Alcohol at work...no thanks.

My sister and brother in law work in a big company where some new implementations are taking place. They work in the office but most workers work in the production area where they operate big and dangerous machines. These workers work in shifts and it's really hard work. When it comes to drinks some of them don't satisfy themselves with water and they drink beer or wine in the breaks. Some of them arrive in the morning already drunk or with hangovers.

For the hangovers they usually apply some natural hangover cures like drinking a lot of water or menthol tea, others just keep drinking alcohol during the day. Besides the decrease of productivity it's very dangerous for these workers to operate machines. They put themselves at risk and others too. So, this big company has new rules, everyday the computer makes a random selection of a number of workers and the ones selected have to go under one test to see if they have alcohol in their blood system. With this new system directors want to decrease the number of people drinking or under the effect of alcohol while working. This system is also starting to be used in other type of companies especially those whose employees work as drivers or salesman that drive most of the day.

We discussed this at dinner today and I really think this can't be considered discrimination, this is done in aid of safety. I know what I went through when my boss had a drinking problem and everyday he would drive and arrive at office completely drunk. So, if people want to get drunk, well, do it in weekends or days off, not while working.