Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What kind of fucked-up, dysfunctional workplace is our government operating in?

611 replies

noblegiraffe · 15/01/2022 11:03

Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament? Can't get through the day without a suitcase of wine in Downing Street, drugs everywhere in Parliament? Subsidised bars on work premises?

I guess the fact that they tried to make an exemption for the bars in the Houses of Parliament when introducing a curfew for pubs should have been a warning sign that there's far too much reliance on alcohol in our ruling classes.

There was a lot of talk about standards in public life during the Owen Paterson scandal. Surely not being pissed or high on the job is a basic standard?

Aside from the issue that they couldn't even stop having massive piss-ups during lockdown, AIBU to think that something needs to be done to introduce basic rules like 'If you're not safe to drive, you're not allowed to vote in new laws'?

If you wouldn't be happy with a teacher teaching your kids half-cut and would expect rules to prevent this, why should we tolerate our government ruling the country while making their way through the contents of the wine fridge?

People have been posting 'oh yes, it's always been like this'.

Well it shouldn't be in future.

OP posts:
AuldAlliance · 15/01/2022 23:30

Well, this thread is certainly providing interesting insights into the manners and mindset of FTSE10 workers.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 15/01/2022 23:30

Winner I understand that you want to defend drinking at work because it's what you do, however you need to understand that the vast majority of people do not drink at work and reasonably think it's unacceptable to do so, particularly if you are funded by the taxpayer.

OP posts:
Peregrina · 15/01/2022 23:30

You have just produced a list yourself. Of course that is not everywhere.

WinnersDinner · 15/01/2022 23:30

@merrymouse

You are still considered safe to drive if under the legal limit

No, any amount of alcohol can impair your judgement and reflexes, and it isn’t possible to accurately say how many units would put an individual over the limit, therefore ‘don’t drink and drive’ has been the message for a very long time.

You are confusing ‘safe to drive’ with ‘could be prosecuted for being over the legal limit’.

Many people drive perfectly safely after a few drinks

Some even drive safely if over the limit

Having a couple of beers isn't going to impart someone to not be able to raise their hand or work in most office based roles

The bending you and other posters are doing to try and claim this to be true is laughable

merrymouse · 15/01/2022 23:30

Your understanding on this issue is clearly poor

Your understanding of this issue is dangerous.

I hope you don’t really believe what you are posting.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 15/01/2022 23:30

@AuldAlliance

Well, this thread is certainly providing interesting insights into the manners and mindset of FTSE10 workers.
Indeed.
OP posts:
WinnersDinner · 15/01/2022 23:31

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 15/01/2022 23:31

Many people drive perfectly safely after a few drinks

They should have their keys taken away from them by responsible friends if they claim this.

OP posts:
WinnersDinner · 15/01/2022 23:32

@noblegiraffe

Winner I understand that you want to defend drinking at work because it's what you do, however you need to understand that the vast majority of people do not drink at work and reasonably think it's unacceptable to do so, particularly if you are funded by the taxpayer.
Who said I drink at work?

I'm teetotal but can understand simple concepts such as many workplaces having an acceptable drinking culture within the office

I'm merely stating this isn't just a Downing Street thing, it's not uncommon to have drinks at work in the city

You're the one trying to twist shit

merrymouse · 15/01/2022 23:33

The bending you and other posters are doing to try and claim this to be true is laughable

Again, really hope you don’t believe what you are posting.

If it’s all just a laugh to you, please think about why this is a serious matter and stop.

WinnersDinner · 15/01/2022 23:34

@noblegiraffe

Many people drive perfectly safely after a few drinks

They should have their keys taken away from them by responsible friends if they claim this.

You think no one drives after having a drink but under the legal limit?

Your world view seems very naive

AuldAlliance · 15/01/2022 23:34

There's having drinks, at work.
And there's sending people out with suitcases for more booze and breaking children's swings, at work.

WinnersDinner · 15/01/2022 23:34

@merrymouse

The bending you and other posters are doing to try and claim this to be true is laughable

Again, really hope you don’t believe what you are posting.

If it’s all just a laugh to you, please think about why this is a serious matter and stop.

Drinking at work is a serious matter to you
WinnersDinner · 15/01/2022 23:37

@AuldAlliance

There's having drinks, at work. And there's sending people out with suitcases for more booze and breaking children's swings, at work.
The suitcase was in relation to restocking the beer fridge in the office

How is restocking an office resource an issue in that context?

You keep moving those goalposts and it's honestly embarrassing

merrymouse · 15/01/2022 23:37

Drink driving is a serious matter.

Original poster
noblegiraffe · 15/01/2022 23:38

You think no one drives after having a drink but under the legal limit?

You said they'd had 'a few drinks'. Now they're definitely under the legal limit. Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
noblegiraffe · 15/01/2022 23:39

Suspecting someone is not posting in good faith now. Defending drink driving.

OP posts:
Original poster
noblegiraffe · 15/01/2022 23:40

The sort of person who defends drinking at work also defends driving after a few drinks.

OP posts:
AuldAlliance · 15/01/2022 23:40

Suggesting that sending someone out with a suitcase to get more booze is a perfectly normal mode of "restocking office resources" is not at all embarrassing.

Is breaking a child's swing "normal wear and tear of office resources"?

merrymouse · 15/01/2022 23:40

@noblegiraffe

Suspecting someone is not posting in good faith now. Defending drink driving.
Agree.
Peregrina · 15/01/2022 23:41

One has to wonder why drink driving laws were introduced and breathalysers.

TorringtonDean · 15/01/2022 23:45

Wilf also seems very young for a swing set big enough for an adult to “have a go”. I wonder if it was for one of Boris’s other children? The man seems to do nothing other than drink and screw.

AuldAlliance · 15/01/2022 23:47

Careful, TorringtonDean, you'll be accused of moving the goalposts soon...

TorringtonDean · 15/01/2022 23:52

Were there goalposts there as well? Grin

Of course Boris wasn’t there at the time. Boozing in the workplace is not on in my book. Especially not when socialising was banned.

britneyisfree · 15/01/2022 23:55

@Goldenbear

I'm not saying that the wine didn't happen but the OP has suggested drinking at work is not a thing and I was poiting out that it is, was and still is. What is the working culture in journalism like?
Journalists aren't elected to lead us Hmm