I just fired a guy for (1 Viewer)

[5Rings]

For drinking at lunch and I feel like a jerk. Our employee handbook specifically states drug/alcohol consumption on company time are grounds for termination....and he had been written up for poor performance only 4 days prior.

He denied drinking, though I have written affidavits from 4 employees who smelled / heard him brag about it.

This is a casual work environment (shorts / polos), we have had (after hours) happy hours and drinks on the back patio, but a line needs to be drawn during work hours IMO.

Am I jerk, or should I not worry about it?

 

[mr roboto]

Don't worry about it. He's the idiot.

 

[shadyridr]

Was he drunk or did he just have a beer with lunch?

 

[Slapdash]

A drink or a few drinks?

 

[Ghost Rider]

Lunch is considered company time? Granted, you don't want the guy coming back drunk, but if he had a beer or two over lunch, his time, I don't see the big issue.

 

[5Rings]

Of course this happened the day I'm out (Friday)...but supposedly he took excessive bathroom and water breaks, was seen sneaking into my office and our digital tech room during "water breaks", and production was very inaccurate with flighty body language. When I asked him point blank today, he claimed he had only taken a Xanax.

eta--He's in a production position where he needs to be on point.

 

[eoMMan]

Was he drunk or did he just have a beer with lunch?

This.

And I think a verbal, stern warning was the play here. Of course if he was falling down drunk, then firing is fine.

 

[butcher boy]

Guy sounds like a mess.

 

[17seconds]

was seen sneaking into my office and our digital tech room during "water breaks"

for a couple snorts of your Macallan 18?

 

[Politician Spock]

Just because it's grounds for termination doesn't mean it's an automatic termination. If he had just been written up, I'd record what happens over the next 90 days from the write up. If after 90's days you don't want to keep him, then use the drinking incident as grounds for the termination. I can't imagine what work life would be like if everything that is grounds for termination could get me fired on the spot. I'm not a saint. Nor is anyone else.

 

[pollardsvision]

I hate the idea in principle, but I don't think you'll miss a guy bragging about it.

Sounds like jagoff.

 

[5Rings]

was seen sneaking into my office and our digital tech room during "water breaks"

for a couple snorts of your Macallan 18?

That was what my management team thought he was up to as well.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

This is a casual work environment (shorts / polos), we have had (after hours) happy hours and drinks on the back patio, but a line needs to be drawn during work hours IMO.

Am I jerk, or should I not worry about it?

Not sure you are a jerk, but if your company is encouraging drinks on the patio, you have some issues.

 

[butcher boy]

Does it depend on the industry? Where I work, drinking at lunch is a huge no-no. And this guy had already been written up for being terrible.

 

[17seconds]

was seen sneaking into my office and our digital tech room during "water breaks"

for a couple snorts of your Macallan 18?

That was what my management team thought he was up to as well.

"Single malt is for management only. Hector will walk you out."

 

[Peyton Marino]

Bragging about it? What a try hard. If he's gonna flaunt it he gets what he deserves. How is taking a xanax any better?

 

[PatsWillWin]

He must be a d-bag if four of his colleagues are willing to rat him out in writing for having a drink at lunch.

 

[ChainsawU]

Did the employees who reported him go to him first and let him know they were going to talk to you about this problem? Or did they just tell you behind his back without saying anything to him first?

 

[5Rings]

This is a casual work environment (shorts / polos), we have had (after hours) happy hours and drinks on the back patio, but a line needs to be drawn during work hours IMO.

Am I jerk, or should I not worry about it?

Not sure you are a jerk, but if your company is encouraging drinks on the patio, you have some issues.

Maybe so. Our 2nd floor patio has really nice ocean views, and we've had some Friday evening company bonding events (with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available). I was hoping we were all adult enough to handle. Good points by all, thanks.

 

[ChainsawU]

You are leaving out a lot of his side of the story, by the way.

 

[Osaurus]

Hopefully you did him a favor and this will set him straight. You clearly did the right thing for your company.

