Lloyd’s Of London Finally Bans Alcohol and Drugs In The Workplace?

It hit the news back in Tuesday, April 9, 2019, is alcohol and drugs really a big problem at Lloyd’s of London?

By: Ringo Bones

Wasn’t the world-famous insurance corporation Lloyd’s of London started a coffeehouse? During the beginning of the 18^th Century, Edward Lloyd’s coffeehouse was one of the foremost places where insurers, brokers and underwriters of common interests meet. It is of interest to note that Mr. Lloyd would not allow a man to write his name under a contract of insurance in his coffeehouse unless certain of the underwriters’ ability and willingness to pay up in the event of loss.

Fast forward to April 2019, Lloyd’s decision to finally ban drunkenness in the workplace was in part to the rise of complaints of sexual harassment and related disgraceful behavior during the past few years that was caused primarily by personnel who got a bit too much wine during lunch. Which is quite ironic, really, given that Lloyd’s of London was originally a coffeehouse. And as part of a code of conduct to be unveiled this week, people attending to enter the market under the influence of drugs and / or alcohol will have their passes confiscated.

Whether this is actually enforceable, only time will tell, but pity the security guards who will be in the front line of this. The security guards will now have the unenviable task – I mean how will they react when a powerful and influential broker staggers in at one in the afternoon after having a bit too much to drink at lunch and starts making threats when they are told to surrender their pass and told to go home?