Can an employer tell you not to drink outside of work?

[Ambleton]

If a colleague/superior was leaving and they were having a "works get together" AFTER WORK, IN A PUB, can the employer enforce a policy/contract to ensure any workers attending don't buy/consume alcohol?

(Ask you to sign a bit of paper to promise you won't do such a thing?)

If it was a lunchtime get together (with a working afternoon) that would be covered in more general company guidelines anyway and " "working under the influence of drugs/alcohol" procedure.

It's not a private party venue, it's an open public house, I can't see how an employer could even formerly suggest it, let alone attempt to enforce it.

I think (know) it's to try to stop people having a skin full and airing any dirty laundry...

Over to the floor

(PS, nothing to do with me, it's one of my pals)

Edited by Ambleton on Monday 14th March 22:33

[Sheets Tabuer]

No they can't and why would you work for someone that thought they could, feck me they'd be like an abusive partner.

[Ambleton]

Sheets Tabuer said:

No they can't and why would you work for someone that thought they could, feck me they'd be like an abusive partner.

Pretty much my initial reaction too when they told me that a "signed contract was being distributed to everyone who wished to attend"....

[Starfighter]

Would anyone be in uniform or workwear or in sign written vehicles?

[PurpleTurtle]

What sort of organisation is this?

[Ambleton]

Starfighter said:

Would anyone be in uniform or workwear or in sign written vehicles?

No, there isn't any branded work wear or vehicles

[Ambleton]

PurpleTurtle said:

What sort of organisation is this?

Mostly manufacturing/factory workers with office support staff (design, accounting, engineering, sales, customer support)

[CubanPete]

Is work paying for it?

Otherwise if it is an outside work function I don't see what they can do.

[Zetec-S]

If there's no connection back to the company (ie. branded workwear, vehicles, etc) it seems a bit odd.

My wife works for a bus company, they have a zero tolerance policy for alcohol which applies to office staff and not just the drivers. Employees are randomly tested at work, but there is no rule about when/where/who with you can drink with out of hours.

I guess if this works do was on a weekday evening the company might be concerned about people having a few too many and phoning in sick the next day, or nursing a hangover at their desk?

[dundarach]

No

However should you be doing anything to bring the company into disrepute you can and should be shot at dawn.

Therefore, no to getting pissed whilst:

Wearing company gear
Arriving via company vehicles
Shouting loudly that X company is ste
Sitting on company laptops working
Taking customers out on the lash and embarrassing everyone
Walking into a bar shouting 'do you know who I work for, 4 large ones now'

And so on.

I would get the request in writing, then do a st job, get sacked and pocket an unfair dismissal over obvious bullying.

I would not do the above, I'd be careful whilst getting pissed and find another job.

[anonymous-user]

Sheets Tabuer said:

No they can't and why would you work for someone that thought they could, feck me they'd be like an abusive partner.

This.

There is no way I would work for a company like that.

dundarach said:

No

However should you be doing anything to bring the company into disrepute you can and should be shot at dawn.

Therefore, no to getting pissed whilst:

Wearing company gear
Arriving via company vehicles
Shouting loudly that X company is ste
Sitting on company laptops working
Taking customers out on the lash and embarrassing everyone
Walking into a bar shouting 'do you know who I work for, 4 large ones now'

And so on.

I would get the request in writing, then do a st job, get sacked and pocket an unfair dismissal over obvious bullying.

I would not do the above, I'd be careful whilst getting pissed and find another job.

This also applies regarding 'representing the company' via uniforms, vans, branding, talking about the company etc.

Whilst working for a client recently, I was involved dishing out a bking to a team of maintenance workers and gas/electric engineers who all went to a village pub right on the dot at 4pm on a Friday (some slightly before 4pm) and got pissed. They filled the pub car park with their company branded work vans, and all got rowdy and pissed, whilst wearing their work uniforms.

Several members of the public called the company to complain that 'employees' were 'getting drunk' and so on.

[DP14]

As people don't like to take any personal responsibility nowadays, it could be an attempt by the employer to cover themselves for any blame if someone gets caught drink driving, crashes, etc.

[Super Sonic]

Ambleton said:

"signed contract was being distributed to everyone who wished to attend"....

So if you want to go they're going to give you a 'signed contract'? Signed by who? By you? You should fold the 'contract' until it's all sharp corners, then give it back and tell them where to stick it.

[Sheepshanks]

DP14 said:

As people don't like to take any personal responsibility nowadays, it could be an attempt by the employer to cover themselves for any blame if someone gets caught drink driving, crashes, etc.

Could be that - even if it's not an "official" event, if it's been organised through work, then they may feel they could be held liable.

[vixen1700]

God.

Bit different to working in the City in the early '90s when it was somebody's birthday everyday and a great excuse to spend a few hours in the pub. Fridays as well, of course.

Times have changed, alright.

[Terminator X]

Ambleton said:

Sheets Tabuer said:

No they can't and why would you work for someone that thought they could, feck me they'd be like an abusive partner.

Pretty much my initial reaction too when they told me that a "signed contract was being distributed to everyone who wished to attend"....

Lol don't sign it and carry on.

TX.

[sutoka]

In one of my jobs many years ago the boss said anyone in New Years Day shouldn't be drinking on New Years Eve. Nothing was signed and it wasn't a public facing environment. New Years Day arrives with most arriving in taxis, most of whom are still pissed, one bloke turned up still swigging a bottle of Gin. He couldn't sack anyone or he'd have had nobody left.

If he'd said nothing then people would have come hungover but ready to work. His words had the opposite effect.

Up until the late 90's it was very common for people to go to the pub or wine bar for their lunch and have a few beers. I know two medical professionals that went and shared a few bottles of wine over lunch up until decade ago.

[ATG]

How do people get together and decide things like this are a good idea? Shows contempt for staff? Tick! Makes us look like ineffective control freaks? Tick! Shows we have no idea what constitutes a contract? Tick! So, let's double back and check the eggs are lined up in the pan, yeah? It doesn't achieve the desired outcome, it undermines morale and makes us look like idiots? Roger that! OK, well let's flip those eggs.

[paddy1970]

CubanPete said:

Is work paying for it?

This is the important question. If they are paying, they can set the rules.

[DP14]

ATG said:

How do people get together and decide things like this are a good idea? Shows contempt for staff? Tick! Makes us look like ineffective control freaks? Tick! Shows we have no idea what constitutes a contract? Tick! So, let's double back and check the eggs are lined up in the pan, yeah? It doesn't achieve the desired outcome, it undermines morale and makes us look like idiots? Roger that! OK, well let's flip those eggs.

To be fair, employees also look like idiots when they claim such an event has "nothing to do with work!", despite the fact that the timing, location, attendees and the event happening at all are all linked to the employer.