Consumption of alcohol and the expenditures involved has one more research to go against it. A recent survey from the data available has found that Australia spends approximately $453 million each year in order to pay for those who work overtime as replacement for their colleague who doesn’t turn up due to a hangover.

The study was lead by researcher Michael Livingston who works for the Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Center and co-authored by Caroline Dale working at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in the department of Epidemiology and Population Health. The study was carried out in 2008 involving 1677 adult workers.

The study revealed that one of every three Australian has a colleague who drinks quite often and previous year about 8 percent of them faced the vibes for their colleagues’ alcoholic nature. 3.5 percent of the adults had to work for extra time to cope up with their firm’s demands. The average overtime to compensate for the drunken colleagues was found to be 48 hours per year.

This overtime duty, on an estimate, costs about $453 million per year considering the average pay rates. Though the real costs are likely to be significantly higher as this estimation was calculated only when a hangover was accepted by the lethargic colleague. Even though the estimate of cost of replacements working for their colleagues is quite large; according to the authors of the study, it may just be the tip of iceberg.

Moreover, alcohol consumption is also linked to efficiency at work. The expenditure for alcohol use in the workplace is considerable and multifaceted. It can result into a reduced productive workforce due to being absent for alcohol-related sickness, reduce productivity at work and premature morbidity or mortality.

The study urges the Australian government to take measures to regulate the use of alcohol by introducing heavy taxes on drinks depending on their alcohol content. The Federal government hasn’t responded much to alcohol use but now needs to take immediate action to reduce the loss of $453 million each year.

Source:

Medical Journal of Australia