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Asked was I drinking at work

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    #92
    Shelflife
    Registered Users Posts: 3,074 ✭✭✭Shelflife


    Dav010 wrote: »
    So it’s only ok to ask employees when they show signs of being drunk, not ok to ask if they have been drinking?

    Others may not wish to acknowledge they were asked/suspected.

    I suspect the cause was the bottle, and without asking, how is the manager to try and find out who it was?

    Dav010 As an employer the last thing you do is accuse an employee of drinking on the job, you investigate properly , check your cctv and if theres nothing there you investigate more.

    You may have to forget this instance and then observe all your staff to see where the problem lies.

    In the same way if you suspect a staff member of stealing , you dont just go up to them and accuse them.

    Its very unprofessional from the manager and really its the end of any sort of professional relationship between him and the OP.


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    #93
    STB.
    Registered Users Posts: 5,380 ✭✭✭STB.


    Dav010 wrote: »
    Plus the question was asked without anyone else hearing it, so what reputational damage was done is not clear to me, if anything the op going around asking others if they were also questioned drew more attention to her. The manager found a bottle of alcohol and as you would expect, asked those working if they had been drinking. I don’t see any accusations in the ops post, the op confirmed it was not done in front of others, and as you said, others may not wish to admit they were asked.

    Apparently the manager should have just been satisfied to let someone drink on the job rather than asking.

    You are still not getting it.
    • The "manager" did it on the shop floor. Inappropriate and potentially damaging reputantionally if it had been overheard by a customer. Disrespectful, discourteous and highly unprofessional to staff member.
    • The "manager" asked the question 3 times to the OP. This is the point were the OP took it as a personal accusation. The simple question became an allegation.
    • The "manager" had disposed of the alleged infringing item when asked where it was. Big "IF" whether the allegations were made to suit a personal dislike and/or agenda. This is not a proper working environment if true.
    • The "manager" did not ask anyone else.
    • The "manager" should identify the culprit before making accusations, but wont be able do that unless they ask more than one singled out person.


    Honestly, its not rocket science pal.


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    #94
    poisonated
    Registered Users Posts: 2,277 ✭✭✭poisonated


    I believe you.


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    #95
    Ash.J.Williams
    Registered Users Posts: 21,049 ✭✭✭✭Ash.J.Williams


    I once worked for an (ex) alcoholic ..he accused me of same..only I don't drink!!


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    #96
    holyhead
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,249 ✭✭✭holyhead


    Dav010 wrote: »
    So it’s only ok to ask employees when they show signs of being drunk, not ok to ask if they have been drinking?

    Others may not wish to acknowledge they were asked/suspected.

    I suspect the cause was the bottle, and without asking, how is the manager to try and find out who it was?

    Without concrete proof you don't single out an individual for questioning. On discovering a bottle the manager simply sends out a mass email restating company policy re drinking etc.


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    #97
    localscientist
    Registered Users Posts: 60 ✭✭localscientist


    OP, any update?


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    #98
    tuxy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,983 ✭✭✭✭tuxy


    localscientist wrote: »
    OP, any update?

    Probably too pissed to type.....


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    #99
    Nekarsulm
    Registered Users Posts: 11,219 ✭✭✭✭Nekarsulm


    My cousin works in retail in Monaghan town.
    There is a trend at their work place for customets to smuggle spirits from the grocery section to the clothes section, empty it into a plastic bottle in the changing rooms, and walk out, leaving the empty bottle with its tag in the changing room...


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    #100
    tuxy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 14,983 ✭✭✭✭tuxy


    Nekarsulm wrote: »
    My cousin works in retail in Monaghan town.
    There is a trend at their work place for customets to smuggle spirits from the grocery section to the clothes section, empty it into a plastic bottle in the changing rooms, and walk out, leaving the empty bottle with its tag in the changing room...

    Thanks for the tip, I'm not sure how it's connected to the OP's problem.


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    #101
    Nekarsulm
    Registered Users Posts: 11,219 ✭✭✭✭Nekarsulm


    tuxy wrote: »
    Thanks for the tip, I'm not sure how it's connected to the OP's problem.

    Just because an empty bottle is found in a bin or some other part of the store, dosent mean an employee was responsible..


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    #102
    Morgans
    Registered Users Posts: 4,382 ✭✭✭Morgans


    Dav010 wrote: »
    So it’s only ok to ask employees when they show signs of being drunk, not ok to ask if they have been drinking?

    Yes. When the manager has the power to instantly dismiss the person for drinking on the job. Without that evidence, he wouldn't have the slightest leg to stand on in any court case, and is a liability to the company. Any manager who finds a bottle of alcohol and feels the need to check if all employees were responsible for it, implying that they were drinking on the job, with no other evidence, is a law suit waiting to happen. He/She will be a better manager following the grievance procedure brought against him.


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    #103
    steddyeddy
    Registered Users Posts: 27,564 ✭✭✭✭steddyeddy


    Ash.J.Williams wrote: »
    I once worked for an (ex) alcoholic ..he accused me of same..only I don't drink!!

