Use of Alcohol to Promote Fellow-Feeling-Advantages and Disadvantages
Contrary to popular belief that such gatherings promote the bonding among the team members, it may actually lead you to serious health hazards. This has been revealed in Aviva’s fourth report on Health in the Workplace.
In spite of growing criticism against this practice from the employers and the employees alike, 57% of the employers, on whom Aviva did the study, admitted that this is a common practice. 23% of the employers feel that this is an effective tool for team building exercise. However, 45% of the employers claim that there is no compulsion on the employees to have these workplace drinks.
Nevertheless, Aviva’s research found that many employers reluctantly attend such gatherings. 33% find them absolutely uninterested and 10% join out of obligation. Many of the employees do not feel elated with the idea of attending them. 52% of the employees have inhibition against attending wide gatherings of colleagues and 21% do not approve of the idea of socializing with office workers.
Many employers prefer other methods to induce fellow-feeling among the resources. 23% of the employers conduct teambuilding days while 10% encourage the employees with sporting events. 7% openly condemn the use of alcohol this purpose.
It has been observed that the effects of alcohol often force the employees to take leaves on the following day. While 27% of the employers do not consent to this, another 26% get apprehensive that this practice may spread among the other employees, which is likely to have serious impact on business. 40% of the employers tend to spare serious thoughts on preserving the sanctity of the work atmosphere but 17% of them seem to take a casual approach as long as it does not affect their business.
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