How Harmful Alcohol Use Affects Your Work Relationships

Alcohol is linked to absenteeism and presenteeism in the workplace, new studies show.

Intuitively, alcohol and work are two things that don’t mix. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant and can impact work performance in various ways, including absences, accidents, disputes and fights, dismissals, among other types of productivity and income loss. However, the real extent of the impact of harmful alcohol use on work and the economy has been continuously studied, and new research reiterates the dangers of this combination (1-3). It is known that rates of excessive alcohol consumption can be higher in certain sectors, such as construction and arts and entertainment, and among specific groups, such as workers nearing retirement and younger individuals (4). Some people may also mistakenly use alcohol as a resource to cope with work-related stress. For context, the International Labour Organization (ILO) indicates that 20% to 25% of workplace accidents worldwide involve individuals under the influence of some type of drug, and that 3% to 5% of the working population has alcohol dependence while 25% are at-risk users (5).

Alcohol consumption at work facilitates the occurrence of accidents, likely due to the impairments it causes in coordination and balance, increased reaction time, judgment alterations, decreased visual acuity and field of vision, as well as reduced concentration and reasoning abilities (6).

In addition to these direct aspects, alcohol consumption affects work through increased absenteeism rates, which include absences or lateness without prior justification. A recent literature review indicates that heavy drinkers have higher rates of absenteeism than moderate drinkers, who in turn have higher rates than non-drinkers (3). A recent U.S. study analyzing data from the national survey on drug use and health between 2015 and 2019 found that individuals with alcohol use disorders contributed annually to over 232 million days of absenteeism combined.

Another study sought to analyze the relationship between alcohol and absenteeism using data from 15 countries, encompassing 439,000 employed individuals. The study reports that cross-sectional surveys [*1] indicate an 8 times greater risk of absenteeism in individuals who consume alcohol at risky levels.

The research underscores the need for informational campaigns, prevention, and treatment of alcohol-related disorders in the workplace. Programs aimed at preventing and reducing harmful alcohol use in the workplace can benefit employees, employers, and society as a whole. Some studies show promising results from programs focused on changing workplace culture, general health promotion, and brief interventions (4).

Finally, it is important to emphasize that harmful alcohol use, besides worsening work performance, can make it even more difficult to cope with issues like stress, pressure, and anxiety, which are so common in contemporary work environments. Therefore, if you feel you are using alcohol to cope with any problems, seek specialized help from a healthcare professional. For employers, if you notice that employees are engaging in harmful alcohol use, it is important to consider programs that offer information and assistance to prevent the negative outcomes associated with alcohol and work.

*1 Research conducted at a single moment, representing a “snapshot” of the studied aspects, in contrast to longitudinal studies, which collect data over several distinct time periods.

References:

1. Hashemi NS, Skogen JC, Sevic A, Thørrisen MM, Rimstad SL, Sagvaag H, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis uncovering the relationship between alcohol consumption and sickness absence. When type of design, data, and sickness absence make a difference. PLoS One [Internet]. 2022 Jan 1 [cited 2022 May 6];17(1):e0262458. Available from: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0262458
2. Parsley IC, Dale AM, Fisher SL, Mintz CM, Hartz SM, Evanoff BA, et al. Association Between Workplace Absenteeism and Alcohol Use Disorder From the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2015-2019. JAMA Netw Open [Internet]. 2022 Mar 1 [cited 2022 May 3];5(3):e222954–e222954. Available from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2790205
3. Marzan M, Callinan S, Livingston M, Leggat G, Jiang H. Systematic Review and Dose–Response Meta-Analysis on the Relationship Between Alcohol Consumption and Sickness Absence. Alcohol Alcohol [Internet]. 2022 Jan 8 [cited 2022 May 6];57(1):47–57. Available from: https://academic.oup.com/alcalc/article/57/1/47/6144823
4. Ames, G. M., & Bennett, J. B. (2011). Prevention interventions of alcohol problems in the workplace. Alcohol research & health : the journal of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 34(2), 175–187.
5. OIT. ORGANIZAÇÃO INTERNACIONAL DO TRABALHO • GENEBRA PROBLEMAS LIGADOS AO ÁLCOOL E A DROGAS NO LOCAL DE TRABALHO UMA EVOLUÇÃO PARA A PREVENÇÃO [Internet]. genebra; 2008 [cited 2022 May 11]. Available from: http://www.ilo.org/publns;
6. Blum TC, Roman PM, Martin JK. Alcohol consumption and work performance. http://dx.doi.org/1015288/jsa19935461 [Internet]. 2015 Jan 4 [cited 2022 May 11];54(1):61–70. Available from: https://www.jsad.com/doi/abs/10.15288/jsa.1993.54.61