Uncomfortable- drunk manager

[SugarMouse1]

I have started work recently in a local pub near me and NYE was my second shift.
Anyway, the staff were permitted to accept drinks after midnight and got given one free cocktail and glass of champagne each.
However, one of the Assistant Managers who is only 21, got very very drunk, was dancing, acting aggressive and threw up everywhere. Her family including her mother were present, but didn't take her home. The general manager didn't send her home either although he tried to a few times- she refused to leave.
Anyway, AIBU to feel uncomfortable about this and scared it could happen again and that the manager should warn her/ sack her?
Or am I just a killjoy?
I wouldn't even behave like this off duty at an Xmas party and would be mortified and leave if I ever did.

When you say "AIBU to [be] ... scared it could happen again", OP, do you mean that her aggressive behaviour was genuinely frightening, or are you just speaking casually and you're not really scared as such, but don't like being around that behaviour?

Has nothing been said since by the manager?

MrsSteptoe- yes, I was a bit scared of her behaviour, we wouldn't tolerate it in an ordinary customer, so surely it's so much worse for a manager to be behaving that way?

Jean- I haven't been in since so don't know.

Well, I guess I would take the view initially that New Year's Eve is a bit of an exceptional night when lots of people do things that they cringe about afterwards. Unless you know that it's not a first offence (so to speak), then I'm not sure I'd want it to be a red card offence either, so I think you're perhaps overreacting a bit with the immediate sacking. (I would also say to you that you would be overreacting if you felt compelled to leave your job had you been the one who got totally blotto on NYE!)

However, I don't think you're a killjoy, as aggression and alcohol are not a good combo. You're not BU to be aware of it and made uncomfortable, but perhaps you are overreacting a tiny bit worrying about it a bit too much?

See what happens on your next shift, maybe? Good luck!

It worries me though as other staff say the girl is a nasty piece of work

Which may well be true, but I would still think that unless you have reason to fear for your physical safety, it's worth giving the job a second shift before getting too tightly wound about it. It may be that you don't need to have too much to do with her; or that she isn't all that bad; or that she is, and you will leave at the end of your second shift resolute that you are never going to set foot in the establishment again. Either way, it doesn't seem to me that you've got too much to lose by assuming that it's not her normal behaviour until events prove otherwise.

I don't know if you're relatively new to the workplace or if you're experienced, but you do get nasty pieces of work in all workplaces. Admittedly, in my line of work, they tend to be sober, which helps, but maybe she doesn't usually drink on the job. Sorry if I'm missing something obvious here.

If the manager wanted to sack her he would not be helped by what sounds like a policy of almost actively encouraging staff to drink on duty-giving them free alcohol and allowing them to accept even more. How stupid.

He can't warn/sack her for getting drunk when he provided her alcohol, and permitted her to drink on duty. Do that's a moot point.

You feeling uncomfortable by her behaviour is fair enough, but you have to presume its a one off. If she does it consistently, then raise a formal grievance.

Don't quit your job because of rumours about one person, and one night of drunken silliness. Chances are people don't like her as she is an authority figure - very common for staff to have resentment after a promotion, could this be the case? Or maybe she's let power go to her head and is a bit of a nightmare - you'll find this in every job sadly.

Either way, you need to give it another chance, and don't ever quit because of someone else's behaviour without attempting to tackle it first. And stop listening to gossip.

However, if someone being drunk has genuinely scared you, then I'd worry about your suitability to work in a pub?

It wasn't her being drunk, it was her aggressive behaviour and the fact that she's above me.

Well, again is be worried about your suitability to work in a pub if you are scared by aggression. Sadly, alcohol can often lead to aggression, and this is (unfortunately) something you'll have to deal with fairly regularly.

You cant be scared in work.

What was it about her position that you were scared of? Was she trying to boss you about whilst drunk? If so, I'd disregard it as we've said previously - it was drunken behaviour.

It's also the fact that they only seem to give a 5 minute break, no matter how long the shift is, although its paid. Surely this can't be legal? How do I raise it without risking my job?

My understanding from the HSE website is that you're entitled to a continuous 20 minute rest break in a six hour shift. However, your employer is not obliged to pay you for it. You might find a bit of googling on the working time directive helpful if no-one posts an answer here.

In hospitality, you will probably have opted out of the working time directive, it's standard practice.

This has no effect on break times, only rest periods (that is, the hours where you are not at work).

You are entitled to a 20 minute continuous break for every 6 hour shift. This is not paid.

If they aren't giving you this, it could well be a culture thing - again it's very common in some industries (including hospitality) to not take breaks, due to the impracticalities of doing so at peak times. This is an option that a staff member can take - it cannot be requested of you.

You won't be risking your job by asking for a proper break. It's a legal entitlement. If they did sack you for expecting breaks, or treat you with any detriment for it, it would be unfair dismissal.