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September 5 2014

One in Five Workers Drunk on the Job

Workplace drug testing gets a fair amount of media coverage, but there is a potentially far larger issue that employers need to be aware of: alcohol.

An Australian Drug Foundation survey found that nearly one in five employees had performed work duties while drunk or tipsy. A similar number admitted to pulling a sickie due to the effects of alcohol, while about 40% said they 'd gone to work while still feeling the effects of their drinking. Alcohol and other drugs cost Australian businesses $6 billion per year in lost productivity and absenteeism, with alcohol use contributing to five percent of workplace deaths and 11 percent of accidents.