Hangovers at work - advice for employers

The average person goes to work suffering from the effects of too much alcohol three times a month, with almost one in five people (17%) admitting that they struggle to manage their workload and make mistakes as a direct result of being hungover.

As businesses prepare for the impact of the World Cup we have teamed up with healthcare provider Bupa to compile advice for employers on managing issues related to alcohol in the workplace, along with alcohol advice for employees.  

Advice to employers

• Recognise the risks—Intoxicated or hungover employees can be disruptive and unproductive at work, cause accidents and upset others.
• Set out a clear alcohol policy—Work with HR, employees representatives and legal to build a policy and clearly communicate to all employees what is acceptable. See Alcohol and Drug Misuse in the Workplace (2006) by the Royal College of Physicians’  Faculty of Occupational Medicine.
• Care for staff - If an employee appears to be intoxicated, employers have a duty of care to that employee as well as all other staff and can ask the person to go home. Any incident should be investigated thoroughly to address safety issues and potential underlying reasons for the behaviour.
• Watch for warning signals—If you suspect someone is regularly coming into work with a hangover, it might be a sign of alcohol or mental health problems. Employers are advised to consult their alcohol policy and work with their HR department to address the situation.
• Know the limits—In some industries, alcohol can put lives at risk – e.g. train and bus drivers. There are legal limits on the acceptable levels of alcohol, which are often well below the level of any feeling of intoxication. Employers are legally responsible for ensuring employees are regularly tested for alcohol and drug consumption.

Advice to employees

• While some people drink alcohol to help them relax, long-term drinking can lead to a range of health and social problems including addiction, obesity and relationship problems. Drinking every day will affect your concentration and ability to work. This is likely to make you feel more stressed in the long run. Have at least two alcohol-free days a week.
• Alcohol is a depressant and calms certain parts of the brain. So, while alcohol may help you to temporarily forget what is troubling you, it doesn't make your problems go away. If you are regularly feeling stressed at work, talk to your manager, he or she has a duty to take reasonable steps to try to resolve the problem.
• There are many alternatives to drinking to help reduce your stress levels. Try to exercise every day if possible. Exercise helps to use up the stress hormones that cause your symptoms, giving you a sense of wellbeing and helping your muscles to relax. Even a brisk walk for 30 minutes a day will help combat stress.
• You can still enjoy a drink after work with colleagues or when you get home. Just stick to the guidelines that recommend men don’t regularly exceed more than 3-4 units of alcohol per day and women to stay within 2-3 units per day. A pint of strong beer or a large glass of wine is 3 units.

Page last updated by

Matthew Bateman, 27 May 2010.

Page checked on

17 May 2010