How does alcohol impact physical performance?
Even moderate amounts of alcohol can affect physical performance in daily life – and in the workplace. The body metabolises alcohol as a toxin, taking resources from other physical functions. This can lead to reduced energy, impaired balance and co-ordination, slower reaction times, and electrolyte imbalances caused by dehydration.
In a workplace context, these physical effects can manifest as:
- Fatigue, which can impact productivity, reaction times, and creativity
- Higher risk of workplace accidents, especially in physical roles
- Reduced ability to concentrate on tasks requiring fine motor skills
- Longer recovery times from physical work or periods of stress
The impact of alcohol on mental wellbeing
Alcohol and mental health have a complex and bidirectional relationship, with some people using alcohol as a tool for stress relief. Alcohol can be bad news for mental and emotional wellness, by disrupting sleep patterns and sleep quality, increasing symptoms of depression and anxiety, impairing cognitive function, and potentially making existing mental health conditions worse.
In the workplace, these factors can subsequently lead to::
- Decreased engagement and job satisfaction
- Difficulty managing workplace stress effectively
- Impaired problem-solving and creative thinking
- Strained interpersonal relationships with colleagues
Health Guidelines Around Alcohol Intake
Sober October highlights the many physical and mental benefits of cutting alcohol out, but it’s worth also knowing the guidelines around alcohol consumption. The UK Chief Medical Officers advise men and women to drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week on a regular basis (this is equivalent to 6 pints of average-strength beer or 6 medium glasses of wine). The guidelines recommend avoiding heavy drinking sessions, which increase the risk of death from accidents and long-term illnesses, and advise spreading any alcohol intake over 3+ days. To reduce short-term risks, the guidelines suggest limiting the total amount of alcohol in one session, drinking more slowly, and having several alcohol-free days each week. However, health guidelines point out that there is no “safe” drinking level – any amount of alcohol can carry some risk to health.
Stress management for employee wellbeing: exercise vs. alcohol
As part of your workplace wellbeing initiatives, consider encouraging employees to choose exercise over alcohol as a stress-management tool. This switch can have significant benefits for individual employees, teams, and the organisation as a whole.
Exercise is a powerful alternative to alcohol that has far-reaching benefits beyond stress reduction. In terms of physical health, regular exercise improves heart health, increases muscle mass and bone density, helps people manage their weight, prevent many lifestyle-related health issues, and can also support better sleep and immunity.
The mental health benefits of regular exercise include reduced stress (and improved ability to deal with future stress), better mood, mental clarity and cognitive function, and increased self-confidence. Exercise can also act as a positive team-builder and social outlet.
How to encourage employee engagement in exercise
We recognise that encouraging employees to swap alcohol for exercise will not always be simple or smooth sailing. But there’s a lot that you can do to make it easier for your workforce.
- Lead by example – encourage management to sign up to Sober October, prioritise sport and exercise, and share their experiences.
- Flexibility – offer flexible work hours or hybrid working to accommodate exercise routines, particularly during short daylight hours.
- Fitness as a benefit – discounted gym membership is popular employee benefit, make sure yours is flexible for all employees.
- Wellness culture – make activity part of your organisational culture with walking meetings and other opportunities to move.
You could encourage walking meetings, introduce standing desks, create company sports teams, and promote activity breaks for sedentary roles and stretching guidelines for physical roles.
The 5 Leading Issues of Alcohol on Workplace Performance and Health
As more is known about the impact of alcohol consumption on individual health, it’s time to look at the serious issues surrounding weekend or evening drinking in terms of workplace performance and organisational health:
- Absenteeism – alcohol use can lead to increased sick days and unplanned absences, including those not directly linked to drinking sessions.
- Presenteeism – employees may be physically present but operating at reduced capacity due to hangovers or fatigue.
- Decision-making – alcohol intake can be a factor in poor business decisions and missed opportunities.
- Workplace culture – drinking can negatively influence team dynamics and company culture.
- Bottom line – the cumulative effect of alcohol’s impact on physical and mental performance can significantly reduce productivity, retention, and profitability.
Encouraging an alcohol-free workforce
Sober October is an opportunity for employers and employees to reflect on the impact of alcohol within their careers, teams, and workplaces. By understanding the physical and mental benefits of exercise (compared to the risks of alcohol), we can start to encourage informed choices that promote individual and organisational wellbeing.
Sober October can be a springboard for lasting change, and it starts by educating individuals about the risks and providing easy opportunities to make healthier choices. Working with Hussle is a cost-effective way to offer discounted access to a nationwide network of gyms, pools, and fitness centres with one membership.
Have you reviewed your fitness benefits recently? Provide your employees with flexible, discounted access to our network of UK gyms, pools and spas as an employee benefit- get a free quote.
