Drunk Co Worker What Do I Do?

[ClackerBuzz]

I am the Stewart.. And I can tell you that if I take it to the hall. They are gonna tell me that he has to ask for help or there is nothing they can do. Been down that road already.. 

You're definitely walking a tight rope.  Sorry to hear ur in such a tough spot.

 

I would document while being vague  ie make sure to notify the corporation/HR etc via email...but you don't have to mention the guys name.  

"I just wanted to send you a follow up email to our conversation last month. The same guy was clearly intoxicated for the third time in 2 months.  This was his second major accident".  The first sentence documents that you've already brought it up before.  Now it's being put in stone via email.  You could easily put something together that you feel comfortable with.

 

Documentation lights a fire under corporate behinds b/c they can't hide from it anymore.  It would help protect you if he kills someone. 

Phone calls and personal conversations are 'he said/she said' in court.  In this day and age emails are the norm and you should use that to your advantage.

We had a saying at my old job  "always CYA": cover your a$#

[SirSnookalot]

The problem has to be taken up with the local union president, being a steward you should have easy access to him, assuming it's a man.   When safety is involved you are not ratting, you are doing your duty as steward.  

 

Your unions dues is what makes the union run, their role is negotiate contracts for the membership.

[Ratherbfishing]

As a union steward, I assume it is your job to protect your workers (plural, not singular).

[Helluva_Engineer]

Maybe you aren't ready for the committee position if you have trouble ensuring safe working conditions for your "brothers." Your basic responsibility at work should be to do everything you can to make sure everyone goes home safely whether or not you're the steward. Every single worker has that burden. You've clearly seen something wrong and you should handle it before the consequences are more dire than somebody's feelings. Take it to whoever you need to to get him off the job, be it rehab or termination of employment, and make sure you document it in writing and keep a copy because I'm sure "he was my brother" won't hold up in a court of law when another brother's family is suing you.

 

P.S. clearly this struck a chord.

[Nice_Bass]

Since it is obvious to me what company you work for...please do the right thing...

I will give it to you union guys there- you do seem to be awfully tight and supportive.  I have a few friends and family over there and hear the same thing even after they retired. 

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Your doing the right thing telling the hall. Why should your other brothers and sisters be put at risk over one worker? There is no excuse for him to be doing what hes doing. If your being told there is a problem, and your brothers ain't "handle" it themselves. Then the responsibility falls on you to do it. No one will view you as a rat or a brother ****er, for doing this. If they do, then they need to learn what brotherhood means.

[Oregon Native]

You came on here asking the question...sooooo sounds like you have some cares.  Do the right thing....not something you'll regret the rest of your life.

[ww2farmer]

Take him out back and you and the fellas rough him up a little, and see if the drunk cleans up his act.

[deaknh03]

Take him out back and you and the fellas rough him up a little, and see if the drunk cleans up his act.

What are you from the 1930s?

[ShimanoDobynsGuy]

Ok i just wanted to say thanks to all who commented. I appreciate everyone's opinions.. I did read over the contract book as stated before the employee has to ask for help to receive help. This guy will not do that. I have tried several times to get him to go to medical and ask for it we a eap program that would put him into rehab and his insurance would pick up the tab.. So after possible during my options heavily I decided to contact hr by phone. And asked several questions about what would happen if I told my boss or went I to HR in my building and they basically said I would have go on record and if the employee was terminated the union would want to know who it was that said something.. That is what I don't want. So I asked if there was anonymous way of letting the correct people know.. And there was a number for are common business practices it is all anonymous. I feel like **** but I called left said employees name work location and section and supervisors name. And that I suspected that said employee was coming to work after drinking heavily the night before.

This is not what I wanted to do but had to do. Now what is gonna happen he will. They are now gonna call local hr who in turn will call in supervisor and then they can watch said employee and see if it is true.. This way it's up to him to catch him. And no one knows who it was that called. So I will not be on any re record or be connected with ratting on him... The plus side of the matter is hopefully the incident scared the **** out of him and he don't come in drunk anymore and he will. Not be reprimanded.. If he does they will catch him.. And then I will be called when they want to walk him out. Hoping that day doesn't come.. This way the best way I could deal with it.. Thanks

[deaknh03]

If that doesn't work out call the cops and let them know he DUIs to work every morning. That will fix it.

[slonezp]

With any luck a disciplinary action will open his eyes to what he is doing. It didn't work for the guys at my shop.

[ShimanoDobynsGuy]

No license from DUIs. This guy walks over Almost 4 miles to work.. He is definitely a functioning alcoholic.. And the only thing he has left is his job.. My biggest fear is he will get caught and loose his job.. Then he has nothing. Rock bottom at 42.. Gets messed up and ends up taking his own life.. I don't know I can't beat myself up over this anymore it's out of my hands..

[A-Jay]

No license from DUIs. This guy walks over Almost 4 miles to work.. He is definitely a functioning alcoholic.. And the only thing he has left is his job.. My biggest fear is he will get caught and loose his job.. Then he has nothing. Rock bottom at 42.. Gets messed up and ends up taking his own life.. I don't know I can't beat myself up over this anymore it's out of my hands..

