A GRAHAM AGENCY “WHAT IF……”

WHAT IF you were sure you could smell alcohol on the breath of one of your domestic or household staff one morning?

Well, to a large extent it depends upon the nature of work being undertaken. Of course having a smell of alcohol on one’s breath doesn’t necessarily mean the person has had a drink that day, it could be a leftover from the previous evening. But even that could be a problem if there were unacceptable levels of alcohol in the blood.

So let’s look at some scenarios: If it were a housekeeper, responsible for food preparation and general housekeeping, it would be a personal judgement on the part of the employer if this was considered unacceptable.

However, perhaps that person is responsible for caring for children, or is a carer for an elderly relative, then you may well consider any alcohol while working is a non starter. If it was a chauffeur, of indeed any staff member who may have to drive, then this would be an absolute no no.

These scenarios may well never have crossed your mind, but the time to consider this is before you issue the contract of employment and write in an appropriate clause.

Dismissing someone for smelling of alcohol, if it doesn’t affect their work and, furthermore, that person has not been told this is forbidden, may well result in a case for unfair dismissal against you.

Our advice as always is to take appropriate legal advice before taking ANY action, and to use the services of a professional to enter an appropriate clause into your contract.

I would like to thank you all for the care and attention you gave to ensure that our housekeeper was just right for us.

My family back home has welcomed me and I am enjoying my new life with the family you found for me.

Using The Graham Agency was a truly good decision, from first chat to welcoming the candidate you found for us was simplicity itself. Excellent matchmaking.

I have been working for this family now for just over a year, and am able to enjoy life and save.

The idea of finding a domestic staff member for the first time on our own was intimidating, so we would like to express our gratitude for taking away all the issues for us.

I would just like to say a big Thank You for finding the perfect job for me.

I would like to thank you all for the care and attention you gave to ensure that our housekeeper was just right for us.

My family back home has welcomed me and I am enjoying my new life with the family you found for me.

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