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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2014 12:59:15 GMT -5
What would you do if you suspected but had no proof that your co-worker was coming to work intoxicated? Factor in this is in manufacturing and work requires use of some hazardous chemicals and machinery that can be dangerous though I have seen no evidence of not using required safety equipment or carelessness.
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Apr 24, 2014 13:09:14 GMT -5
What would you do if you suspected but had no proof that your co-worker was coming to work intoxicated? Factor in this is in manufacturing and work requires use of some hazardous chemicals and machinery that can be dangerous though I have seen no evidence of not using required safety equipment or carelessness.
Depends on what is it the coworker is doing that raises my suspicions? Can you smell alcohol on them when they come in? Strange behavior? Driving erratically in the parking lot? Some kind of date-and-time, hard-copy proof would help. If your facility has security cameras, perhaps something has been caught on tape?
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Apr 24, 2014 13:10:47 GMT -5
Personally I would need to know a little more before I'd say what I'd do. Are you the boss? Do you have any authority in the company? Are there written rules against showing up to work intoxicated? Written rules about working after consuming alcohol (ie, after lunch hour, evening meetings, etc). Does your company random drug test? Do you have an HR Department? An EAP with rules or procedures for substance abuse issues? A grievance policy/procedure? An anonymous suggestion box?
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Apr 24, 2014 13:12:56 GMT -5
Put a piece of tape in a straight line on the floor thru the hall and see if he can walk it. If he's been following OSHA regulations I don't know how much of a case you have. The manufacturing places DH have worked in in don't do testing till you've committed a violation. I don't know if an accusation by a co-worker is enough to result in testing w/o proof.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2014 13:14:23 GMT -5
Smells of alcohol often. I am not the boss. The boss leaves shortly after we arrive so not much interaction. Yes, some erratic behavior. Yes written policy about showing up intoxicated. He is a her and I do not want to get her into trouble and I don't feel comfortable talking to her about it. It has been brought up to me my other co-workers who suspect it as well. The safety issue does concern me some.
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Sam_2.0
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Post by Sam_2.0 on Apr 24, 2014 13:14:47 GMT -5
We had one lady that always returned to work from lunch smelling of alcohol. We told the supervisors as it happened and they followed the outlined procedures. But we are in an office, not around machinery. If you are worried that someone is impaired and potentially compromising YOUR safety then absolutely speak up. Tell HR or a supervisor. They will have to witness it first-hand but then steps can be taken to correct the behavior if possible or have the person "made available to industry" if needed.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Apr 24, 2014 13:22:57 GMT -5
Xmascookie-Does your Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace policy allow 'Probable Cause' testing?
Nothing wrong in putting one of the managers on notice regarding your concerns. Not only could she injure herself in the workplace but she could cause injury to others.
Let the manager(s) observe her over a period of time.
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Apr 24, 2014 13:23:38 GMT -5
I worked in a place with a shop connected. One day the entire place smelled of alcohol and who shows up but HR director. Was he the set up or the office staff?
Another place I worked was in a hostile take over. The take over bosses spent 2 hr lunch hours at the bar and came in staggering for the afternoon. One of them bragged that his secretary could drink more long island teas than he could.
Another employer laid down the law that anyone in a company vehicle had better not be at a bar about 50 miles out of town. This manager stopped in there for who knows why and his car stalled. The penalty was not applied. --------- Another person on this board had a similar situation. I don't recall how it was resolved.
Perhaps the best action is to mention your concern to your supervisor and let them carry it forward.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2014 13:24:05 GMT -5
Xmascookie-Does your Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace policy allow 'Probable Cause' testing?
Nothing wrong in putting one of the managers on notice regarding your concerns. Not only could she injure herself in the workplace but she could cause injury to others.
Let the manager(s) observe her over a period of time. Probably. I really hate this.
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Apr 24, 2014 13:28:49 GMT -5
Xmascookie-Does your Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace policy allow 'Probable Cause' testing?
Nothing wrong in putting one of the managers on notice regarding your concerns. Not only could she injure herself in the workplace but she could cause injury to others.
Let the manager(s) observe her over a period of time. Probably. I really hate this. No one likes to be the one who "rats" on a coworker. But in this case, the type of environment you are in means someone - and that could be you - could get hurt by her actions. I never worked with anyone like that, but I did volunteer with an active alcoholic. He was fine for years (I was with this nonprofit as a volunteer for 14 years) and then one day, he went off the wagon, and never really got back on. His behavior escalated out of control to the point where he was shouting, cussing and throwing heavy metal objects around. I left and never went back. Easier for me to find another volunteer gig than wind up with a head injury.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Apr 24, 2014 13:29:39 GMT -5
Xmascookie-Does your Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace policy allow 'Probable Cause' testing?
Nothing wrong in putting one of the managers on notice regarding your concerns. Not only could she injure herself in the workplace but she could cause injury to others.
