Alcohol in the workplace

Watch our Consultancy and Training Manager, Susan Laurie, talk about the different ways in which alcohol and work are connected.

Roughly three-quarters of the population is currently employed. It is perhaps inevitable then that the effects of drinking too much are often felt in the workplace. Many of us will recognise how alcohol can manifest at work; whether as a bonding tool, a reward, after-work drinks, or at a networking event, alcohol is frequently presented as the main attraction, regardless of our comfort with that!

The world of work has also changed for many of us in recent times, with factors such as flexible working hours, remote working, freelancing, and the rise of the ‘gig economy’ (taking on short-term contracts or freelance roles instead of traditional jobs). However, the workplace, in whatever form it takes, remains a valuable setting to help people identify alcohol problems and overcome them.

Alcohol can affect our health and wellbeing, productivity, and safety at work. Drinking too much alcohol can worsen mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression, and prevent us from achieving our best.

Even small amounts of alcohol in the body can impair our skills,ⁱ meaning that ‘drinking on the job’ or still being under the influence from the night before is likely to affect our work-based performance, increasing the likelihood of mistakes and errors of judgement, and causing potentially life-threatening incidents in safety-critical industries such as transportation and construction.

Alcohol use is a well-established risk factor for presenteeism (being at work but performing below capacity)ⁱⁱ and absenteeism (missing work altogether).ⁱⁱⁱ Studies have shown how alcohol can normalise unethical work behaviours of neglecting work responsibilities, affecting both morale and motivation.^iv

Research shows that employees in particular industries are more likely to become heavy or dependent drinkers than others.^v Most prominent are jobs in mining and construction, hospitality, arts and entertainment, utilities, and wholesale.

However, other important risk factors can also increase the likelihood of alcohol-related harm, including:

• Engaging in shift work
• Working in challenging physical conditions
• Experiencing personal conflict and stress
• Having low job security or a lack of control over workload
• Changes or upheaval at work
• A drinking culture seen as normal at work

Emerging research indicates that working from home is associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption.^vi There are two reasons why this might be the case. Firstly, those of us who drink heavily might prefer to work from home to hide our alcohol consumption from our employers. Secondly, working from home lowers the barriers to drinking, making it easier for us to drink than if we were in the office. Both reasons highlight that with less direct supervision, working at home gives employees more chances to engage in non-work activities and unproductive behaviour during scheduled work hours.

Making changes to your own drinking, even a little, can make a significant difference in improving our health and wellbeing and can give us more energy, a boosted mood, and improved memory and productivity.

Whilst there is no one-size-fits-all approach, employers can put in place key measures that can make an enormous difference to a workplace’s productivity, safety, and morale. A good place to start is to develop an alcohol policy, and Alcohol Change UK can support you to develop this. An effective policy should aim to help and support someone experiencing difficulties with alcohol rather than lead to dismissal.

Further, providing education and offering access to support will help to create a work environment that encourages help-seeking without fear of judgement.