Here’s why booze and work don`t mix

Melbourne, Sept 18: Employers are being urged to stay alert at work-related social events where alcohol is involved, in a bid to avoid litigation.

Sarah Ralph, a workplace relations partner at Deacons law firm, said that bullying, sexual harassment and aggression are potential problems when alcohol is consumed in a workplace setting. She said that employers sometimes forget the laws, which apply in an office, also apply at social work functions. "I think that wherever there is alcohol, there is always a much greater risk of things like discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying," a website quoted Ralph, as saying. "You see more complaints and litigation when alcohol is involved. In our practice ... they definitely do come up. "We would see a number of instructions about incidents where alcohol has been involved each year," she added. She said that employers also needed to be aware of occupational health and safety issues at staff social events to insure no one was accidentally injured. ANI