Employees admit regular drinking affects their jobs
12 May 2008
UK employers believe that ‘Booze Britain' is contributing to a lack of productivity in workplaces up and down the country, according to new research.
The study, by Norwich Union Healthcare, found that 77% of employers believe that alcohol is the number one threat to employee wellbeing and is encouraging sickness absence. Alarmingly though, the research reveals that employees are broadly unaware of this problem, with just 9% sharing employers' concerns.
However, following research with British workers by Norwich Union Healthcare it appears that alcohol in the workplace is a reality. When questioned about their drinking habits in relation to the workplace, a third (32%) admitted to having been to work with a hangover and 15% even owned up to having been drunk at work. One in 10 employees admits to this happening at least once a month and one in 20 says it happens once a week.
Of those who have had a hangover or been drunk at work, 85% confirmed that it affects their performance or mood, proving the concerns of British employers are not unfounded. Employees said that alcohol affected their performance at work on a number of levels:
36% of employees find it hard to concentrate
35% of employees find they are less productive
42% feel tired to the point of being very sleepy
A quarter do the minimum amount of work and go home as soon as possible
Nearly one in 10 makes lots of mistakes which they need to rectify.
The findings show that the drinking habits of the British workforce are not only having an impact on company profits but are also a threat to workers' careers and their profile within their company. More than half of employees (54%) thought that their bosses and colleagues noticed a change in their productivity as a result of drinking. A quarter (24%) of UK employees also answered that they have felt embarrassed about something they had said or done in front of their boss and colleagues after drinking.
Dr Douglas Wright, Norwich Union Healthcare, comments: "It seems that alcohol and the workplace often do go hand in hand. Sadly, alcohol use is associated with a number of medical conditions which can cause significant morbidity and therefore affect performance and attendance at work, costing UK plc. It's essential that companies have a robust Drug and Alcohol Policy and Procedure to tackle and, where possible, prevent any problems developing. This should include provision for support and, potentially, referral to appropriate facilities."
Don Shenker, from Alcohol Concern, says: "With many people drinking at harmful levels it's not surprising to find that it is having an effect on the workplace. After work or lunchtime drinks are the norm for many and in some cases this is promoted by companies as a way to build teams or just as the way 'to do business'. Employers need to watch out for the early warning signs that alcohol may be affecting their workers in a serious way."
Norwich Union Healthcare is one of the UK's leading providers of occupational health and wellness solutions, with a newly launched Employer Solutions provision offering seven dedicated clinics around the UK. As well as health and wellness advice, it also aids companies with targeted education days that highlight the effects of alcohol consumption and practical programmes to tackle the problems. Services include:
Independent Employee Assistance Programme, helping employees deal with health and well-being related problems
Drug and alcohol testing
Educational events run by fully qualified personnel to help prevent as well as treat alcohol-related problems
Employee rehabilitation programmes
A sickness absence line which helps employers monitor trends within companies
Some occupations are worse culprits than others in regards to drinking and the workplace. The research showed that a fifth of people working in construction and 15% of those working in wholesale and agriculture go to work hung over once a week. Moreover, workers in labour intensive occupations admitted that their alcohol use did not only affect productivity but that it could potentially threaten the health and safety of themselves and others - 61% of people working in manufacturing and 41% in construction roles said that they found it hard to concentrate with a hangover. A third of construction workers and nearly a quarter in manufacturing also admitted that they make lots of mistakes that they needed to rectify the following day.
