Written by Ellie Batchiyska

You’ve started to notice something about your co-worker. Some days they’re fine, cheerful, and on top of their work. On others, they’re slurring their words, seeming out of sorts, and having problems with basic cognitive tasks.

While it’s not unusual for someone to have an off day – maybe they didn’t get enough sleep, are sick, or taking a medication that’s affecting them — the signs of intoxication on the job are usually pretty telling. They include:

• Lowered inhibitions (doing/saying things they normally wouldn’t)
• Slurred speech (too loud or too fast)
• Poor balance (struggling to get their footing)
• Glazed-over, glossy appearance to the eyes
• Nausea and/or vomiting

It’s easy to see how these symptoms of drinking can deeply impact work performance. However, it’s still a sensitive issue to address, and one that must be handled gently. It should immediately be taken to a manager or a Human Resources representative.

Risk factors

There are multiple risk factors for alcoholism in the workplace. Some of them can be issues in the individual’s personal life, but others can be direct changes in the work environment. These can include:

• Extended shifts, and changing work environments
• Isolation in the work environment; employees who have little contact with other coworkers, clients, or their work space is away from the majority of employees
• Hostile workplace environment; an employee feeling bullied or harassed may seek out alcohol as a way to dull the feelings of depression or anger they feel at work
• Lack of proper supervision
• Changes to job; a change in department, expectations, or structured environment may lead them to feel unneeded or disvalued

In general, male workers between 14-29 years of age have the highest risk of showing up to work inebriated. Even more concerning, it’s more common in tradespeople and manual laborers in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, and construction – fields where inebriation can have detrimental, or even deadly, effects.

Dangers inebriated employees can pose

Drinking can not only harm the employee’s productivity, but it can endanger them and their co-workers. Employees that must operate heavy machinery pose the largest risk. Being struck by an object accounted for 8.2% of construction worker deaths in 2017. This risk is already prevalent where heavy machinery exists, but even more so when that machinery is operated someone who is being cognitively stifled by intoxication.

Falls are the deadliest hazard in construction, accounting for 39.2% of deaths. Lack of balance is one of the biggest side-effects of drinking, meaning intoxicated employees are even more prone to this already widespread hazard.

Inebriated employees will make careless mistakes, especially in manual labor professions. According to the RAND Corporation, employees who drink alcohol at least three times per week are more likely to experience injury at work.

It sounds like common sense, but it is still so heavily overlooked. Many employees are afraid to report this behavior for the sake of workplace camaraderie, but reporting it to a manager or HR could save you (and fellow employees) from immeasurable harm.

Responsible drinking at workplace events

Maybe there’s a holiday or your company is celebrating a major milestone. As such, you may want to bring alcohol into the workplace. Nonetheless, you want to ensure things don’t get out of control and that everyone is drinking responsibly, but how do you do that?

There are a number of preventative measures that ensure responsible drinking in the workplace.

• Hire a certified bartender. A certified bartender trained in the proper distribution of alcohol, and will remain objective and sober throughout the duration of the event. This means they can take the necessary measures to cut off individuals that have had too much, or contact emergency services if someone gets alcohol poisoning. They’ll also pour more reasonable portions.
• Set drink limits. Don’t make it an “open bar.” Supply employees with drink tickets, and allow two beverages per employee. Or, have the bartender issue a stamp for each drink an employee buys.
• Choose the alcohol selection wisely. Forego offering liquor at company events, and keep it at just beer and wine. Also avoid serving fruity, sugary drinks such as fruit punch, which can disillusion employees about the amount of alcohol they’re consuming.
• Make sure you’re covered legally. Should an incident occur, make sure your company insurance policy will cover it. You might even want employees to sign off on a document before the event that reminds them they are liable for their own behavior and alcohol consumption.

We’ve heard “drink responsibly” on vodka commercials for ages, but some people have a hard time putting that advice into practice. Whether their intoxication on the job is a result of personal hardships or a one-time occurrence, it must be immediately addressed for the welfare of the company, fellow employees, and the worker in question. Although it may be an uncomfortable issue to tackle in the moment, you will be thanked for it by all those concerned later on down the line.