How Companies Can Be Mindful of Employees in Recovery Around the Holidays
It’s not uncommon for some companies to have alcohol available at their holiday parties or large annual gatherings. While the company itself might see this as a nice treat for their employees, the availability of alcohol can present unwanted challenges for people who are working really hard to maintain their sobriety. Additionally, there are a number of other reasons why employees might not be interested in consuming alcohol at their company gatherings (religious beliefs, health reasons, medications, etc.). Here are 6 strategies companies can use to be mindful of employees who do not drink alcohol when planning their next corporate gathering.
Be mindful of your corporate event’s location and itinerary.
When planning your next company gathering, make sure that alcohol is not the main focus. For example, is the holiday party or annual gathering going to be a happy hour? Will the main events of the night happen around the bar area? Will the holiday party be hosted at a bar, brewery, winery, or vineyard? Will the focus of the event be on wine, beer, or liquor tastings? If so, this could result in people in recovery deciding to stay home rather than attend the event which is likely not what they, the company, or the event planners want. If employees who are in recovery do attend, it might also mean that they are having to work really hard to avoid drinking at the event, rather than being able to relax and enjoy themselves like everyone else.
Make sure that there are a variety of attractive, non-alcoholic beverages available.
This ensures that non-drinkers can enjoy a variety of interesting drink options just like other attendees. This can help prevent non-drinkers from feeling left out of the festivities. Consider making mocktails or seasonal beverages available as a nice treat.
Incorporate activities that do not center the presence of alcohol.
If a company feels strongly about including alcohol at an event, be sure to follow #2 above, and identify non-alcohol related activities that can be incorporated into the night. This might include white elephant gift exchanges or other games, ice breakers, and interactive activities. This takes some of the pressure off of employees in recovery by taking the focus away from the presence of alcohol.
If someone is not drinking alcohol, do not ask them why they’re not drinking.
I read a post on social media once that said, “Someone’s reason for not drinking alcohol is none of your business,” and this is true. People in recovery are often nervous about explaining their reasons for not drinking, since people will often ask why they are not drinking. People in recovery will often come prepared with a planned response to this question, knowing that they don’t want to share about their recovery status with their boss or colleagues.
Do not provide alcohol as your company’s holiday gift to employees.
Yes, gifting alcohol might sound like a nice idea, and in fact, there are many people who would appreciate such a gift. Companies who want to be mindful of employees who are in recovery will want to reconsider this practice. Gifting alcohol can be triggering for people in recovery, and it puts them in the position of needing to use their coping strategies. The work setting that may have felt like a recovery friendly place has now presented their employee with a challenging situation.
Do not require employees to attend corporate events heavily focused on alcohol.
It’s not uncommon for companies to require staff members to attend company sponsored events. If your company’s gathering is located at a place known for alcohol (wineries, breweries, bars, etc.) do not require or pressure staff members to attend. Individuals in recovery need to make decisions to protect their sobriety without fearing that they will get in trouble with their company or be seen as someone who is not a team player. Employees should not feel pressured to disclose their recovery status in order to be able to make decisions that are best for their recovery and overall health.
If you are an event planner or manager who is responsible for planning holiday parties or corporate retreats, I hope you’ve found this information helpful. I am confident that your employees in recovery will appreciate these thoughtful gestures. I promise you, there are people in recovery at your workplace, even if you don’t know who they are.
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Written by: Melissa Wesner, LCPC
Melissa is the Founder of LifeSpring Counseling Services in Maryland, and she is a Certified Brainspotter and Brainspotting Consultant who specializes in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, and sex therapy.
