The Growing Problem of Drinking Following The Pandemic
During the pandemic, many people increased how much alcohol they were drinking, as we were not able to go out. For some, this has continued since we came out of the lockdowns.
Harrogate Chamber Management Team member, Sarah Darbyshire, of HR Solutions Yorkshire Limited provides some useful insights into how to support employees whose drinking is affecting their work.
I've had a few clients contacting me lately with concerns about their employees' drinking and how this is impacting the workplace, including their work performance and attendance.
Clearly if someone is under the influence of alcohol (or other substances including prescription and other drugs) during working hours, there are a number of implications - health and safety; relationships with colleagues, clients and others; potential mistakes; reputational damage etc which clearly need to be addressed. In most organisations, this is classed as gross misconduct.
However, before we start going down a formal route, it is worth stopping to ask why is the employee drinking, what is going on at work and/or home, are they experiencing mental health issues. If we do end up in a disciplinary situation, asking questions as part of the investigation stage is key part of the process.
By exploring what is going on, we may be able to offer support to the employee to help them address any underlying issues. This may include:
Employee assistance programme or counselling support, if your organisation offers these
Talking to their line manager or HR
Identifying local sources of support – professional or community based
For more information, please contact HR Solutions Yorkshire on 01937 591577.
