City bankers are abusing drink and drugs

Ian Silvera reported in the International Business Times yesterday that City firms are seeing more of their workers turning to drugs and alcohol as a means of coping with growing pressures at work.

GQ Employment Law believes that bankers and administration staff are being put under too much pressure and this is leading many to suffer mental health problems and develop dependencies on alcohol and drugs.

Paul Quain, a partner at GQ, said: “Managing staff with alcohol or drug addiction problems can be a very significant issue for City employers.”

He went on to explain how addiction to drugs and alcohol is becoming a common feature of City life. People are working longer hours to ensure they do a good job, which increases stress and anxiety in the workplace.

Many City workers suffer from daily panic attacks and will resort to alcohol in an attempt to calm their nerves. This is combined with the traditional drinking culture associated with working in the City.

Businesses are urged to always make an attempt to help staff who are suffering from alcohol or drug problems before they initiate disciplinary action. Regular drug testing may be an efficient way to spot staff who are developing problems before they get out of hand.

Mr Quain added that a company has the right to remove a problem member of staff swiftly if they are posing a serious risk to the business.

Past studies have shown that regular drug testing helps to reduce the number of employees who take drugs; therefore, drug testing could be seen as a good preventative measure rather than a route to dismissal.