Drinking after work has been a routine for some people to unload after a long day. Alcohol is a widely consumed beverage that helps people feel relaxed. However, if taken excessively, alcohol can impact your ability to think clearly and act accordingly. Additionally, alcohol impairment is the leading cause of road and workplace accidents. Therefore, alcohol impairment in the workplace is a significant issue. Furthermore, employees drinking at work after hours present a problem because they pose safety risks for themselves and others in the workplace. That is why many companies in New Zealand nowadays implement drug and alcohol policies to manage work hazards properly.

Employees Drinking at Work After Hours: Disadvantages

Employees drinking at work after hours may seem ordinary, but it can often lead to severe issues when reporting for work the next day. Habitual alcohol consumption and intoxication at work may pose an underlying problem. For example, the employee may be dealing with issues that need immediate intervention or assistance. By identifying potential substance abuse as early as possible, you can keep the workplace safe and healthy. Suppose you are looking for a practical way to manage alcohol impairments at work. In that case, the BACtrack workplace breathalysers, available at Breathalysers New Zealand, can help you monitor employee alcohol levels reliably. A breathalyser is a cost-efficient method to detect alcohol presence through a breath alcohol test. BACtrack workplace breathalysers use the most advanced fuel cell sensor technology to accurately measure the Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). Furthermore, this technology also reduces the chances for errors and false positives.

Importance

Even though it is outside a company’s control on what employees do after working hours, employees still need to be mindful when drinking. It is because alcohol could stay in the body for an extended period depending on the amount consumed. For instance, employees drinking at work after hours report to work the next day with aftereffects. Alcohol intoxication at work could cloud the employee’s judgment and impairs their ability to operate equipment safely. It also leads to decreased productivity rates and poor relationships with colleagues. Therefore, an effective alcohol policy with zero tolerance could help prevent accidents or injuries. Furthermore, it encourages safe practices by limiting consumption the night before work.

Workplace Alcohol Policy or Program

Both employers and employees have a duty to ensure the workplace is in a safe working environment as required by the law. The employer or business owner should provide their workers with the highest level of protection from hazards as possible by legal standards. A significant workplace risk assessment includes managing employees drinking at work after hours. Employees should take responsibility for their own actions involving drinking alcohol before, during or after working hours. Thus, workers should agree and comply with a reasonable policy or program relating to health and safety practices in the workplace, which should include a workplace alcohol policy.

In order to manage employees drinking at work after hours, a comprehensive workplace alcohol policy must be set up. Firstly, the policy or program should be fair and reasonable for both management and personnel. The Drug Detection Agency, or TDDA, helps provide workplace drug and alcohol policies and programs to Australian and New Zealand businesses. It can be a good starting point for companies that are just starting to set up their workplace alcohol policy. Generally, the policy or program should cover:

• The company’s stand on alcohol use at work as well as not at work
• The impact of alcohol on employee behaviour and work performance
• Identification guidelines for workplace alcohol issues
• Investigation procedures for suspected employees drinking at work after hours
• Disciplinary actions on employees who breach the agreed policy or program
• Issuance of information such as training, education and program materials

Employees Drinking at Work After Hours: Precautions

As an employer, managing employees drinking at work after hours plays a very crucial role in workplace health and safety. The employer can assign a manager or supervisor to take a critical responsibility wherein they are to monitor employee work performance and workplace conduct. As monitoring can foresee potential workplace alcohol issues. For example, essential managerial and supervisory responsibilities include:

• Assessment of employee work and performance
• Managing work schedules (this includes approving or disapproving employee leave requests)
• Implementing necessary disciplinary or corrective actions

However, determining based on suspicion is not enough to make sure that there are any alcohol-related issues in the workplace. The best way to determine employees drinking at work after hours is the implementation of workplace alcohol testing. Types of testing include pre-employment, random, reasonable cause, and post-accident/incident testing for alcohol. Any kind of alcohol testing can be achieved using an alcohol breath tester, more commonly known as breathalysers. Alcohol breath tests using breathalysers is the most cost-effective and efficient method, especially with devices like Breathalysers New Zealands’ BACtrack workplace breathalysers available online.

Employees Drinking at Work After Hours: Alcohol Breath Tests

Consistent alcohol breath tests at work can deter employees from overconsuming alcohol after hours. BACtrack workplace breathalysers are specifically designed for back-to-back testing without compromising accuracy. Thus, ideal for any workplace alcohol testing standards. Alternatively, it is also highly recommended that employees drinking at work after hours have the initiative to check their BAC level through a personal breathalyser. Personal breathalysers are widely available and affordable and can help with effectively monitoring alcohol consumption. Breathalysers New Zealand also offers BACtrack personal breathalysers that can drastically help improve personal safety when consuming alcohol. They use the same sensor technology as a police officer’s breathalyser. This technology allows them to provide highly accurate and reliable self-test readings. Several companies rely on the accuracy of BACtrack breathalysers to help them maintain health and safety, be it in the workplace or out and about.

BACtrack Breathalysers at Breathalysers New Zealand

You can buy a highly reliable alcohol breath tester through the Breathalysers New Zealand website. There is a selection of high-quality BACtrack breathalysers to choose from. Ideal for both employers and employees drinking at work after hours.

BACtrack keychain breathalysers are small enough to fit in the keyrings of your house or car keys. The BACtrack Go and C6 Keychains are the most cost-efficient breathalyser with keychains. BACtrack smartphone breathalysers can deliver your BAC results directly to your phone using an app. The BACtrack C6 Keychain, C8 Smartphone, and Mobile Pro are robust breath testing devices that can pair with smartphones seamlessly via Bluetooth. BACtrack workplace breathalysers are indispensable for workplace alcohol testing. The S80 Pro Gen2 and Alcovisor Mercury are the ideal devices for workplace testing. Thus, essential for employers managing employees drinking at work after hours. All BACtrack breathalysers are highly accurate and reliable with the use of an advanced fuel cell sensor technology. Therefore, making BACtrack devices less likely to provide false-positive results.