Alcohol at lunch, loose lips and privacy breaches

I was recently at a local café overhearing three people excitedly talking about office politics and business deals. This is a fairly common event at this café, but one thing that made this group stand out was that they all ordered alcohol – and the town hall clock had only just struck 12.

As I ate my lunch the group became more animated and harder to ignore and I noticed that the most senior of the group was leading, ordering a second drink, the two less senior lunch friends following. This happened again before I left – and I was only there for 45 minutes.

As the group drank more their conversation became louder. They were discussing clients and colleagues. As the senior one opened up more about people throughout the business the other two sat soaking up every ounce of information.

I can only guess how long the group stayed at the café, or how much more they drank. Not the best way to re-enter the office for an afternoon stretch.

It does bother me that alcohol is being consumed during work hours – but it’s something that is common in Australia, especially towards the end of the year. I think it dulls the senses and the ability to judge and deliver, but many see it as a just reward or even a right.

I think people at work lunches should take care, even when entertaining clients. But on this occasion I was much more concerned with the leadership on display. The senior member of the group was providing an example and a lead to less experienced team members. The message being sent was that it is fine to be under the influence of alcohol when there is work to be done. And loudly discussing personal information about other employees and managers within the organisation was a huge concern. Unpleasant references to their level of intelligence or work ethic were audible to everyone nearby.

This is unacceptable leadership – regardless of the relationships between the people involved. The senior manager in this instance has created an environment that he feels ultimately comfortable in: the long lunch accompanied by alcohol. This led to unprofessional disclosure of information.

I heard recently about an actual punch up between very senior executives at a staff conference, after a long after-dinner drinking session. It is simply unacceptable.

Unprofessional disclosure and behaviours also happen in other contexts. Sitting next to a senior manager on a long flight can result in finding out some eyebrow raising information. Working back late in the office and attending the office end-of-year party are two more examples of situations that can cause someone to forget his or her role and responsibility and let too much information slip past the lips. Alcohol is often involved, but not always. Managers have every right to relax at work functions – but they also have a responsibility to respect and guard the privileged information they hold and to behave ethically.

And if you are not a manager – does that make you exempt? If you think you hold your liquor well – does that make it okay to drink two or more glasses of alcohol during work hours?

Everyone needs to decide what is right for them, how much they influence others and how much alcohol influences their communication skills and judgement. Personally I think many people lack sufficient self perception and awareness to realise the right answer for themselves and their best, ethical performance.

If in doubt, instead of hesitating or going through an inner turmoil of anger or deprivation, simply and proudly order a wonderful tall glass of sparkling mineral water with a twist of lemon.

Eve Ash has produced a wide range of resources for developing the skills to succeed at work, all available through her company Seven Dimensions.