It’s a big trend these days to bring a bottle of booze to work. Progressively, more and more corporate offices allow a regulated consumption of alcohol during and after work hours due to the increasing amount of stress employees experience. Although it might sound enticing to the younger members of the workforce, it isn’t foolproof.
No Excuse for the Booze
Alcohol intake and dependence still has negative effects on the body, whether people acknowledge them or not. They come with health and safety risks, and potential bullying threats from those under the influence of alcohol. The US is more lenient regarding this issue, but studies show that a bottle of beer has nothing to do with increasing the productivity of an employee. In fact, it hampers it even more.
Many employees now face the sack if they come to work with the slightest hint of intoxication or the slightest whiff of booze. Corporate New Zealand takes the initiative to settle alcohol-related disputes with employment-focused law firms such as I.R. Thompson Associates Ltd for a civil and peaceful sanction.
Follow the Law
In the country, there are strict laws and policies regarding employees coming to work under the influence of alcohol. Irresponsible handling of alcohol can lead to $2,000 worth of fines. Directors or managers who condone the act can receive fines of up to $600,000.
An incident in 2015 with a morning radio show urged the strict compliance with the law. Matt Heath, Jeremy Wells and Laura McGoldrick went out drinking and returned to the studio drunk, uttering unintelligible sentences while cackling in some parts of the show. Since then, policymakers have introduced zero-tolerance policies for both state-owned and private enterprises to maximise safety and decency at work.
While it may be healthy for the mind and body to de-stress once in a while, there’s no good reason for anyone to do it in the workplace. As the old saying goes: there’s a time and a place for everything.