work help required - suspended, possible disciplinary...

[Jon-of-arc]

Soo.... following on from this thread, on which I received some excellent replies..

Contracted to do 30.5 hours, but am working 35 hours as standard - advice

nothing actually changed. Even though I sat down with the mananger and he made all the right noises, nothing much actually happened.

Now, as a lot of you know, I am a crazy drug addict who doesn't seem able to get his head wrapped round this whole sobriety stuff.

Since xmas, since I started this waking night business, I've been using ketamine and benzos outside of work, just to keep my mind a bit occupied, and just because....well, its the insane sort of thing that I do.

Anyway, on occasion my performance slipped noticeably, and after some holiday in March, I came back and they sat me down and had a little chat with me. I fessed up, and said yeah, I've been using a bit outside of work, and they said they would try and be supportive.

Last night, I attended a shift, and was accused by two of the staff of being under the influence (I wasn't). They asked me to do a drugs test there and then, but then changed their minds. I went in first thing this morning, and offered to do one, and they declined.

I've tried calling my union (both of then - I'm in the IWW and unison) and have not had any response as of yet.

There's a lot more to the story that I won't be able to put in this post just yet.

Just wanted to get it up on here, so that any helpful urb that feels like they might have some input that would be of use can get in touch. Looking forward to hearing from you all...

 

[wayward bob]

ffs jon. g'luck

 

[UnderOpenSky]

That sounds harsh mate. At least your offered to do a drugs test and are in Union though.

What an earth made you fess up in the first place though?

 

[Jon-of-arc]

That sounds harsh mate. At least your offered to do a drugs test and are in Union though.

What an earth made you fess up in the first place though?

Acchhh, trying to be honest with them, I guess.

 

[Jon-of-arc]

I've read their drug policy and they haven't exactly followed it to the letter...

 

[Jon-of-arc]

Acchhh, trying to be honest with them, I guess.

UnderAnOpenSky it just seemed like the riggr thing to do for once, y'know? Sit down with them try and not be underhanded for once in my life. See how that worked out...

 

[UnderOpenSky]

UnderAnOpenSky it just seemed like the riggr thing to do for once, y'know? Sit down with them try and not be underhanded for once in my life. See how that worked out...

They can fool you like that... Clearly you don't need a lecture etc on what you should be doing, but confess stuff like that and your always going to be marked, no matter how supportive they first appear.

I guess you want to decide if its worth fighting or would it be better to slip away with a reference and chalk it down to experience or fight.

 

[Pickman's model]

Acchhh, trying to be honest with them, I guess.

tell them what they need to know and never, never tell them about something like this again

 

[Pickman's model]

I've read their drug policy and they haven't exactly followed it to the letter...

Good, that's how these things get won

 

[Jon-of-arc]

Anyway, who's good at all this stuff?

equationgirl Rutita1 Sue Epona BristolEcho Athos mojo pixy spanglechick sheothebudworths kalidarkone Puddy_Tat

All helped out last time.

 

[Athos]

What's the policy about drug taking (both on and off duty)?

 

[Jon-of-arc]

They can fool you like that... Clearly you don't need a lecture etc on what you should be doing, but confess stuff like that and your always going to be marked, no matter how supportive they first appear.

I guess you want to decide if its worth fighting or would it be better to slip away with a reference and chalk it down to experience or fight.

I'm gonna fight them. Tooth and nail. There's a whole lot of stuff that they should have done but didn't. I'm not backing down from this one, under any circumstances.

 

[UnderOpenSky]

I'm gonna fight them. Tooth and nail. There's a whole lot of stuff that they should have done but didn't. I'm not backing down from this one, under any circumstances.

Fair enough. What do you gain from this route and what could you loose?

 

[Jon-of-arc]

What's the policy about drug taking (both on and off duty)?

The policy is broadly that it's not officially unallowed to have a drink or whatever outside of work. Obviously being under the influence at work is a big no no.

What should happen, if a certain member of staff has suspicions, they should take it to management and no one else should talk about it.

When I fessed up, I asked for strict confidentiality. I told one person, who said it would be kept amongst only those that needed to know, ie top level staff- the manager, the chief exec and that's about it.

What actually happened was that the entire team knew about it long before I made it public knowledge.

