The implications of drinking alcohol at work have been widely communicated across our society for many years. Being the most accessible drug on the market, it poses a challenge to control consumption. After several recent white-collar workplace incidents arising in the media, businesses are being encouraged to rethink their drug and alcohol policies.
Following recent alleged reports of rape and sexual misconduct in Parliament House, there has been an uproar of media pressure on the government to consider banning alcohol at Parliament House. After many reports of harassment, sexual assault, and bullying, transitioning Parliament into a dry workplace could be part of the solution to reduce the toxic work culture.
While it’s important to address drug and alcohol use across every workplace, historically there has been more of a focus on large-scale bluecollar industries. With the prevalence of alcohol abuse among white-collar professionals, it’s a good reminder that these issues need to be addressed. By identifying risks in your workplace, it allows these issues to be addressed and managed before they have stark ramifications on your business. Effective alcohol and drug awareness training will foster a safe and healthy environment for your employees, create a more productive workplace and minimise the risks of poor decision making and inappropriate behaviour.
For years now, construction industries, mining and transportation have implemented successful drug and alcohol testing programs. Employees in high-risk job roles often involve the use of heavy machinery that could be life-threatening while under the influence. Comprehensive drug and alcohol testing programs have proven to be beneficial in protecting workplaces from drug and alcohol-related incidents. However, the risks involved with alcohol use in critical white-collar industries often fall under the radar. We underestimate the impact an employee holding a ‘fit and proper’ position (responsible for key decision-making and risk-management) could have if they were to be under the influence of alcohol while working. Alcohol can have a significant impact on concentration, problem-solving, judgment and reaction time, consequently reducing an individual’s ability to be ‘fit for work’.
Finance, recruitment, and legal services are just a few examples of industries that are often overlooked when it comes to the importance of drug and alcohol program implementation.
Alcohol use is highly normalised in many of these office-bound workplaces. Whether it be work-related events, client meetings or simply in the office at the end of a workday. The 2020 Sex Discrimination Commissioner’s Respect@Work: Sexual Harassment National Inquiry Report outlines the link between alcohol use and sexual violence within workplaces. The report states “effective prevention of sexual harassment will also require workplaces to consider and address a range of cultural and systemic factors”, including “how access to alcohol, especially at work social events, may increase the risk of workplace sexual harassment” (Australian Human Rights Commission, 2020).
There has been a vast amount of research dedicated to the consumption of alcohol and drug use during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. This has resulted in mixed evidence as to whether alcohol use had increased or decreased over this period. According to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), of the drugs measured with available dose data, alcohol and nicotine remained the most consumed (Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, 2020).
Despite these statistics, Australians are still drinking at risky levels on a single occasion on at least a monthly basis. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s 2019 report Alcohol, tobacco & other drugs in Australia, 25% of people aged 14 and over drank at a risky level on a single occasion at least monthly. This is a concerning number of Australians who report consuming alcohol in excess (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019).
We must bring these industries into the public eye to ensure all appropriate measures are being taken to minimise alcohol and drug-related risks for the health and safety of all employees. Providing your employees with comprehensive drug and alcohol awareness training can make all the difference in maintaining your workplace productivity, reducing absenteeism and business liability, and ensuring inappropriate workplace behaviour risks are minimised. By introducing awareness training, you can provide your employees with the education and training they need to reduce drug and alcohol use and risk.
If you would like to know how Alcolzier’s drug and alcohol testing programs can benefit your business, get in contact with us and one of our representatives can guide you through your options.
References:
Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, 2020. National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program. 11. [online] Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, pp.2-7, 11. Available at: https://www.acic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-10/NWDMP_R11%20-%20FINAL.pdf
Australian Human Rights Commission, 2020. Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces. [online] Australian Human Rights Commission 2020., p.161. Available at: https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/sex-discrimination/publications/respectwork-sexual-harassment-national-inquiry-report-2020 [Accessed 18 April 2021].
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019. Alcohol, tobacco & other drugs in Australia. [online] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/alcohol/alcohol-tobacco-other-drugs-australia/contents/drug-types/alcohol [Accessed 19 April 2021].
Hossack, N. and Beacham, M., 2021. Alcohol ban may be fit and proper response. [online] theaustralian.com.au. Available at: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/commentary/alcohol-ban-may-be-fit-and-proper-response/news-story/86fb30d6cbbdd4f216e0e6d1a6fd1c79?btr=7ced58d512c791df3f7da7749c6083b3 [Accessed 17 April 2021].