 

[Lutherman2112]

For drinking at lunch and I feel like a jerk. Our employee handbook specifically states drug/alcohol consumption on company time are grounds for termination....and he had been written up for poor performance only 4 days prior.

He denied drinking, though I have written affidavits from 4 employees who smelled / heard him brag about it.

This is a casual work environment (shorts / polos), we have had (after hours) happy hours and drinks on the back patio, but a line needs to be drawn during work hours IMO.

Am I jerk, or should I not worry about it?

Drug test before firing. All you need is probable cause.

Seriously, is it that hard to stay sober at work?

 

[5Rings]

Did the employees who reported him go to him first and let him know they were going to talk to you about this problem? Or did they just tell you behind his back without saying anything to him first?

I was out, but apparently his co-workers told him that he smelled like a brewery and to get himself together. It just so happened that a manager was in the vicinity and heard the conversation.

 

[17seconds]

So basically this was a company-sanctioned opportunity to fire an underperformer?

You did good, he's a bottom 10%er. see Jack Welch.

 

[Dan Lambskin]

This is a casual work environment (shorts / polos), we have had (after hours) happy hours and drinks on the back patio, but a line needs to be drawn during work hours IMO.

Am I jerk, or should I not worry about it?

Not sure you are a jerk, but if your company is encouraging drinks on the patio, you have some issues.

Maybe so. Our 2nd floor patio has really nice ocean views, and we've had some Friday evening company bonding events (with alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages available). I was hoping we were all adult enough to handle. Good points by all, thanks.

Isn't serving booze on company property a huge liability?

 

[NCCommish]

I don't know any company that allows drinks with lunch these days. Now back in the day it was routine. But that was 30 years ago. He broke the rules, he obviously was not a model employee, you did the right thing.

Oh and if I were your company I would cut out the happy hours and drinks on the company premises. Begging for a lawsuit when someone inevitably drives drunk and the worst happens.

 

[5Rings]

You are leaving out a lot of his side of the story, by the way.

If I was telling his side, it would go like this:

"I've been there 4 months, its my first desk job, and I know they have high expectations that I was not meeting. I even said in a review that I wasn't retaining information and my learning curve was way behind. I dunno, the owner was out and I just felt like I deserved a few beers at lunch with my Xanax. I don't see what the harm is. Its not a big deal."

How's that?

 

[PatsWillWin]

You are leaving out a lot of his side of the story, by the way.

If I was telling his side, it would go like this:

"I've been there 4 months, its my first desk job, and I know they have high expectations that I was not meeting. I even said in a review that I wasn't retaining information and my learning curve was way behind. I dunno, the owner was out and I just felt like I deserved a few beers at lunch with my Xanax. I don't see what the harm is. Its not a big deal."

How's that?

He said that? Good riddance.

 

[pollardsvision]

You are leaving out a lot of his side of the story, by the way.

If I was telling his side, it would go like this:"I've been there 4 months, its my first desk job, and I know they have high expectations that I was not meeting. I even said in a review that I wasn't retaining information and my learning curve was way behind. I dunno, the owner was out and I just felt like I deserved a few beers at lunch with my Xanax. I don't see what the harm is. Its not a big deal."

How's that?

He said that? Good riddance.

No.

 

[The Big Guy]

Bottom performer can expect zero leeway on things. Good riddance.

 

[5Rings]

Thanks gentlemen. I appreciate the input.

Now I'm going to pour myself a drink... (I kid, I kid...)

 

[flapgreen]

Shorts/polos and drinks on the back patio? Is it a sports bar?

 

[randall146]

It really just comes down to whether you wanted him gone or not.

 

[weevil]

sounds like he was not very well liked. Personally I would be more concerned with the production of those who have the time to monitor others bathroom breaks.

 

[5Rings]

It really just comes down to whether you wanted him gone or not.

I've invested a lot of money and time into the kid. I don't like letting him go without any return.

