By: Nick Padlo, Founder & CEO — Sophros Recovery

In the modern workplace, office happy hours are as ubiquitous as meetings that should have been emails. Shaking off the week’s work stress with a few drinks with coworkers is a common way to connect with people outside the office. However, while team connection is important for creating a cohesive and productive workplace, it is becoming increasingly apparent that happy hours can be problematic for several reasons. 

As leaders try to build workplace environments that support diversity, safety, and supportive team structures, they may begin to rethink the reliance on happy hours for team building. Here, we dive into why happy hours may be falling out of favor and how leaders can foster social connections in the workplace without alcohol. 

Moving Away From the Office Happy Hour

Several important factors are leading managers and business owners away from reliance on happy hours for team building. An increased focus on workplace inclusion has led many leaders to consider the diverse needs and preferences of their employees. Social gatherings that center around alcohol can inadvertently exclude sober employees who have religious, personal, or health reasons that keep them from indulging in alcohol or who are uncomfortable in situations that involve drinking. 

While happy hours may not be required by the employer, many employees may feel obligated to attend after-work events to avoid feeling left out or because they think participation shows their loyalty to the company. Shifting away from alcohol-centered happy hour events within the company can help create a more inclusive environment. 

Health and wellness concerns of indulging in alcohol should also be considered. Studies show that alcohol use can be linked to a host of physical and mental health issues. For offices interested in building healthier workplaces and supporting the wellness of their employees, it makes sense to find alternatives to alcohol-centered happy hours. 

There are also liability and professional conduct concerns that come with hosting work-related happy hours. Alcohol consumption can lower inhibitions, leading to inappropriate behavior that can put positions in jeopardy. There can also be potential legal ramifications for companies that allow alcohol consumption at work events. Employers could be held liable for injuries, accidents, or crimes that occur on the heels of happy hours.

Work-related happy hours can lead to more trouble than they are worth for both employers and employees. It would benefit everyone in the organization to come up with alternative team-building activities that are safer, healthier, and more inclusive. 

Alternatives to Happy Hour

Although happy hours may seem deeply ingrained in American work culture, there are many ways to build alternatives to alcohol-centered work events without being labeled a buzzkill. Some options for alternatives include: 

• Team sports or fitness events: Getting a work group together to play co-ed sports such as kickball or softball can be a great way to bond with coworkers and get some exercise. 
• Creative or business-related workshops: Managers can bring in speakers or creative teachers to lead the team in lessons or projects that can help them grow within their company roles or artistically. 
• Collaborative problem-solving: Many team-building events involve collaboration and problem-solving, both of which are beneficial in any work environment. Through puzzles, building structures with unconventional materials, Escape Rooms, or trivia nights, employees can build connections by coming up with creative solutions to problems together. 
• Shared experiences: Experiences shared outside of work needn’t include alcohol to be enjoyable. Team members can share a meal, go see a play or a concert, or attend a fundraising or volunteer event where they can work together toward a common goal, just as they do in the office. 

As the workplace evolves, it becomes clear why ditching the alcohol-centered happy hour benefits all employees. By rethinking how we connect with coworkers, we can create workplace cultures that are built on creativity and authenticity — not alcohol.

— Nick Padlo is a small business leader, entrepreneur, and native of Jacksonville, Florida. He received his undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy (West Point), where he served as the Chairman of the Honor Committee. After West Point, Nick served for 5 years in the United States Army, where he spent 27 months in combat operations between Afghanistan and Iraq, earning the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge. He attended Stanford University for business school, and later went on to become CEO of an Inc. 1000 growth company. His move into substance abuse treatment is a result of his personal battle with depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder. After getting treatment himself, Nick defined his personal mission as helping others through similarly dark times. He believes that everyone can find their way back, regain their lives, and live a life free of suffering. Sophros Recovery was designed to be just that place, where clients across North Florida can develop a set of tools that can help them establish their own personal road to recovery.