overconsumption. In excessive amounts, alcohol severely impairs the senses, judgment, and motor functions. Likewise, it poses health and safety risks, especially driving or working the next day.

Employees drinking at work after hours is normal, but it can escalate quickly if the person is not alert. Furthermore, frequent consumption can lead to safety and health issues in the long term. Therefore, aside from knowing the safe guidelines for alcohol use, it is also important to know what not to do. Other alcohol experts agree regular, moderate drinking is probably safe. For one thing, most of that research uses alcohol abstainers as the reference group.

Statistical Outlook on Alcohol Addiction at Work in the US

Ok, so your company just announced regular Friday happy hours and a beer pong tournament next Thursday. Here are a few guidelines to help you participate in the festivities and still keep your job. As noted above, Silicon Valley startup cultures have created an expectation of a “fun” office environment. In house kegerators, happy hours, virtual alcohol tastings, beer pong tournaments are becoming more rule than exception in competitive industries. While having drinks with coworkers and employees may seem like a harmless bonding activity, things can quickly take a turn for the worse. Companies should instead suggest activities that encourage camaraderie among coworkers, leading to a healthier and stronger bonding experience and lessening the risk of repercussions brought on by after-work drinks.

• Thus, essential for employers managing employees drinking at work after hours.
• “If a substantial period of time has lapsed since the prior drinking occurrence, however, some employers will offer another leave and last-chance agreement.”
• Fuel cell breathalysers are widely available to help consumers monitor their alcohol levels.
• If feasible for your team, planning off-sites where you meet in person is a great idea.

If feasible for your team, planning off-sites where you meet in person is a great idea. These off-sites might be irregular due to the nature of where you all work drinking after work – they could be bi-weekly or monthly. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy warns of an ‘epidemic of loneliness and isolation’ that the pandemic has exacerbated.

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In recent days, the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM’s) HR Knowledge Center received an unusual number of inquiries about how to handle workers inebriated on the job. Members may download one copy of our sample forms and templates for your personal use within your organization. Please note that all such forms and policies should be reviewed by your legal counsel for compliance with applicable law, and should be modified to suit your organization’s culture, industry, and practices. Neither members nor non-members may reproduce such samples in any other way (e.g., to republish in a book or use for a commercial purpose) without SHRM’s permission. To request permission for specific items, click on the “reuse permissions” button on the page where you find the item.

Moreover, workplaces perform alcohol screening through several procedures. However, some companies also use urine, mouth swab, or blood sampling in some instances. Managing safety hazards is one of the primary responsibilities of employers. One of the practical safety measures that companies can implement is alcohol testing through a comprehensive policy.

It is certainly not in the best interest of the owner to allow their employees to drink on premises after their shift. Federal traffic safety data shows that the daily death toll from drunk driving during the holiday season is significantly more than the rest of the year. By the time bar/restaurant employees are done with their shift, sometimes spending 12 or more hours on their feet, they are likely to be exhausted.