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Companies may think twice about giving workers alcohol

On Behalf of | Feb 5, 2019 | Sexual Harassment At Work

A NizNik Behavioral Health surveyed 1,010 full-time employees who worked for companies that allowed them to drink in the office or at company events. Of those surveyed, 45 percent discouraged them from drinking at all. This is because Florida employers and others could be exposed to legal liability related to actions taken after employees consume alcohol. According to the survey, drinking was most likely to take place during holiday parties.

Roughly half of those who took part said that drinking with colleagues or supervisors was a good way to build relationships. However, 35 percent said that they did not like drinking with their coworkers. Of those individuals, about 30 percent said that they would prefer other perks including massages or being able to bring pets to work. Respondents often cited revealing personal secrets as one of the most common consequences of drinking with colleagues.

However, companies are also becoming aware of the consequences of sexual harassment at work. According to the 2018 Holiday Party Study, only 65 percent of employees wanted to hold a holiday party, which was the lowest since 2009. Furthermore, younger workers see offering employees alcohol as a negative when it comes to a company’s culture. Therefore, offering beer or wine to workers may happen less often or not at all in the future.

Individuals in Boca Raton, Florida who believe that they have been sexually harassed at work might benefit from hiring legal counsel. Doing so may make it easier to determine the best course of action to hold an employer accountable for its actions. In sexual harassment cases, it may be possible to take a lawsuit to court as opposed to going through forced arbitration. However, it may first be necessary to file a sexual harassment charge with the EEOC.