title: Alcohol drinking behaviors and alcohol management policies under outsourcing work conditions: A qualitative study of construction workers in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Workplace alcohol policies are crucial for workers' health and safety. The practice of outsourcing is gaining popularity around the world and was found to be associated with poorer health in the working population. This study aimed to examine how outsourcing complicates the implementation of workplace alcohol policies and affects workers' drinking behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 outsource workers, 3 subcontractors and 3 worksite supervisors. Information regarding workers' drinking behaviors, their knowledge, and attitudes toward workplace alcohol policy were analyzed using a qualitative thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factors associated with poor workplace alcohol management included smaller size and private ownership of outsourcers, subcontractors' own drinking behavior and positive attitude to alcohol, and precarious employment conditions of outsourcing workers. The multilateral relationship between outsourcers, subcontractors, and workers complicated and impaired the implementation of workplace alcohol policies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of workplace alcohol management policies was hampered in outsourcing work conditions due to poor coordination of supervisors in the subcontract chain. The enforcement of alcohol policies in the workplace should be strengthened by consolidating management responsibilities of outsourcers and subcontractors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, China Medical University Hospital, 2 Yude Road, Taichung 40447, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, China Medical University, 2 Yude Road, Taichung 40447, Taiwan. Electronic address: s871065@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Wan-Ju
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, 17 Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei 10055, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yawen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D004647:Employee Discipline / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D020416:Outsourced Services; D013624:Taiwan; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Alcohol; Outsourcing; Policy; Workplace