I have a new coworker who goes out for a smoke and comes back smelling strongly of alcohol.
I notice this several times a week and sometimes several times on the same day.
Our workspaces are close together (desks, not cubes). The woman who sits next to me and opposite this man has also noticed and mentioned it to me (only). The coworker who sits next to the man must presumably have also noticed it from time to time. Our boss sits within 10 feet of this man and it seems quite likely to me that he must have noticed.
Yesterday I recalled that I once worked in an office where someone had a similar problem. He drove while intoxicated, and was in a head-on collision which put him in the hospital. He never returned to his job.
Now I am starting to think about the potential liability to the company if this man is in an accident, for example, on his way home from work.
This is a small company without any strong management. The sole HR person is a temp to hire person who I am quite sure has never handled such a situation before, most likely has had no training in such things, and reports to someone who also would need to Google it to learn what to do about it.
They would need to confirm what I say, which presumably is a tricky business and could result in my being accused of slandering him etc.
Would you report this behavior, because of potential liability concerns?
Or would you say nothing, and let it take its course?
The fact that the HR person may or may not know what to do isn’t your problem. I think you should mention to him/her your concern and let things take their course. Obviously you are making this report with every expectation of anonymity – which you can reiterate to the HR person, who should already know that – so slander is not an issue.
I imagine the company has a policy that drinking while on the job is not permitted.
I’m calling on @MomofWildChild to chime in, since I know she handles these things for a living.
Are there any other smokers in your office that could potentially watch for evidence of drinking when this coworker steps outside to smoke?
What kind of boss do you work for? Is Boss laid back, old school “whatever it takes to get the job done” or will Boss take action if you report coworker? Does new coworker have any connections to Boss or other top employees? Did coworker know someone at your company before getting hired?
I would take a little more time to document a pattern of drinking over time. Build more evidence, not sure how to do that, but if coworker does not get work completed, that is information that could add to the case.
The boss successfully argued with the owner of the company to create this position. So it is in his best interest to portray this as a successful hire.
I personally feel that this person is highly incompetent, but the boss seems to be a big advocate for him.
It’s not really possible to document his drinking, other than to note when I can smell it. The smell dissipates quickly, perhaps within 5 minutes.
Our company handbook speaks to a drug-free workplace, but I am not sure that covers this kind of thing:
The policy of XXX, Inc. is to maintain a drug free workplace. “Workplace” is defined as company property, any company sponsored activity, or any other site where the employee is performing work for the Company or representing the Company.
The term “drug” includes prescription drugs, illegal inhalants, illegal drugs, and controlled substances, under the jurisdiction where the workplace is located. An employee who is under the influence or engages in the: consumption, possession, or sale of drugs while at the workplace is prohibited and shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including immediate termination of employment and/or legal action as appropriate.
It does not sound like alcohol is prohibited. So if he is performing OK, not sure what they can do. I have worked places where we all had a beer at lunchtime when we went out. I did have a coworker who came in at 7 AM smelling of alcohol; he eventually went into rehab.
Hmm, maybe I can innocently ask if it is okay to go out for a swift shot now and then, and have they considered the potential liability around such behavior?
You are on a bit risky ground, potentially thinking of reporting him when you can’t prove it, the boss likes him, and you have no strong management or protocol for investigation. Though uncomfortable, why don’t you talk directly to your coworker? “Bob, me and some of the others in the office have noticed you often smell of alcohol after your smoking breaks. We’re concerned about you. Is there something wrong?”
My office seems to have a problem with this right now. Several people getting very, very drunk on a regular basis. Th company manual does include this issue and the solution here is mandated rehab. One guy is on his third round after getting dramatically drunk in the office multiple times. I wonder how long this can continue because the rehab doesn’t seem to be working.
In many parts of the world (such as Asia and Europe and many US cities) moderate drinking is considered acceptable so long as it does not interfere with work. I think it is none of your business and you should ignore it if it does not affect your ability to do your job.
It doesn’t sound like the OP has much to stand on. Not sure of the direct approach either.
Unless having a beer a lunch is having an effect on the person’s work, there isn’t a problem other than a brief scent of alcohol.
I can have a drink at lunch. I can’t drive a vehicle from there drunk. The line is bright and clear. We also have an employee assistance program to help address concerns like this.
I had a coworker that would show up reeking of alcohol. It wasn’t that he’d just drank it. It was whatever was pouring through his pores the next day. He’d go for a bike ride at lunch and come back rather blitzed. Went through rehab a few times and eventually quit when pressured by his manager.
A few months later, his parents found him after being unable to contact him for a few days. He was never able to kick his demons to the curb and died from DTs. He was a brilliant and funny man. He just had a horrible addiction.
A brief smell of alcohol isn’t quite at that level.
But Fendrock is not talking about a salesman who has a few beers with customers, this sounds like a person who is so committed to alcohol that he has to take nips when he goes out to his smoke break several times a week and sometimes several times a day. And that is just what is noticed. Does not sounds like moderate, social drinking it sounds like a problem, for him and for the business.
Has anyone seen him actually drinking? Where do folks at your office go to smoke? Do they just step outside or do they go to their cars? Maybe he is using some kind of breath freshener after he smokes if it dissipates in 5 minutes.
At my office, we had a customer who came in regularly, always early in the morning, who smelled of alcohol. We couldn’t imagine anyone drinking at 8:00 a.m. and thought for sure he had a problem. One day, we offered him a cup of coffee and he declined saying he was on his way to dialysis and was not supposed to eat or drink before. What we thought was an alcohol smell was a product of his illness.
I worked in a small office (publishing), and we had a new hire (salesperson), and it became evident fairly quickly that she had a problem with alcohol. The publisher got her into a rehab once her insurance became active (I believe the insurance covered it). He was a stand-up guy, because he could have just fired her.
One of the people in my office comes in drunk every single morning. Spouse drives to work and pours him into the office. There is absolutely no question what’s going on. The other takes 3 hours for lunch most days and can be (and is) found in the pub around the corner when being looked for.
That sounds like a problem. The boss likes him, though he’s incompetent, got him hired and is his advocate. He is not going to take kindly to any complaints about him. I am hoping there is no risk in the job that he is doing.
Most companies would not tolerate drinking during the workday. It is no longer like it was in the 60s and 70s with alcohol at lunch! I would report this person. It is a “fitness for duty” issue. You are right- there could be liability if everyone knows about the drinking, it isn’t addressed, and there is some sort of accident. We would terminate the employee unless there was a request for a leave to treat the disability (alcoholism).