Alcohol in the workplace is a serious yet hidden problem

A recent report commissioned by the federal Department of Health and Ageing detailed that one-in-ten workers said that they usually drank alcohol in the workplace and 6.6% said they had turned up for work drunk in a 12-month period.

The report also said that the bill for lost productivity, through hangovers and sick days, staff turnover and early retirement due to alcohol use, is calculated at $5.6 billion a year.

Frontline Diagnostics’ General Manager Richard Varnish is a strong advocate of education programs for businesses, as well as testing for alcohol use, stating: “Testing is particularly important where there are safety issues like in the mining, construction, transport and manufacturing sectors. These industries are often already testing for drugs, and alcohol testing becomes part of their regular screening.

“Alcohol is not just a safety issue. During the festive season, there are more employer-organised events that involve alcohol and often staff feel pressured into consuming alcohol within a work peer group. The consequences of this can be far-reaching.

“We have education programs that help both employers and staff understand the consequences of the use of alcohol in the workplace and also assist companies to put policies in place.”