Alcohol at work
Discussion
25 years in the building trade here,
Pretty much every contractor I've worked with has drinking (however much) lunchtime/OTT the night before as a sackable offence. These are major contractors though.
We also insist on a no smoking policy and no radios.
It's not only that you have a reduced ability to look after yourself, its also drinking impairs your ability to lookout out for those around you.
Pretty much every contractor I've worked with has drinking (however much) lunchtime/OTT the night before as a sackable offence. These are major contractors though.
We also insist on a no smoking policy and no radios.
It's not only that you have a reduced ability to look after yourself, its also drinking impairs your ability to lookout out for those around you.
I'm quite sure you can stipulate no drinking during lunchtime.
I would imagine you could also bounce this if you want to still be the nice guy boss, and point out that your insurance would be invalid if it turned out that people working in a hazardous environment had been drinking. Which is quite possibly true.
Personally I don't have any problem with it, but I can definitely see your point re the client's impression and potential safety issues.
I would imagine you could also bounce this if you want to still be the nice guy boss, and point out that your insurance would be invalid if it turned out that people working in a hazardous environment had been drinking. Which is quite possibly true.
Personally I don't have any problem with it, but I can definitely see your point re the client's impression and potential safety issues.
I worked sites as an apprentice and for a few years afterwards. Some guys were regular lunch time pub goers but for the most part it was one or two on a Friday, myself included.
The company I work for now has a zero tolerance alcohol policy and I would expect to be reprimanded if I had alcohol on my breath and rightly so imo.
A friend of the OH works for Conoco Phillips and they regularly summon random staff members over the office PA to the in house nurse where they give a blood sample and if any alcohol is present they are sacked on the spot. She is so paranoid that she doesn't even have a glass of wine with her dinner for fear of having a trace the following day.
The company I work for now has a zero tolerance alcohol policy and I would expect to be reprimanded if I had alcohol on my breath and rightly so imo.
A friend of the OH works for Conoco Phillips and they regularly summon random staff members over the office PA to the in house nurse where they give a blood sample and if any alcohol is present they are sacked on the spot. She is so paranoid that she doesn't even have a glass of wine with her dinner for fear of having a trace the following day.
jules_s said:
25 years in the building trade here,
Pretty much every contractor I've worked with has drinking (however much) lunchtime/OTT the night before as a sackable offence. These are major contractors though.
We also insist on a no smoking policy and no radios.
It's not only that you have a reduced ability to look after yourself, its also drinking impairs your ability to lookout out for those around you.
No smoking? Pretty much every contractor I've worked with has drinking (however much) lunchtime/OTT the night before as a sackable offence. These are major contractors though.
We also insist on a no smoking policy and no radios.
It's not only that you have a reduced ability to look after yourself, its also drinking impairs your ability to lookout out for those around you.
Onsite, or at all?
Wings said:
In some European countries staff are aloud to drink whilst at work, so can’t see a problem if employees are reasonable with their consumption, and the same does not affect their work.
How do you know if they are being reasonable with their consumption? You only tend to find it when something goes wrong and it's too late.I can understand more lax rules in an office enviroment but on sites where you have tradesmen in charge of power tools and people working at height etc then I tend to agree with the OP.
I think you'd be on a very sticky wicket as their boss should their be any form of accident and it was found that A they had been drinking at work/during work hours and B that you had full knowledge of it.
The balls in your court of course but can you afford to loose everything/possible prison sentence for the sake of a pint?
There are plenty of people out there willing (and capable) of filling their boots should they not want to cut out their lunch time drinks if you wanted to go that far.
The balls in your court of course but can you afford to loose everything/possible prison sentence for the sake of a pint?
There are plenty of people out there willing (and capable) of filling their boots should they not want to cut out their lunch time drinks if you wanted to go that far.
WreckedGecko said:
jules_s said:
25 years in the building trade here,
Pretty much every contractor I've worked with has drinking (however much) lunchtime/OTT the night before as a sackable offence. These are major contractors though.
We also insist on a no smoking policy and no radios.
It's not only that you have a reduced ability to look after yourself, its also drinking impairs your ability to lookout out for those around you.
No smoking? Pretty much every contractor I've worked with has drinking (however much) lunchtime/OTT the night before as a sackable offence. These are major contractors though.
We also insist on a no smoking policy and no radios.
It's not only that you have a reduced ability to look after yourself, its also drinking impairs your ability to lookout out for those around you.
Onsite, or at all?
However, We do use discretion if they organise a secluded smoking area where the kids can see/smell smoke.
It's becoming socially less and less acceptable.
About 12 years ago I remember a manager phoning a staff member who was in the pub one Friday lunchtime telling the staff member to return to the office or face disciplinary action. The following Friday a director phoned up that manager and told him to attend the team meeting in the pub or face disciplinary action.
I can't see that happenning anywhere now.
About 12 years ago I remember a manager phoning a staff member who was in the pub one Friday lunchtime telling the staff member to return to the office or face disciplinary action. The following Friday a director phoned up that manager and told him to attend the team meeting in the pub or face disciplinary action.
I can't see that happenning anywhere now.
I've worked on many sites over the years and visiting the pub has always been at the completion of the job or on the way home at lunchtime on a Friday. Most site inductions mention no alcohol or drugs and some have random testing.
Despite the fact I wouldn't fail the test I will happily walk off site rather than be tested as I find it offensive.
Despite the fact I wouldn't fail the test I will happily walk off site rather than be tested as I find it offensive.
james0 said:
I've worked on many sites over the years and visiting the pub has always been at the completion of the job or on the way home at lunchtime on a Friday. Most site inductions mention no alcohol or drugs and some have random testing.
Despite the fact I wouldn't fail the test I will happily walk off site rather than be tested as I find it offensive.
Presumably the penalty for not taking the test is the same as the penalty for taking the test and failing (else there's no point in testing.) I doubt you'd really walk off site rather than be tested, assuming the penalty is dismissal. Again, if it isn't, there's not a lot of point in testing.Despite the fact I wouldn't fail the test I will happily walk off site rather than be tested as I find it offensive.
I have worked at 'boozy' sales places, and workplaces where the odd pint only was acceptable. One of my jobs was at an airport where the policy was that no one employed (or contracted for) the airport would drink at all.
It was explained that this was for a couple of reasons. Firstly confidence in the organisation would be affected if anyone with a badge smelt of booze, even if all you did was marketing for example.
Secondly, it was a fair policy as it was the same for everyone no matter their role. I'd suggest writing a clear policy, explaining the reasons why (it seems you have good ones to me) and stating that you will apply the same standards to yourself and other management.
It was explained that this was for a couple of reasons. Firstly confidence in the organisation would be affected if anyone with a badge smelt of booze, even if all you did was marketing for example.
Secondly, it was a fair policy as it was the same for everyone no matter their role. I'd suggest writing a clear policy, explaining the reasons why (it seems you have good ones to me) and stating that you will apply the same standards to yourself and other management.
iphonedyou said:
Presumably the penalty for not taking the test is the same as the penalty for taking the test and failing (else there's no point in testing.) I doubt you'd really walk off site rather than be tested, assuming the penalty is dismissal. Again, if it isn't, there's not a lot of point in testing.
Dismissal from that site maybe. Depends who you work for, its not in my contract.Have threatened it, I'm usually on site right at the end of the job when the site managers just want the job finished and pretty much all the H&S stuff can suddenly be very flexible.
This thread reminds me of a sign at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in the early '90s.
It said: No Radios
No Smoking
With the addition
No Singing
No Smiling
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