It is not uncommon for the average American workplace to feature or even encourage some on-the-job drinking. Many companies like to reward their employees for a good month or quarter with a dinner outing that includes a few drinks a person, for example. While this might seem like a simple way to morale, it can be downright demoralizing for people who are in the middle of an alcohol addiction rehab program.
Are you fighting your alcohol addiction, but your coworkers or boss are making it more difficult to stay sober? We have a shortlist of three things you can do or say that can help you decline work-related drinks without informing everyone of your rehab program if you aren’t comfortable with revealing it. Your recovery is your business, and you get to decide who knows about it, after all.
- Focus On Your Work
In a lot of workplaces, there’s always something to be done. Even when you have slow periods, you can probably find something else to work on, like starting up a new client project or cleaning up the stockroom. Being busy at work is a good way to resist temptations throughout the day, including those that come from your coworkers.
When someone asks if you want to get a drink at lunch, you can just tell them that you have too much work to do. Everyone knows that alcohol slows you down – it is technically a chemical depressant. If they know that you are always busy, then they should respect your decision to not interfere with your own work with alcohol in the middle of a shift.
- Remember Your Schedule
Drinking on a work night is usually seen as a bad idea. People still do it because they are having rough days or if they are feeling like they deserve a “treat.” But you can stand by your decision to never drink when you have to work the next day.
Your coworkers should know about your schedule, so it shouldn’t appear strange to them that you don’t like to drink on a worknight. In most situations, this reason is enough to get a coworker to respect your decision to decline getting drinks. If it doesn’t stop them from pressuring you to drink, then it might be time to speak with your employer or HR.
- Look for New Employment
Constant pressure from your job to drink – even if it is just now and then – is not healthy, whether you are in an alcohol recovery program or not. If you are feeling like you always have to tell people that you don’t want to drink at work or during work outings, then removing yourself from that situation might be the best option for you. Dust off your résumé and submit to other workplaces that have caught your attention, especially those that seem like they don’t spend much of the company’s budget on drinks and parties. Changing jobs is never much fun, but it might be the best decision you ever make if it means you stay sober.
For help figuring out how to fight alcohol addiction while resisting outside temptations like those from your coworkers, The Nestled Recovery Center in Las Vegas can help. Contact us now to learn more.