 

[johnnycakes]

As someone who used to keep a bottle in his desk drawer, and used to replace that bottle several times a week, I could not have fired him for drinking at lunch. But since he's a poor performer to boot, I would have had an off-the-record come to Jesus meeting with him to discuss his future with the company.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

It really just comes down to whether you wanted him gone or not.

I've invested a lot of money and time into the kid. I don't like letting him go without any return.

Wait until you put years into someone and they let you down.

It happens, there isn't much you can do about it.

 

[Koya]

just ask to see the prescription for the xanax.

 

[5Rings]

As someone who used to keep a bottle in his desk drawer, and used to replace that bottle several times a week, I could not have fired him for drinking at lunch. But since he's a poor performer to boot, I would have had an off-the-record come to Jesus meeting with him to discuss his future with the company.

That has happened. Twice already. Once was four days before after his poor performance review with his manager.

 

[MC Gas Money]

Employees should have the option of a breathalyzer in this situation. If he is under the legal limit then he isnt drunk and you shouldnt be able to terminate him.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

just ask to see the prescription for the xanax.

Can an employer ask such questions? Given the other facts of this story, I'm not sure I would suggest doing this.

 

[johnnycakes]

As someone who used to keep a bottle in his desk drawer, and used to replace that bottle several times a week, I could not have fired him for drinking at lunch. But since he's a poor performer to boot, I would have had an off-the-record come to Jesus meeting with him to discuss his future with the company.

That has happened. Twice already. Once was four days before after his poor performance review with his manager.

Then I'd look at this most recent incident as the straw that broke the camel's back rather than a simple violation of the rules.

 

[MC Gas Money]

just ask to see the prescription for the xanax.

Can an employer ask such questions? Given the other facts of this story, I'm not sure I would suggest doing this.

I think they have the right to ask for documentstion that any narcotics you are taking is under the supervision of a doctor.

If you have the scrip then why would you care?

 

[Doctor Detroit]

just ask to see the prescription for the xanax.

Can an employer ask such questions? Given the other facts of this story, I'm not sure I would suggest doing this.

I think they have the right to ask for documentstion that any narcotics you are taking is under the supervision of a doctor.

If you have the scrip then why would you care?

Xanax is NOT a narcotic. Why would I care? Because it's a privacy issue.

 

[Koya]

just ask to see the prescription for the xanax.

Can an employer ask such questions? Given the other facts of this story, I'm not sure I would suggest doing this.

Great question. And since I'm just wheelin around after some shots from the wife, why not.'

If he has a real medical condition, I'd assume that would be far beyond the pale of "acceptable"

On the other hand, if it's recreational abuse of a controlled substance, I can't see patient priviledge in play.

I ain't no lawyer (though I AM a Jew on Long Island's Gold Coast), so there must be a legal - and for that, philosophical - term for the reality will determine the answer to the question, it can not be answered from here. But the answer is, for sure, certain once it is known.

 

[Christo]

Employees should have the option of a breathalyzer in this situation. If he is under the legal limit then he isnt drunk and you shouldnt be able to terminate him.

 

[MC Gas Money]

just ask to see the prescription for the xanax.

Can an employer ask such questions? Given the other facts of this story, I'm not sure I would suggest doing this.

I think they have the right to ask for documentstion that any narcotics you are taking is under the supervision of a doctor.If you have the scrip then why would you care?

Xanax is NOT a narcotic. Why would I care? Because it's a privacy issue.

Its a benzo. Classified as a narcotic I believe.

I completely agree with you about the privacy issue but companies are allow to test people for drugs. If you have a scrip then you get a pass . I wouldnt have a problem proving that I acquired the medication legally rather than be fired.

 

[Officer Pete Malloy]

I have written affidavits from 4 employees who smelled / heard him brag about it.

Snitches get stitches.

 

[MC Gas Money]

Ok its not a narcotic but its still a controlled substance

 

[MC Gas Money]

I have written affidavits from 4 employees who smelled / heard him brag about it.

Snitches get stitches.

Im guessing It was stitches.He better watch his back.