To wonder why people get wasted at work events?

[elzober]

On more than one occasion at work parties or nights out, I've seen people who are brand new in the company get completely blind drunk then proceed to embarass themselves/ vomit loads/ not turn up for work the next day. On a couple of occasions this has led to people getting sacked.

This happened again at a work party tonight. One individual who joined a few weeks ago and has been trying to make a good impression and present themselves as a serious contender for future leadership positions, got completely off their face. Everyone was commenting about the state of this person and the HR lady had to help them get home to 'ensure they still had a job in the morning'.

By all means have a few drinks and enjoy the night but why get so pissed at a work event when you're still getting to know people and make a good impression? If you want to get that wrecked, do it with your friends...AIBU?

It's not just new people either. Sometimes it's established people in a company who just decide to go wild and get completely off their heads and do something inappropriate. Like the manager who went out with all the junior staff and started grinding and dirty dancing with one of them (neither were single at the time).

Maybe I'm missing sth here as not a massive drinker but why do people do this? It's so embarrassing to watch

Nervousness / anxiety

Free drinks

these would be the main factors.

Throw in the fact that you don't know what's going on in people's real (beyond work) lives

not that complex

Just mind your own business. Don’t go to work events if you feel embarrassed by drunk people.

Nerves, social anxiety. Few drinks for confidence and then not realising/ keeping track with the next drinks until the alcohol catches up and it's too late.

Yes and yes to both of the posts above this.

You sound great OP (not).

Nerves! For sure.

Maybe they're drinking because they're stuck in a room with a load of people they can't stand with the added bonus the drinks is are free

Free drinks. Going too fast at the start to ease social anxiety then not slowing down. Possibly empty stomachs unless theres a sit down meal.

When I worked at HMT (2004, in a non governmental role), a monthly ‘social’ event was organised. It was very obviously frowned upon if you didn’t attend. I lasted 3 months in that job. Yes, it was my problem that I couldn’t control my alcohol intake or say no. But the fact that it was expected that everyone attend was the final straw for me.

I got drunk during my sandwich year 30 years ago and had a ONS with one of my colleagues at the departmental Xmas party. My excuse is I was in my early 20s, it was a drunken evening all round (it was the early 90s, he was also drunk as were about half the people there) and he was very attractive and a nice person so it could have been a lot worse. I haven't drunk at a work event since.

I got completely shit faced at the first proper work do I ever went to, shagged someone completely unsuitable and somehow managed to gain a troublesome itinerant stalker who bothered me for months afterwards.

With hindsight I hadn't made the mental transition from 'drinking with uni mates/mates from a casual bar job' and 'drinking with professional colleagues'. Plus the drinks were free and unlimited. It wasn't my finest moment but I haven't done it since and I do feel for people who I see doing similar.

the HR lady had to help them get home to 'ensure they still had a job in the morning'.

Your HR goes above and beyond! She needs flowers.

Almost certainly nerves, trying to fit in and be one of the gang. It’s also very hard to tell, when you’re pissed, that others are not on the same “level” with you. And this may not be the case in this situation but for the mid generation here, everyone used to get smashed. There were firms who put on hotel rooms for staff for precisely that reason! Tho admittedly it led to far more shenanigans than the original drinking (and more serious issues, of course - which is probably why they don’t do that now).

People handle alcohol differently. I have one pint and it's like I can't stop! When I was younger this caused issues but I didn't know how to stay involved and not end up out until all hours...

Have sympathy. They don't mean to. They likely can't make themselves stop.

This is why DH and I have always told our girls that work drinks/ dinners are an extension of work, behave as if you are on the job and 1-2 drinks max.
This is different from clubbing with some friends from work, with out management present.

Thankfully I've been with DP since we were 18 so never shagged anyone but have def been a bit too open.

My advice is more succinct. Don't shit where you eat.

This isn't about just 'drunk people' and whether I like them. This is where people literally can lose their job because of how they use alcohol at a work event.

Obviously touched a raw nerve with some people!

I get people may be nervous etc but that doesn't mean get wasted while on probation period with colleagues you barely know and do something you may regret that could jeopordise your job?

Maybe some people can handle their booze but another guy a few yesrs ago couldn't and slept in until 1pm next working day and HR had to go to his house to check he was ok as he wasnt answering any calls. He was fine, just slept in with hangover and not bothered to go to work. Fired there and then.

In my previous industry we used to invite overseas clients to our Xmas parties (always held on a Monday), with the sole aim to get them absolutely trollied so that they’d be too ill to do business with competitors on subsequent days of the week.

It was horrific behaviour and a lot of colleagues would get themselves in some seriously drunk states. In the end Some clients banned their staff from drinking alcohol when out on work events.

There are also a lot of people with genuine drink problems. People who get themselves so drunk on a regular basis and cause themselves injuries because of it. They seem to think it’s hilarious, yet are always the subject of gossip.

Another guy last year became innapropriate and argumentative towards female staff members having had way too much alcohol on a work night out. A disciplinary followed, then he was gone.

From what some of you comment above, this sort of alcohol-induced behaviour is just down to 'nerves' or no self control with the 'free drinks' and people like me who take issue with it are uptight and no fun.

I'm sorry but I think it's disgraceful and I've seen it happen several times now. Where is a bit of self control and ability to know when to stop so you keep your next pay slip?

I get people may be nervous etc but that doesn't mean get wasted while on probation period with colleagues you barely know and do something you may regret that could jeopordise your job?

It’s not deliberate behaviour, @elzober. People get drunker than they realise.

@Fucket totally agree. I think alcohol is so socially acceptable that we forget the damage it can cause

Nice employer who provides a ton of free booze at work then fires people for getting drunk.

The employers need to take a bit of responsibility for encouraging people to drink.alcohol who may have an alcohol problem.

Don’t go to work events if you feel embarrassed by drunk people.

This is such a bizarre statement. Drunk people are a given at work events? To the point where the sober who find them tiresome should just stay home? Is this the norm now in the UK?

@SuperdrugKeysDemon 'Not deliberate behaviour' removes all notion of personal responsibility here.

People are adults and should know their limits or ensure they eat etc.