Let the manager(s) observe her over a period of time. Probably. I really hate this. I am sure you do hate this. Most everyone would or does. I hated doing it back in the late '70s to a co-worker. We were working around aircraft. No way could I or my employer allow him to get near an airplane in his condition.
But you just might be doing this co-worker a favor in the long run. If she has a drinking problem this could be her 'hit bottom', being suspended/fired from a job for her possible/probable alcoholism.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2014 13:33:38 GMT -5
Oh man, she's just getting her life back on track. She's fairly new. I have been working with her about a year.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Apr 24, 2014 13:38:30 GMT -5
Oh man, she's just getting her life back on track. She's fairly new. I have been working with her about a year. How about right now, you pull her aside and tell her what you have observed. Put her on notice others have noticed it too. If your employer has an EAP, give her the phone number. If she is offended by your comments, so be it. The ball is always in her corner.
If she continues, then go to management. Management will/should be discrete and not point out the person who squealed on your co-worker.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2014 13:42:43 GMT -5
Oh man, she's just getting her life back on track. She's fairly new. I have been working with her about a year. How about right now, you pull her aside and tell her what you have observed. Put her on notice others have noticed it too. If your employer has an EAP, give her the phone number. If she is offended by your comments, so be it. The ball is always in her corner.
If she continues, then go to management. Management will/should be discrete and not point out the person who squealed on your co-worker.
That might be the best way. I just need to gather up some courage and prepare my self for working closely with someone that hates me ?
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Apr 24, 2014 13:48:37 GMT -5
Oh man, she's just getting her life back on track. She's fairly new. I have been working with her about a year. That may be the case, but if she is drinking, then those tracks are pretty wobbly. She loses her job and whatever life she has rebuilt totally goes off the rails. She may be drinking and thinking no one notices because she's new, or in a "safe" spot in the plant.
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Apr 24, 2014 13:49:23 GMT -5
How about right now, you pull her aside and tell her what you have observed. Put her on notice others have noticed it too. If your employer has an EAP, give her the phone number. If she is offended by your comments, so be it. The ball is always in her corner.
If she continues, then go to management. Management will/should be discrete and not point out the person who squealed on your co-worker.
That might be the best way. I just need to gather up some courage and prepare my self for working closely with someone that hates me ?
Then personally, I wouldn't approach her. I would go to whatever authority is in place in your company (who will pay attention to you!) and give them the facts. Only the facts, in a non-emotional manner: "For the past X days, I'm smelling alcohol on Co-Worker. She appears not to be steady at times. For her safety and the safety of everyone around her I'm concerned, and wanted to bring this concern to your attention." OR whatever other non-emotional words work. Good luck!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2014 13:51:46 GMT -5
Thanks for the input and good lucks. I'm still waffling. This so sucks.
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Apr 24, 2014 14:07:24 GMT -5
Thanks for the input and good lucks. I'm still waffling. This so sucks. You're right. It totally sucks. But think about how much worse it will suck if you do nothing and she injures (or worse) herself or someone else - - and you said nothing.
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Post by moon/Laura on Apr 24, 2014 14:54:45 GMT -5
Do you have a locker room? Is there a way that you could leave an anonymous note for her, detailing the concerns you and your coworkers have? That way, she wouldn't know who, exactly, to "hate". It may be cowardly, but it's better than nothing. And, it's sort of middle ground between confronting her yourself vs the boss doing it and she (possibly) losing what she's so recently gained.
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Spellbound454
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Post by Spellbound454 on Apr 24, 2014 18:03:46 GMT -5
I'd just tell the supervisor or line manager that she smells of alcohol....and leave it at that. Let them deal with it.
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Post by truthbound on Apr 24, 2014 18:15:48 GMT -5
Put a piece of tape in a straight line on the floor thru the hall and see if he can walk it. If he's been following OSHA regulations I don't know how much of a case you have. The manufacturing places DH have worked in in don't do testing till you've committed a violation. I don't know if an accusation by a co-worker is enough to result in testing w/o proof. I was thinking put a piece of tape on it and mind your own business.
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Peace Of Mind
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Apr 24, 2014 18:16:28 GMT -5
What would you do if you suspected but had no proof that your co-worker was coming to work intoxicated? Factor in this is in manufacturing and work requires use of some hazardous chemicals and machinery that can be dangerous though I have seen no evidence of not using required safety equipment or carelessness.
I'd personally keep my mouth shut if they aren't breaking any rules in safety and if I didn't have proof of their intoxication during work hours. If you have some kind of proof of either and if the danger is to you all then I'd be singing like a Canary. Do you guys do random drug and alcohol tests? Maybe it's time to do one. And make sure they continue to pull "random" lists until her name shows up on it.
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Post by ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ on Apr 24, 2014 18:26:26 GMT -5
Smelling of alcohol also doesn't necessarily mean "intoxicated".
