We dont have that in the uk. Seems an odd rule. How can the company be held accountable for bad decisions made by the employee when they go home. How they choose to go home once quaffing all the free booze should surely be their responsibility. If they commit a murder on the way home, are they liable for that too?
The most worrying instances of alcohol at work (or being under its influence arriving at work) are airline pilots about to fly scores of people across the world!
Those days ended a few years ago, mainly as Lloyd's and the Market had to clean up their act (both with the drinking culture and the sexism). Lloyd's staff not allowed any alcohol at all during the working day and many other Companies and Brokers are dry. You're not allowed into Lloyd's if you've had a drink, you'll be refused entry.I used to work in the city (insurance) and on my first day at work went to the pub with another newbie. That was the 80s and there was definitely a drinking culture though it's calmer now with lots of companies having no alcohol policies
Youve not explained WHY the blame is apportioned to the company.
If a bar supplies alcohol, are they liable if prople decide to drive home too? Why is it any different if a company provides it?
A taxi firm maybe could open bars in Canada?At a guess, maybe there's a difference between laying on the alcohol for free (I'm assuming in the situation OSK is describing, the company wouldn't be charging their employees for the drinks) and selling it, as a bar does? A bar selling alcohol is going about its normal business, a company laying on free alcohol when it's nothing to do with their line of business is potentially encouraging people to drink, with the consequences that can have.
Not saying I'd agree with it in any way (if that is the reasoning behind it), just trying to think of why it may be that way.
None of which helps to explain Colburn's description of the situation in Canada, which makes me wonder why anyone in their right mind would want to run a bar in Canada.
That's pretty much my recollection of the City.I joined banking in 2008, and I missed all of the 'glory years' that my colleagues tell me of, where there was a definite party culture in the boom years. Thursday nights, friday - from lunch - no work was done. So I am told.
My wife worked in banking since 2001, and she tells me of going for multiple pub lunches with her managers etc. But all of that stopped in 2008 as banks were taken over by the govt. Now it's very rare to go out for a pub lunch. At most places we struggle to even arrange a once weekly lunchtime meet up to leon or something tbh. With everyone on their own hectic schedule, it just doesnt happen as often now.
When out with the boss for lunch, I always go with the mantra of 'drink only if your manager does'.
Where I work we wouldn't be tested, we dont operate any sort of machinery etc so no risk to people. And I don't think anyone would sack us for having had a couple of beers as long as it wasn't noticeable in our work. Ultimately we're trusted to do our own work and manage our own time. But that said, i just dont really see anyone having lunchtime beers really.
Then again I work in IT, and there's a huge amount of people from an Indian/Sri Lankan background in all of the places i've worked previously. They just don't tend to have the same drinking culture.
The last contract I recently had, at a small trendy challenger bank in Covent Garden filled with young 20-30 somethings, the management had a fridge of beer/wine stocked up which opened on a Friday afternoon at 4. You were allowed, or even encouraged to have a beer on the Friday afternoon to socialise, they even put on 'organised fun' events like quizes etc. To be honest, I preferred to go home and get out to my local for the evening with my mates, the commute was a bitch so I didn't fancy staying after 4 on a Friday or i'd be home quite late. And I am not about that on a Friday!
I am more likely to drink if i meet a friend for lunch, than if i go out with a colleague for lunch. Gordon Ramsay says, never get drunk in front of your staff/colleagues. I think lots of people agree with that mantra these days too.
To be honest, people are so busy these days, they cant usually afford to have a couple of beers at lunch, and then get fuck all done the rest of the day, and make a mess of a couple of conference calls with the CEO because i want an afternoon snooze.
I'd personally rather work through lunch and get home to spend time with the kids/go pub earlier.
In the mid 70s I worked for a large advertising agency in Holborn. By 4pm there were very few staff left who had not had a session either in the pubs or restaurants with clients. Happy days!
Yes, Discovered Tooheys lager in there I recall!Ye Old Cheshire Cheese was a very popular in mid-70`s - apparently......
always thought it was due to the lack of daylightThis is why all building sites and road works stop for 2 weeks at Christmas. To dangerous to work after a liquid lunch.