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A pint a day, increases your pay...
By Helen Beckett
Joining in on trips to the pub with your workmates could be good for your pay packet according to a US study. Employees who enjoy a drink with colleagues earn up to 14% more than colleagues who shy away researchers from San José State University, California, found.
By drinking moderately outside the office you’re more likely to socialise with managers, colleagues and clients, building up relationships - and if this study is anything to go by, a bigger bank balance.
Keep it chilled
A fondness for alcohol and social drinking is part of our everyday culture. But while a swift pint or G&T may help integrate you with the people who matter in your workplace, a drink too far could have a damaging affect on your career. As Homer Simpson once said “Beer is the cause and solution to all of life's problems”.
An employer will rarely have grounds to dismiss an employee just because they have drunk too much alcohol outside the workplace. Lunchtime drinking on the other hand is much easier for companies to regulate.
For anyone in charge of a vehicle or using heavy-duty machinery, alcohol is obviously a no-no. More companies are specifying rules about alcohol consumption during working hours for office workers too, particularly at events where clients are present. Random alcohol and drugs tests are also being introduced into some employment contracts to show a duty of care towards employees and customers.
December’s office party season is often seen as a green light to hit the bottle. If you need some tips and tricks on how to keep up the decorum levels at your company bash, take a look at our Christmas party season article.
Paying the price
Many companies are cracking down on alcohol-related absenteeism, which costs the UK industry an estimated £3 billion a year. The Medical Council on Alcohol says this sum is accumulated through accidents at work, absence and even hangovers – alone costing business up to £100 million during 2006.
If you overstep the mark, knowing the hangover cure that works for you is a minimum contingency. Everyone’s got a favourite, whether it’s a greasy fry-up or a double dose of aspirin, although medical opinion on success is not encouraging. A team at Exeter University tested almost every concoction, from herbal remedies to old wives tales, concluding abstinence or moderation is the only reliable solution for a clear head in the morning.
Drinking is an issue for workers in almost any role, even our royals. According to an often-quoted anecdote, the Queen Mother was not amused when her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, wanted a second glass of wine at lunch, shortly after her coronation. "Don't forget, my dear," the elder Elizabeth remarked, "you have to reign all afternoon."
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