Unizo tackles alcohol abuse at work

Employees who show up to work under the influence of alcohol should be fired after three times, says Karel Van Eetvelt, CEO of the Belgian employers' organisation Unizo. According to a study by Unizo, one in three employers in Belgium has dealt with alcohol abuse in the workplace in the past 5 years.

Unizo advocates the introduction of a points system, giving employees three chances to correct their behaviour before being fired. There is one practical problem, however: It is currently forbidden in Belgium to give employees an alcohol or drug test on suspicion that they may be under the influence. Unizo wants to adapt the law to allow such inspections in the future.

According to Unizo, alcohol abuse in the workplace is a threat to the safety of the employees, puts colleagues and customers at risk and harms the reputation of the company.