In this episode we talk about how quickly good vibes at work turn into compliance catastrophes. Ryan Leary and William Tincup are live from the Fama booth at HR Tech, joined by Jenny Olson of NPR and Dave Wentworth of Schoox. The conversation pulls zero punches as we explore the liability, culture erosion, and plain old foolishness that comes from mixing alcohol with the workplace.
Key Takeaways
A conference planner got so drunk at her own event she cracked her head in the hotel lobby
The CEO had to personally drive her to the hospital
In-office happy hours might seem fun, but they’ve led to DUIs and toxic behavior
Encouraging on-site drinking to “bond” staff is often a lawsuit waiting to happen
A book called Corporate Drinker is calling out this exact issue in modern workplace culture
Free alcohol is still the go-to draw for many companies trying to feel cool
Ping pong tournaments, food trucks, and family days are safer and way more inclusive
Banning alcohol at work and work events is the easiest way to prevent a PR disaster
The pressure to “be fun” often leads to long-term damage to morale, trust, and safety
Real employee engagement comes from thoughtful experiences, not open bars
If common sense were common, we wouldn’t need HR
This limited series is brought to you by FAMA, Modern Candidate Screening. Talent teams use FAMA to improve candidate quality, create safe and inclusive workplaces and place the right leadership for their organizations.
You can subscribe and listen to the #9to5Nightmares podcast here https://fama.io/podcasts or here
Chapters
00:00 Live at Fama’s booth from HR Tech
00:20 Intros with NPR and Schoot
01:00 The head injury that changed the vibe of the entire event
02:30 Why no one thought to prevent it
03:30 Office happy hours that go off the rails
04:15 Corporate Drinker and the case for alcohol-free culture
05:00 Alternatives that actually build community
05:40 Why it’s so hard for employers to say no to booze
06:10 Bringing families into workplace culture
Guest Info
Jenny Olson, Head of Communications at NPR
Website: https://www.npr.org
Dave Wentworth, Talent Platform Evangelistm at Schoot
Website: https://www.schoox.com/
Connect with us
William Tincup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tincup
Ryan Leary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanleary
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