How Employers Can Make Company Events Sober-friendly

There are so many reasons to make your company’s events sober-friendly. Research indicates that at least 23 million Americans are in recovery; in fact, in the Midwest, about 14 percent of adults are in recovery. Wherever your business is, odds are excellent that you employ one of them. If you do, it pays to fight addiction, which is expensive. Addiction is responsible for up to 70 percent of all loss of workplace productivity, and according to the experts, that’s a price tag of more than $442 billion annually.

 

Furthermore, a sober-friendly workplace is more likely to be a better fit for employees who are looking for a family-friendly workplace. According to the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, 90 percent of American families have children with at least one parent employed. The White House Council of Economic Advisors reports that about one-third of jobseekers have turned down a job that conflicted with family responsibilities, so a family-friendly atmosphere matters to employees.

 

Finally, helping employees stay sober minimizes your liability as a company. Employees who are drinking or using drugs open your business up to a range of legal claims. Why not steer clear of this legal minefield?

 

Still, even if you know it’s best to maintain a sober-friendly workplace, you may not be sure just how to keep your events sober-friendly. Here are some tips about keeping company events sober-friendly so you can start with a common pain point for employees in recovery: the office party. Bonus: all of our tips are also great for limiting your liability.

 

Limit Alcohol Consumption Across the Board

 

Employers have a range of options when it comes to limiting employees’ chances to over-indulge. You can offer a limited bar with only beer and wine, a cash bar, or a drink voucher system. You should also ensure there are lots of other choices, like iced tea, coffee, juice, water, and soft drinks.

 

Offer Awesome Mocktails

 

This is a fun way to enrich your party for everyone. Great cocktails look beautiful and taste delicious; you can do the same thing without alcohol. Don’t just settle for Shirley Temples, either! It’s easy to mix juice, sodas, and things like seltzer or grenadine to come up with complex, delicious mocktails.

 

This way your sober guests are holding a drink, having fun, and seem to be “drinking,” for those who are concerned about that issue. Bartender bonus: sober people appreciate the amazing mocktail you just made them a lot more!

 

Offer Lots of Options

 

Remember to serve lots of choices, both food and non-alcoholic drinks. Finger foods and snacks keep people busy, and give nervous guests something to do. Remember to accommodate potential dietary restrictions and food allergies.

 

Make it a Family-friendly Event

 

We all know what that means, and when we can bring our family or friends to an event, it’s a great feeling of support for someone in recovery. It also changes the expectations that everyone in attendance has; you won’t feel out of place drinking a soda, for example, at a family-friendly event. This kind of event also automatically reminds everyone to remain on their best behavior.

 

Hire a Professional—Never an Employee—to Tend Bar

 

Don’t put employees, even willing ones, in this position! Hire a professional bartender—and empower them to tell people no. Make sure they know how to make all of your amazing mocktails, too!

 

Designate Sober Members of Management

 

It’s a great idea no matter what to ensure that some members of the management team are sober during an event. This allows them to keep an eye on things and head trouble off at the pass. But in terms of employees in recovery, it does a lot more. It shows employees that even the bosses think it’s a good idea to stay sober at a company party, and that you walk the walk next to them, even if your reasons might be different.

 

Never Make Event Attendance Mandatory

 

Obviously, you must always invite all employees to attend any company holiday party. However, none of these events should be mandatory, and they should stay outside normal working hours. This is important for liability reasons, but it’s also important for your employees in recovery.

 

Especially early in the recovery process, it’s tough to avoid every trigger. For employees who know that kind of event would trigger them, a mandatory event is anything but a party, so don’t set this trap for them.

 

Plan Activities for Everyone

 

In other words, make sure the party is about something other than drinking, or being with the people you’re already with every day. Sitting in a room with co-workers and an open bar—and nothing else—is a great way to start problems.

 

Instead, make sure you’ve got something else planned, whether it’s a photo booth, a DJ and dancing, or goofy games for all ages. It’s also a good idea to put the bar in a less central location, in a second room, if possible. If you don’t want it to be about drinking, ensure that it isn’t!

 

Avoid Religion, Even During the Holidays

 

Religion is a trigger for many people in recovery, plain and simple. It’s also a great way to cross the legal line in the workplace. It’s fine to have a general holiday party, or end of the year celebration, but stick to those.

 

The Bottom Line

 

It’s time for fun! With some attention to the details, your company event can remain sober-friendly, and still be a great time for everyone there.

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