A new survey reveals that the lunchtime drink is back; the findings from Peninsula employment law firm show that 68% of respondents admitted to enjoying an alcoholic drink during their dinner hour.
Of those workers that do have a drink during their midday break they don’t just stop at one, 59% said they have more than two.
Proving that alcohol impacts on productivity, 76% of those that said they have a drink during the working day reported to feeling tipsy or slightly drunk when they returned to the office.
Peninsula managing director, Peter Done commented:
“This is an issue which all employers have to address in the workplace. The implications of having potentially drunk employees in the workplace will be a problem, with issues such as health and safety regulations and basically the fact that employees may be intoxicated is not an altogether ideal environment.
“Obviously breathalysing employees when they return from their lunch break is not a practical idea, even though it would single handily eliminate any ideas of liquid lunches.”
Done goes onto advise employers to take practical steps to combat the problem. Spelling out the rules in regard to alcohol consumption is the first step.
The study of 1300 workers found that there was no gender gap when it came to drinking; both sexes are likely to enjoy an alcoholic beverage at lunchtime in equal balance.
