Having just come through the festive period, a lot of people may have started 2024 with a complete detox after weeks of ingesting their bodyweight in quality street and baileys. Many of us will have also enjoyed the annual work festivities, the corny DJ's, the christmas quizzes, the free buffets, and for many people, a bit too much alcohol. Working in the recruitment sector, we have heard our fair share of extreme work event stories where people may have taken advantage of the free bar a bit too much, often ending in a good amount of embarrassment and drama. This got us thinking how prevalent drinking at work events actually is so we asked our professional network.
The results do show that drinking at work events happens more often than not, but not by much. With 47% of people say they rarely or never drink at work events, it's fair to say that attitudes are mixed.
We looked into existing research on the topic which highlighted a few key factors:
Moderation Matters: Among those who indulged in alcohol at work events, the vast majority emphasize the importance of moderation. This indicated that while many professionals chose to drink, they also acknowledged the need for responsible behaviour do to the professional setting of the event.
Peer Pressure Influence: Surprisingly, research suggests that a significant proportion of people actually felt peer pressure to drink at work events. This raised questions about the prevalence of social expectations surrounding alcohol consumption and its potential impact on workplace dynamics during the festive season.
Professional Impact: When it comes to drinking alcohol with colleagues, research shows that most people consider the potential negative repercussions that excessive alcohol consumption could have on professional relationships and perceptions. This suggested that maintaining a balance and avoiding overindulgence was not only a matter of personal responsibility but also critical for maintaining a positive workplace environment during the holiday festivities.
Company Policies: Interestingly, research shows that many people desire for clear company policies regarding alcohol consumption at work events. This highlighted the need for organisations to establish guidelines to help employees navigate the boundaries between professional and personal behavior in social settings during the holiday season.
