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DrBuck Posted on 6/7 14:30
Drinking at work?
So, I'm sat back, feet up on the desk, reading the paper and slurping a bottle of red vino as usual, when a woman from Head Office walks through the room and does an exagerrated double-take like in a sitcom. I raised my glass to her.
'What do you think you're doing?'
'It's okay I'm on my dinner break.'
She picks up my bottle.
'No, I mean this.'
'It's only a cheap one, but help yourself.'
'I'll take this.'
'Okay I've got another there.'
I point to the other bottle on the desk.
She looks angry and storms into the bosses office.
I get back to my paper.

As I'm reading I become aware of raised voices comming from my bosses office and they're getting louder.

The door bursts open and the woman rushes out with a face like a bulldog licking urine off a nettle. She shoots me an evil look as she leaves.

My boss emerges from his office.
'What was all that about then?'
'She's reporting us to Head Office.'
'What for?'
'All sorts, but mainly for drinking during working hours.'
'What's the problem like?'
'I'm not really sure, but she's told me to give you a warning.'
'Why? Have I done something wrong?'
'That's what she reckons.'
'How about you?'
'Not as far as I can see.'
'Well you can't give me a warning for doing nothing wrong can you?'
'No. Pour me a glass of that red.'

I pour out a glass of wine for my boss.
'I think we're in trouble here.'

I wonder what will happen. I wouldn't have thought that they could stop us having a bevvy or two in our lunch break, maybe it's because it's on the premises, but it's never been a problem in the past. After all we could just go down the pub like every one else.

Can't really see what the problem is, but my boss does look worried.

Guisboro Posted on 6/7 14:45
re: Drinking at work?
What's your line of work ?

Ive never seen it before, but as you say, you could have easily gone to the pub in your lunch hour. Unless it's in your contract you can't drink in your office.....

Snickerdoodle Posted on 6/7 14:46
re: Drinking at work?
Two against one. Your words against hers. Claim you were both drinking Ribena and she was pissed. You might even get a promotion out of it.

Boateng_7 Posted on 6/7 14:48
re: Drinking at work?
I used to have the odd pint when I worked at Garlands.

SouthernSmogette Posted on 6/7 14:52
re: Drinking at work?
I try and have a pint every lunchtime.

SouthernSmogette Posted on 6/7 14:52
re: Drinking at work?
.....of lard

SouthernSmogette Posted on 6/7 14:53
re: Drinking at work?
from the chipper

Questions_Questions Posted on 6/7 14:53
re: Drinking at work?
That explains why all customer service operatives are fuckwits.

BoroG_85 Posted on 6/7 14:53
re: Drinking at work?
i just had two pints at the talpore feel tired/bit tipsey now was stella lol

A_New_Era Posted on 6/7 14:55
re: Drinking at work?
"I used to have the odd pint when I worked at Garlands"

it was odd as the barmen pissed in it first

DrBuck Posted on 6/7 14:58
re: Drinking at work?
Why claim not to be drinking? I was, always have done, it's never been a problem before. I really can't see what the problem is now. Nothing's changed as far as I'm aware. I wouldn't like to think of the consequences of a company trying to dictate what employees can do on their break times would you, especially a good old working class tradition as this? It'd bring the country to it's knees.

BoroG_85 Posted on 6/7 15:00
re: Drinking at work?
i think its more a fact you were drinking on the premisses.. what is your line of work, if you work in a pub your not allowed to bring outside booze in haha

kelvin_fahrenheit Posted on 6/7 16:54
re: Drinking at work?
And I thought Hunter S Thompson was dead.

Gadgie Posted on 6/7 17:32
re: Drinking at work?
The question you need an answer to is, "does the company have an alcohol policy?"

Here's a nice copy/paste job that explains a few things...

Legally, the following apply to all companies:

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a duty on employers to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees. They must ensure that employees do not injure themselves or endanger the public or colleagues. This has particular relevance to alcohol and the use of machinery or vehicles.

The Road Traffic Act 1988 provides that any person driving, or attempting to drive, a motor vehicle whilst unfit to drive through alcohol use can be prosecuted under this act. This includes driving as part of work related duties.

The Transport and Works Act 1992 states that it is a criminal offence for certain employees to be unfit through alcohol use whilst working on transport systems such as railways. The operators of the system would be liable if they had been negligent in their duty to prevent the offence occurring.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 employers have a duty to assess the risks to the health and safety of their employees. Knowingly allowing an employee to continue working when affected by alcohol and where their behaviour places the employee or other colleagues at risk could make an employer liable to prosecution. Employees should also take reasonable care of themselves and others who could be affected by their actions at work.

Typically though, alcohol problems in the workplace are viewed as a health issue, and an alcohol policy should be located in, or linked to one or more of an organisation’s procedures on managing health and safety as well as personnel and/or general management issues. Therefore it's usually a global policy that's in the HR policies, rather than in an individual's contract. Employers often have a parallel or combined policy to address drug misuse.

Typical Key principles of an alcohol policy for the workplace would:

- clarify that an employer has a legitimate interest in an employee’s life outside work when it affects their own or others’ performance, health or safety;
- regard an alcohol problem as a health problem rather than being an immediate cause for discipline or dismissal;
- be a clear statement of intent agreed by employers and trade union representatives;
- be clearly understood by and apply equally to everyone in an organisation;
- clearly delineate responsibility and give guidance to managers on procedures to follow, signalling when disciplinary action, if appropriate, should be instigated;
- establish procedures for referring an employee with alcohol problems to in-house support or outside specialist services;
- clarify rules of confidentiality in order to encourage staff or colleagues to come forward;
- ensure managers receive appropriate training to implement the policy;
- be publicised at regular intervals to staff; and
- be reviewed regularly, probably every 12 months.


So what do you do behind your desk all day?!

kelvin_fahrenheit Posted on 6/7 18:53
re: Drinking at work?
And I thought Alan Partridge was dead.

DrBuck Posted on 9/7 9:40
re: Drinking at work?
Nice concise answer there Gadgie!

To answer your first question; no our company doesn't have 'an alcohol policy'. Or at least if it does no-one here seems to be aware of it, as we all like to have a couple of jars at dinnertime. I've brought in a nice bottle of red today, left over from the weekend. So it doesn't really apply does it?

Second question; I answer the phone and put people in touch with other people, hire equipment out, arrange for it to be transported and other such boring stuff.

Oh and there's been no word on all the fuss that woman from head office got herself worked up about on Friday. Must've been her time of the month.

grantus Posted on 9/7 11:15
re: Drinking at work?
Except a few beers after work, I've never really seen people having a drink at their desk before. I don't think you've heard the end of this I'm afraid.

Tom_Fun Posted on 9/7 11:20
re: Drinking at work?
It's one step away from a bottle of whisky in your drawer.

Azedarac Posted on 9/7 11:35
re: Drinking at work?
Coppers always have a bottle of whisky in the filing cabinet, and crack it open whenever they get "a result". Or the do on The Bill anyway.

Tom_Fun Posted on 9/7 11:38
re: Drinking at work?
That's mandatory.