Lloyd's of London, an insurance company in Europe, recently notified its several hundred employees that drinking alcohol between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm is forbidden. Apparently, it used to be popular to consume liquor with lunch, but the practice has died out over the years. "Lloyd's was one of the largest employers not to change its rules."
The guidance is intended to reflect common and business standards and “ensures we are in line with a number of businesses in the sector who also adopt similar policies,” the spokesperson said.Alas, the new rule does not cover insurance brokers and underwriters who work at Lloyd’s for other firms.
The move, no doubt, will bring hardship to some restaurant and pub owners in The City. The cutback in drinking comes as many companies are being hit with thousands of job cuts from the impact of Britain’s vote to leave the European Union.
I was surprised to read that people even drank on the job or during the work day. I think there was a post on WSO about drinking during work as well. It's definitely interesting to see the difference in work culture between European countries and America. What do you guys think the repercussions of this policy change will be? Will workers rebel and continue to drink or will this be insignificant in the long run?
Time to start pregaming work?
Hahahaha. That's a fantastic idea
This practice is declining, but definitely not gone. This is still big in some industries, specifically energy, shipping (these lads know how to drink), and some boutiques.
I have a lunch beer while I'm working maybe 3 times a year, and never more than one.
If you need a rule to keep you from getting bombed during work, you might have a problem...
This rule is CYA. I've gone out as a team many times during the day and had drinks. Or if you're with a client. If you're an analyst and slamming vodka sodas during your lunch break that's a different story.
It's a bit ridiculous to outright ban it in my opinion. I don't think there's anything wrong with having a pint at lunch, just don't get gazeboed or drink so much it starts to affect your work, if it does then the employer should be on your case.
Exactly... a beer or a glass of wine with lunch won't ruin your day, just keep it moderate.
In my office whenever it is someone's bday, the CIO makes sure to get them a cake and champagne in the afternoon and, if anything, it just improves the mood and environment for the rest of the afternoon/evening...
(it's a small company so I'm talking about 20 people)
Lloyds of London is not an insurance company -
My grandfather was a turnaround guy, and says they use to have 4-5 drinks with lunch each day. Crazy how times have changed
The good old days.
Yeah between this and rules about language etc, it's like are we running a f*cking daycare?
Well this sucks.
I might have to start arriving at the office at 8 to make sure I am sufficiently drunk by 9 to last until 5pm.
Even now if you go for lunch with clients in the City, there will be several pints / bottles involved. It's the way of the world!
I saw loads of guys gathered around outside pub tables drinking pints around lunch time at Leadenhall Market (same place used as Diagon Alley in Harry Potter) when I studied over there. If you can function it isn't a problem, but if you are error prone in your work don't drink.
There's literally beer in my office refrigerator right now. I rarely drink but I had 2 beers with lunch the other day.
Like all the corporate rules regarding employee conduct, this will be only sporadically enforced and only invoked for those whom management dislikes for whatever reason. carry on, everybody.
EU has never been the same since America had to save their asses.
To me this sounds more like trying to punish people who voted for leave, besides the rats will be strictly dealt with by peer pressure. If everyone drinks then no one has a problem.
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