No Christmas cheer among drunk staff
Far from promoting fellow feeling among colleagues, seasonal drinking is causing rowdy and even violent behaviour in UK plc, according to a survey from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development.
CIPD researchers found that 12% of organisations in this country report a rise in disciplinary problems in the weeks running up to Christmas. The incidents range from assaults on colleagues, public abuse of a line manager, fighting or rowdy behaviour.
Only one in three respondents allow parties involving alcohol to be held during working hours, and some 47% require such events to be held outside work hours. More surprisingly, over 40% of organisations do not have a formal policy on alcohol or drugs and 44% do allow gatherings involving alcohol to be held on company premises.
Almost two out of three organisations say that an employee would be disciplined for misuse.
Diane Sinclair, CIPD adviser on employee relations, said the problem was indicative of management failing to address difference between members of staff.
?Problems that exist between colleagues at work are often accentuated by alcohol and when spirits are running high during the festive season. Effective management can help to avoid these situations, by promoting open relationships at work where grievances can be aired before a negative situation erupts.
‘Employers that bury their heads in the sand risk experiencing problems with lateness and absence, staff turnover and productivity.’
Links