Drinking alcohol at the workplace, as well as appearing at a drunken workplace, are very serious violations of one’s employment obligations. Employees with alcohol problems cannot count on a reduced fare. He/she shall be liable to certain penalties, including immediate dismissal without notice. How should the employer behave in such a situation?
Wide range of penalties
If an employer catches an employee drinking alcohol at work (regardless of the type of alcohol used) or finds out that a subordinate has come to work while intoxicated, the employer may impose a fine on the subordinate. According to the Sobriety Education Act, the amount is USD 100. However, this is only the slightest consequence of drunkenness.
First of all, the employer has the right to immediately terminate the employment relationship with the subordinate in such a situation and order them to leave the position. In this case, no notice period shall apply. Information about the reason for the dismissal will be placed on the employee’s files and may make it very difficult for the employee to find a job in a responsible position in the future.
Do not underestimate drunkenness at work
Your employer must not tolerate employees consuming alcohol on the prison premises or getting intoxicated. This is a direct result of the obligations imposed by U.S. law on the owner of the business. It is employees’ responsibility to ensure that they have safe and healthy working conditions and that they comply with health and safety regulations. Turning a blind eye to drunkenness is a contradiction.
If an accident occurs at the workplace and the check shows that the accident was caused by the employee’s alcoholiness, not only the employee, but also his or her immediate supervisor, will suffer the consequences. It is the responsibility of the plant manager or owner to check that employees are starting to perform their duties in good health and also in a state of sobriety.
Of course, one-time arrival of an employee to work on a so called hangover is not yet a reason to immediately part with it – especially if it is a good employee, and such a situation has never happened before.
Check
An employer is fully entitled to control the sobriety of his subordinates. For this purpose, it can purchase an alkaline machine and make it obligatory to undergo an inspection before starting work. This is the best way to prove drunkenness to an employee and avoid accusations of harassing subordinates.
It is important to remember that your employer must have proof that you have come to work under the influence of alcohol or have been drinking alcohol on the premises. In the absence of an alkaline solution, testimonies from other employees or, for example, photographic documentation, will be useful.
When an employee comes to work drunken
