City firms resort to having ‘sober chaperones’ at work events to keep staff in check after series of scandals and incidents on boozy nights out
- PwC said it now asks organisers to appoint designated ‘responsible individuals’
- Linklaters and accountants BDO have introduced similar policies in recent years
- This week it emerged a PwC auditor is suing the firm over accident on a night out
City firms are increasingly appointing ‘sober supervisors’ to keep staff in check during boozy work gatherings – while others have brought in risk assessments for any events involving alcohol.
A string of high-profile incidents of poor behaviour and sexual misconduct over recent years has prompted some of Britain’s biggest companies to crack down on staff they fear could harm their reputation.
Today, accountants PwC told MailOnline it now encouraged event organisers to appoint designated ‘responsible individuals’ to oversee the ‘wellbeing of attendees’. These members of staff are expected to either remain sober or drink moderately.
Law firm Linklaters and accountants BDO have introduced a similar policy in recent years. Meanwhile, Netherlands-based KPMG now requires risk assessments to be conducted before events where alcohol is involved, MailOnline understands.
Today, accountants PwC told MailOnline it now encouraged event organisers to appoint designated ‘responsible individuals’ to oversee the ‘wellbeing of attendees’
Meanwhile, Netherlands-based KPMG now requires risk assessments to be conducted before events where alcohol is involved, MailOnline understands
A PwC spokesman said: ‘We are committed to providing a safe, healthy and inclusive culture for all of our people and have clear policies and guidance in place for anyone organising and attending work social events either in or out of the office.
‘This includes encouraging event organisers to appoint and share the details of dedicated ”responsible individuals” to oversee the wellbeing of attendees and to act as a point of contact should any concerns arise.’
This week it emerged a PwC auditor has launched a £200,000 lawsuit against the firm after he suffered a severe head injury after ‘excessive’ pub golf drinking game on a work night out.
Michael Brockie is suing his employer after he was left in a coma when he fell on the night out in Reading in April 2019.
The 28-year-old ended up having part of his skull removed by doctors and spent six months off work recovering, although it is claimed he still has ‘persistent cognitive symptoms’.
In his claim to the High Court, lawyers for the auditor say PwC should be held liable for the negligence of Simon Fradgley, the manager in the Reading office audit department who organised the event.
Michael Brockie (pictured), an auditor at PwC, had part of his skull removed after suffering a brain injury on a PwC work night out
It is alleged Mr Fradgley ‘failed to take reasonable care for the safety of co-workers’ and pressured people into attending the event, which saw staff told to visit nine bars and pubs in the town.
The Financial Times reports court papers say those who attended were told to down pints in as few mouthfuls as possible – with the lowest scores being the winners – and it ‘encouraged excessive consumption of alcohol’.
Mr Brockie, who had been working as a senior associate – a role that pays on average £41,000-a-year – for the firm at the time, was found lying in the street after falling down.
Mr Brockie (pictured) was left in a coman and spent months recovering after falling on a pub golf night out organised by one of his colleagues
He would spend months recovering from a ‘moderate-severe brain injury’ before going back to work part-time in October 2019.
Court documents state after the incident PwC cancelled the annual event.
The firm has made attempts in recent years to crackdown on alcohol-related problems – in 2019 it banned employees from drinking alcohol in the office unless it had been supplied by its in-house catering team and it was at a special event where this was permitted.
After his recovery Mr Brockie has continued to work for the company, and according to his LinkedIn page he was promoted to a manager position at the Reading office in January this year – a job that pays an average of £64,000-a-year.
Although he has no memory of the latter part of the night out, in court documents he claims a similar event the year before made a ‘competitive virtue of excessive, rapid and prolonged consumption of alcohol’.
It is unclear when PwC introduced its ‘sober supervisor’ policy.
The company said of the legal case: ‘We are unable to comment on the specifics of a matter that is subject to ongoing legal proceedings.
‘As a responsible employer we are committed to providing a safe, healthy and inclusive culture for all of our people. We also expect anyone attending social events to be responsible and to ensure their own safety and that of others.’
Mr Brockie (pictured here before the incident) has since been promoted to a manager position at the firm
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