Sick leave the day after a work party?

AARRRGH

Hello,

Does anyone know if there is a law protecting employees in situations where...

...employee goes to a work party
...alcohol is free and is encouraged

...the employee is too hungover to go into work the next day.

Can the employee be disciplined for this? Or is there some protection along the lines of "...if an employer gives an employee alcohol, they are then entitled to be hungover..."

If you know what I mean...

Thanks

BuffyBot

I highly doubt it...

aidan_walsh

The Corporate Pissup and General Amusement Act of 1997, Section 4a, Paragraph 6 says: Clean the photocopier when you're done.

nesf

You want legal protection of you "right" to have a hangover after a work party?

Please tell me your joking. Please.

steveland?

Hahaha... good one

DublinWriter

Great. This is along the lines of that mother in the UK successfully sueing the school her daughter went to for 30K because the daughter got pregnant at 12 and she argued that the school didn't provide her with sex education.

Two words dude - Personal Responsibility. I think that girl knew where babies came from in the same way that you know where hangovers come from.

AARRRGH

The reason I am asking is because I am nearly certain there IS protection for this. There was a court case a while back.

It is something along the lines of if you are given one drink by your employer, you are entitled to be hungover.

I'm just wondering if anyone else is aware of this (with a link to the law if possible.)

parsi

dublindude wrote:

The reason I am asking is because I am nearly certain there IS protection for this. There was a court case a while back.

It is something along the lines of if you are given one drink by your employer, you are entitled to be hungover.

Must be a mighty strong drink .....to make you hungover. I fyou don't want a hagnover accept your employers soft drinks. If you want to be hungover go take the alcohol and accept that you may have to stay home in the morning (if you're a wuss..) :-)

WhiteWashMan

dublindude wrote:

The reason I am asking is because I am nearly certain there IS protection for this. There was a court case a while back.

It is something along the lines of if you are given one drink by your employer, you are entitled to be hungover.

I'm just wondering if anyone else is aware of this (with a link to the law if possible.)

there is some sort of legislation where if a company provides free alcohol at a company party, then there must also be free non alcohol drinks.
i think there may also be some law where transport is to be made available so that people are not put in the position to drink and drive, but i cant remember what it is. its something i dealt with when i was on a sports and social committee in NEC a long time ago.

as for being allowed to take a sick day after getting drunk at your employers expense, never heard of it. i can see why it may be overlooked, but if youre a hard nosed boss, then as far as im aware, its the responsibility of the employee to ensure they are fit to work.
its not as if you put a shotgun to the employee's head and told them its was either get stonkingly drunk, or be killed....

personally, id expect to see everyone in, but i would expect productivity to be low. i mean, being realistic!

anyone calling in sick would get a bollocking,

nesf

Personally, I'd just have the work night out on a Saturday. Assuming that it's a 9-5 Mon-Fri kind of workplace.

Stephen

DublinWriter - I don't think that mother of the three slappers in the UK sued anyone, she just went whinging to the media about how all three of her daughters had babies whilst still in school, and how it must be the school's fault - even though her daughters were the only ones in the school to get pregnant. They get a free council house and £30K worth of benefits A YEAR for their troubles.

****ty parenting to the max.

the_syco

You drink, your fault. Go in next day, and you'll see lots of other people with hangovers.

garthv

Whatever about the company providing the alcohol, they are not forcing it down your throat. If you have work the next day you should know your limitations (I sure as hell dont) but I cant see there actually being a law regarding this

whippet

I regularly have nights and dinners out for staff during the week. My take on it as a boss is simple:

there are drinks to be had free, either alcholic or non alcholic .. everyone has a choice. I encourage people to cut loose and enjoy themselves. If it develops into a pretty heavy session so be it.

The following morning I will be in the office at the usual time, I give people a bit of leway to get their lucozade and brekie rolls, and expect everyone to be in before half nine. Anyone that pulls a sickie, is too hungover, does not make it in .. is making a huge mistake. If I can make it in so can everyone else.

With regards to diciplining people over it, I let them know I am not happy .. but my opinion of them would be very much lowered, and they will very lucky to get any favours from me. It's all about give and take.

damnyanks

I'd imagine that going to a work due and getting hammered would be frowned upon by most. But as long as you keep pace with everyone it shouldn't be so bad.

Just go into work and don't be a lazy sod. Assumeing everyone else is in the same mood you won't look too out of place taking extra long to do those simple tasks.

seamus

damnyanks wrote:

I'd imagine that going to a work due and getting hammered would be frowned upon by most. But as long as you keep pace with everyone it shouldn't be so bad.

I don't know. When there's free beer to be had, most bosses have no problem with you being hammered. So long as you can walk and you don't say anything stupid to other co-workers, you'll be fine.

Most people in our place jump in to take annual leave the day after a big pissup (assuming it's midweek).

damnyanks

Well thats what I mean Being visiblly hammered usually involves one of above that you mentioned

qwertz

Some people just don't know when to stop drinking...

nesf

qwertz wrote:

Some people just don't know when to stop drinking...

You mean the Irish in general I assume? It is a big problem in this country. Source of quite a lot of our issues imo.

qwertz

It's not just an Irish problem, you have these dudelheads all over Europe. Some people just aren't smart enough. Period.

nesf

qwertz wrote:

It's not just an Irish problem, you have these dudelheads all over Europe. Some people just aren't smart enough. Period.

I'd argue that people in general are not smart enough. Period.

Then again, I'm a bit of a bastard really.

pred racer

qwertz wrote:

Some people just don't know when to stop drinking...

Thats easy, if you are lying on the ground and you have to hang on its time to go home. (after finishing your pint of course)

nesf

*baddum tssch*

RicardoSmith

Are you a man or a mouse? Take responsibility for your own actions. Apologise, take a days holiday, or ask can you work back the time. Try to gain credibility not loose it. Everyone can make a mistake. Its how you deal with it thats important, and that you don't repeat it.