    I've heard the same happening in regards to alcoholics. They accuse staff of drinking and display an empty bottle.

    OP in another case I'm aware of you could make his higher ups aware he "walks round with an empty bottle behaving incoherently". When my friend did that the manager was soon removed.


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    #104
    petros1980
    Registered Users Posts: 134 ✭✭petros1980


    Dav010 wrote: »
    So it’s only ok to ask employees when they show signs of being drunk, not ok to ask if they have been drinking?

    Others may not wish to acknowledge they were asked/suspected.

    I suspect the cause was the bottle, and without asking, how is the manager to try and find out who it was?

    Of course it's only ok if there is some evidence to back it up - are you thick or what?

    Maybe another example might make it easier for you to understand. The boss finds some sort of weird animal porn lying around somewhere. Despite having no evidence it belongs to thew OP he questions him on it in front of other staff. He doesn't question anyone else. Does that sound reasonable to you?


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    #105
    Morgans
    Registered Users Posts: 4,382 ✭✭✭Morgans


    Nekarsulm wrote: »
    Just because an empty bottle is found in a bin or some other part of the store, dosent mean an employee was responsible..

    Or just because the employee put the empty bottle in a bin doesn't mean he/she was drinking on the job.


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    #106
    seannash
    Registered Users Posts: 5,672 ✭✭✭seannash


    petros1980 wrote: »
    Of course it's only ok if there is some evidence to back it up - are you thick or what?

    Maybe another example might make it easier for you to understand. The boss finds some sort of weird animal porn lying around somewhere. Despite having no evidence it belongs to thew OP he questions him on it in front of other staff. He doesn't question anyone else. Does that sound reasonable to you?


    Did he question him in front of the other staff? I actually cant fully remember but i dont think he did.
    But it certainly makes your example very explosive if he did do it in front of other staff


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    #107
    Calypso Realm
    Registered Users Posts: 416 ✭✭Calypso Realm


    Nekarsulm wrote: »
    Just because an empty bottle is found in a bin or some other part of the store, dosent mean an employee was responsible..

    My thoughts exactly. Furthermore anyone drinking at work is very unlikely to leave an empty bottle in the bin, where (if you believe the manager's story and I don't because it could well be an 'excuse' he used to account for his accusation) it could clearly be seen by others, including management! I also find the fact the manager had disposed of it rather interesting!


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    #108
    keithonroll1
    Registered Users Posts: 2 ✭keithonroll1


    It is better to discuss with a senior manager.


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    #109
    nthclare
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,315 ✭✭✭nthclare


    What a cheeky boss.
    I'd have have asked him to send his query Via email an email and cc'd it on whoever's over him and HR
    Just for their attention...

    Then responded Asking him or her why they approached you in the first place.

    Then again I've a thick skin, my approach might not suit you


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    #110
    petros1980
    Registered Users Posts: 134 ✭✭petros1980


    seannash wrote: »
    Did he question him in front of the other staff? I actually cant fully remember but i dont think he did.
    But it certainly makes your example very explosive if he did do it in front of other staff

    See first post - he questioned him on the shop floor. So not just potentially in front of colleagues; but also potentially in front of the public also...


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    #111
    seannash
    Registered Users Posts: 5,672 ✭✭✭seannash


    petros1980 wrote: »
    See first post - he questioned him on the shop floor. So not just potentially in front of colleagues; but also potentially in front of the public also...

    OP then clarified no one else heard so....


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    #112
    petros1980
    Registered Users Posts: 134 ✭✭petros1980


    seannash wrote: »
    OP then clarified no one else heard so....

    Fine, fine...anyway I think it's been agreed by nearly all the boss was out of line. I'm stepping out of the thread as it's just page after page of nitpicking at this stage


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    #113
    barryos1505
    Registered Users Posts: 85 ✭✭barryos1505


    OP must be on a bender, nowhere to be seen last week or so.


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    #114
    Ann22
    Registered Users Posts: 8,004 ✭✭✭Ann22


    I had the idea the op was a woman..dunno why. I too am curious and hoping all is ok.


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    #115
    LenWoods
    Registered Users Posts: 617 ✭✭✭LenWoods


    Gerry G wrote: »
    Are you a bit of a soup monster in general or was there some other reason he suspected it might be you?

    Deadly lmfao


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    #116
    LenWoods
    Registered Users Posts: 617 ✭✭✭LenWoods


    I reckon the Alcohol has well left the system at this stage and the bin has been changed a few times since,
    Hopefully remember to put it in the recycle bin next time; perhaps that was the managers issue,
    I know my wife has a hemerage when I put somthing in the wrong bin.
    Just sayin lol


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    #117
    MayaMaya
    Registered Users Posts: 39 ✭MayaMaya


    Sorry, I meant to come back and update this thread a few weeks ago.

    We had the meeting and I got an apology from my manager. He was trying to mumble something about it being a misunderstanding. The facilitator told him to leave it at the apology.

    He has been nice as pie to me since. (For now anyway!)
    I'm pretty sure he got his knuckles rapped behind the scenes for his conduct


    Thanks again to everyone for their input. I appreciate it.


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