 

He walks 4 miles to & from work every day, who does that ?  He man has problems that have over taken good judgment a long time ago.  He hit rock bottom quite a ways back and so far has been extremely lucky not to have taken any innocent by standers down with him.  After reading this entire thread, I don't know what else you could do.  It sounds like this is part of your job description, but they don't make it easy for you, which is a little strange considering the circumstances.  If your biggest fear is this man losing his job instead of perhaps killing someone who is conducting themselves with dignity and respect, then you need to realign your priorities.  The man is a ticking time bomb - how can you not see that ?

What if he killed you ?  C'mon man - stop playing the martyr - you know you did the right thing here - that man dealt the cards and you have no choice but to play the hand that he dealt. 

 

A-Jay

[sparky241]

I am usw. So I understand, I'm also a Christian hence the fisher of man by my photo. The best thing you can do is tell on him anonymously, that way he can get help and start enjoying life instead of just enduring it. Do this before he can kill himself or another worker PR person on the road. I feel for you as o would also hate to be in this predicament. God speed my friend

[flyfisher]

Sorry but union non union or whatever this guy has issues that haven't impacted those at his workplace until now.  I don't care if he walks to work 8 miles, it is because of choices he has made and until the situation you mentioned it didn't impact others than himself.  You need to report it and report it now.  I wouldn't care if he lost his job because he is the one losing his job, not you for caring about everyone else.  Maybe that will be the wake up call he needs but i doubt it but at least nobody else at your job will get hurt. 

[ww2farmer]

After further reading.....I don't mean to sound so crass...but you have to grow a set. Your afraid to tell on a drunk, yet keeping him there could get some one hurt or killed. I don't know why this is so hard for you..................but then again I am the guy who suggested that he get taken to the woodshed...........bleeding hearts of the world unite in your fury against my stance but I have ZERO tolerance for drunks, and drug addicts, and there enablers....which, I am afraid to say, you just might be.

[J Francho]

I don't know why this turned into a union rant, all that has to do with the original question is the reporting structure. To the op, tell your superior, whomever that is, union or not. The guy is a workplace menace.

[plumworm]

It looks to me as though you are more concerned about your "brothers" learning that you turned him in and not voting for your advancement in the union, than having any real concern about your "brothers" safety. You said that some others have come to you with concern about safety and you didn't do anything. I sure would not vote for you if that were the case. I think your really more concerned about YOUR advancement than anything else. So sad.

[ShimanoDobynsGuy]

It looks to me as though you are more concerned about your "brothers" learning that you turned him in and not voting for your advancement in the union, than having any real concern about your "brothers" safety. You said that some others have come to you with concern about safety and you didn't do anything. I sure would not vote for you if that were the case. I think your really more concerned about YOUR advancement than anything else. So sad.

believe it or not i sat on the toilet for a good 1/2 hr thinking about this very same thing.. I had allot of things going throgh my head today.. Im not saying anyones posts or comments are wrong in any way cause to tell you the truth tghis thred and talking with my fiance helped me to make the rite choice. But untill you have to do this very same thing its hard to understand fully. Anyine can type and say they would do one thing bu actully doing it is another.. Again not saying or comenting to anyone that posted on the thread.. The union family runs deep and its so deep that even his brothers and sisters that work with him directly didnt rat on him. And tehy were the ones that could of got hurt or killed. They all ar efully aware he has a problam its not like i was the only one who new about this.. I was the one beings i am steward felt that i needed to make the choice of blowing the wistle or not.. If you guys can understand that. Its no secret he has a drinking problem... And yes they all come to me for every little thing tha happens and today not one of the 7 people that were working with him and came and told me about the fender dropping it was actaully a out sourced trucker that first told me and then two union brothers from another line.. 

 

Agin if you have never worked in a tight union its hard to understand. But just so we are all clear its in the companys hands now and his own. Im just preying that he learned his lesson and doesnt come in monday or ever again after drinking.. 

[jbsoonerfan]

Sounds like being in a union is like a gang without the drugs and crime. For my "brother", ummmmmm okay.

I'm not sure why you had to ask in the first place. Sounds like you didn't want to make people mad at the expense of possibly someone getting killed.

No brainer to me.

[Teal]

Hey man, I've been there, in the shoes you are in. In fact the man in question I had to deal with was my favorite employee under me and he was a personal friend. But at the end of the day, it is a business and when his personal decisions affect the workplace productivity and safety of all the other guy, he's gotta go. I told my guys after firing him that I care so much about them that I was not going to let one bring down the entire group..even of it was my best pal. I told them that they work too d**n hard to let one selfish person set everything back.

[A-Jay]

Just be very Glad that the men & women that are defending your freedoms do not play by this insane set of rules.

 

In the military, it's cut & dry. 

 

Crazy is out. 

 

The End.

 

A-Jay

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Sounds like being in a union is like a gang without the drugs and crime. For my "brother", ummmmmm okay.

I'm not sure why you had to ask in the first place. Sounds like you didn't want to make people mad at the expense of possibly someone getting killed.

No brainer to me.

Depends on the union. Also depends on the local. Geographical region plays a part in it too.

Speaking of unions. Aren't most teachers a part of the teachers union?

[DogBone_384]

If you have a good relationship with this coworker talk to him in private. If that's not the case, go through your union's chain of command. My union would get the troubled member help without jeopardizing anyone's job.