They have a little staff WhatsApp group that I'm not on. I wonder what they've said about me on that...

 

[Pickman's model]

I'm gonna fight them. Tooth and nail. There's a whole lot of stuff that they should have done but didn't. I'm not backing down from this one, under any circumstances.

You'll have to work with these people in future so you can't go all gung ho if you want to retain a working relationship. What do you want to gain? What does victory look like?

 

[Jon-of-arc]

Fair enough. What do you gain from this route and what could you loose?

Nothing to lose. God knows what I'll gain. But I don't see the virtue in just lying down and keeping quiet.

 

[girasol]

I don't think you should have admitted to taking drugs. They will use it against you.

 

[Jon-of-arc]

You'll have to work with these people in future so you can't go all gung ho if you want to retain a working relationship. What do you want to gain? What does victory look like?

Will I? I can't picture me working back there again anytime soon.

 

[Pickman's model]

Will I? I can't picture me working back there again anytime soon.

OK, so you want a pay off and a good reference i suppose

 

[Sue]

For now, suggest you write everything down in as much detail as possible -- what happened when, who was there, who said what -- as you'll absolutely need all this and it's best to do this while events are still fresh in your mind.

 

[bellaozzydog]

What’s your objectives?

 

[Jon-of-arc]

I don't think you should have admitted to taking drugs. They will use it against you.

Well, it's done now. They can use it against me all they want. When you have a policy of employing ex users, this sort of thing is bound to crop up from time to time.

 

[Jon-of-arc]

For now, suggest you write everything down in as much detail as possible -- what happened when, who was there, who said what -- as you'll absolutely need all this and it's best to do this while events are still fresh in your mind.

Will do.

 

[Jon-of-arc]

What’s your objectives?

I honestly don't know. Do I want to continue working there after this has happened? I'm not sure. I'm not being thrown under a bus, though, that's for sure.

 

[Plumdaff]

Yes, write everything down, including every way in which the policy wasn't adhered to. Basically they went against policy, you weren't supported and your confidentiality was broken. Chase the union, and ask to be accompanied to any further meetings. Think about what you want as an outcome; tbh, are you going to want to keep working there?; I'd be thinking a reference and payment throughout any proceedings and at paying you out any notice and leave you are due.

 

[Jon-of-arc]

Yes, write everything down, including every way in which the policy wasn't adhered to. Basically they went against policy, you weren't supported and your confidentiality was broken. Chase the union, and ask to be accompanied to any further meetings. Think about what you want as an outcome; tbh, are you going to want to keep working there?; I'd be thinking a reference and payment throughout any proceedings and at paying you out any notice and leave you are due.

Yes, I agree. I can't work there any more. I don't know what sort of pay-out I can expect, but I will certainly push for as much as I can get.

 

[LeytonCatLady]

Sorry to hear this Jon-of-arc . You tried to do the right thing and are being punished for it. They sound like a bunch of two-faced backstabbers with their Whatsapp gossip. You'll be better off finding a job somewhere new. As others have said, don't volunteer more information than you need to, because unfortunately most bosses aren't your friends.

 

[Jon-of-arc]

Does anyone know if the whatsapp group is legally confidential? Like, if they are discussing me there (or clients) can they keep this private under gdpr regs? I think they must be on shaky ground there...

 

[Treacle Toes]

Anyway, who's good at all this stuff?

equationgirl Rutita1 Sue Epona BristolEcho Athos mojo pixy spanglechick sheothebudworths kalidarkone Puddy_Tat

All helped out last time.

Well, it's done now. They can use it against me all they want. When you have a policy of employing ex users, this sort of thing is bound to crop up from time to time.

Sorry Jon am out at work between visits so can't comment much now. I think their policy on this is key.

What is the process they've agreed? You will need to hold them to following procedure where they haven't. As you say it's a key risk factor given the work context so a key policy to have and realistic responses to it happening.

As others have said, write everything down asap whilst it's fresh.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Does anyone know if the whatsapp group is legally confidential? Like, if they are discussing me there (or clients) can they keep this private under gdpr regs? I think they must be on shaky ground there...

If they are talking about you on email, what’s app etc then yes, you have a legal right to see it afaik.