It's possible she could have been drinking the night before - there are some people who exude the alcohol aroma through sweat glands/skin. It's also possible she could have had only 1 drink with lunch. 1½ oz of alcohol or 1 beer or glass of wine isn't likely to cause someone to be intoxicated.
If you have rules & regulations at your place of work about "no alchohol during work hours", I'd probably find a way to anonymously alert supervisors/management - or the person who's suspected of drinking if it any way could impact their performance & the safety of myself or another employee. Especially if it appears to be habitual.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2014 4:16:23 GMT -5
Smelling of alcohol also doesn't necessarily mean "intoxicated".
It's possible she could have been drinking the night before - there are some people who exude the alcohol aroma through sweat glands/skin. It's also possible she could have had only 1 drink with lunch. 1½ oz of alcohol or 1 beer or glass of wine isn't likely to cause someone to be intoxicated.
If you have rules & regulations at your place of work about "no alchohol during work hours", I'd probably find a way to anonymously alert supervisors/management - or the person who's suspected of drinking if it any way could impact their performance & the safety of myself or another employee. Especially if it appears to be habitual.
I know she drinks at night and this is completely possible. The behavior at times makes me think it's more than that and the same with co workers. She is in kind of a safe spot as we have no manager for our dept. on our shift. We are somewhat isolated though not completely. There is a supervisor there that we do have contact with but not face to face very often. I think I might go with POMs advice and not say anything unless I see obvious unsafe acts or obvious signs of intoxication. So far there has not been any that I have witnessed and so not really fair to her for me to say anything to anyone at this point. You have all helped clarify that for me and I thank you. Hope she doesn't blow up the lab when I'm on vacation in a couple weeks. JK- I think.
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tskeeter
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Post by tskeeter on Apr 25, 2014 11:39:58 GMT -5
Smells of alcohol often. I am not the boss. The boss leaves shortly after we arrive so not much interaction. Yes, some erratic behavior. Yes written policy about showing up intoxicated. He is a her and I do not want to get her into trouble and I don't feel comfortable talking to her about it. It has been brought up to me my other co-workers who suspect it as well. The safety issue does concern me some.
Report your concerns in writing to your boss and the HR department. In your work environment, a coworker who is impaired is a hazard to your safety as well as their own. It's not worth risking your safety to protect a coworker who may be coming to work impaired. Don't wait until you have solid proof of your suspicions. If you delay, the proof you are waiting for may be an injury to yourself, or another coworker, or even the loss of your life. If you can get other coworkers who have brought up the issue to submit similar reports, it will add weight to your concerns.
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justme
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Post by justme on Apr 25, 2014 12:12:46 GMT -5
If SEVERAL coworkers have noticed it, then I would think there's something to it. The signs you all are seeing just haven't manifested in a work mistake yet, but in smaller things that you have picked up without fully realizing it.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2014 13:10:54 GMT -5
At my workplace we have employees that operate moving equipment and we have accidents and injuries when employees are completely sober. If an employee that operated this kind of equipment smelled of alcohol and their behavior seemed as if they were impaired, I would absolutely talk to someone in management right then because it's too much of a risk that someone will get hurt. I definitely don't want to be that someone. Depending on who the person is, I might say something to them to try to get them to not operate the equipment but if they refused to cooperate, I'd talk to a manager. I pretty much mind my own business, but if someone is putting me at risk it becomes my business.
That's me and my workplace though. I wouldn't care that much if the coworker got angry with me. They shouldn't have come to work drunk and tried to operate the equipment.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2014 14:54:54 GMT -5
3 co workers have asked me about her. One thought they smelled alcohol on her and I think I have too, but like someone else said that could be from the night before. I know she drinks to sleep. One is the 2nd shift supervisor's assistant who thought she was acting intoxicated. I didn't notice anything except pretty scattered as she sometimes is, but I can be at times also and I'm sober. Also she is fairly new and it does get a little overwhelming when 3 people are needing you at the same time so she may just not know how to prioritize , that comes with time and in the meantime , scattered. I am not sure if assistant mentioned this to her supervisor, I will ask her. The other used to give her a ride to work who said they thought she had been drinking when they picked her up some days. Is this really enough to bring it to managements attention when I have not witnessed her doing anything unsafe and I don't know for sure ? She is not running any moving equipment but inspecting it and there are safety precautions taken for that that she is using as far as I can see. She is using all safety procedures for chemicals also as far as I can see. Of course I don't see everything. We work together but some times don't see much of each other at all. I would really hate to have management come all down on her if there is no real reason to and that would happen . Damn it all, 2nd guessing myself all the time.
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justme
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Post by justme on Apr 25, 2014 14:58:29 GMT -5
Is she inspecting it to make sure it's in good working order and therefore won't injure a coworker?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2014 15:06:08 GMT -5
Is she inspecting it to make sure it's in good working order and therefore won't injure a coworker? Cleanliness. Food equipment.
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