[Closed] Drug use in the office - your thoughts and experience, please

Erm.. Smoking a Phat one on work time?

No, not on.

Having said that I used to employ a lad (mid 20's) who used to be part of a Party set and sometimes he'd roll in at 10am a bit spaced, I sent him home on more than one occasion, I should have booted him out, but he was an exceptional employee on all other counts, always exceeded his sales targets and brought in a fair few quid for us. Had his work suffered even a teeny bit I'da got shot.

Never known a "manager" like yours, can't help.

has it affected his performance? If not then I'd ignore it personally. If it has then I'd have a quiet word with him - if you have that kind of relationship.

Mind you I'm probably no the best person to pass judgement. It wasn't that long ago that I dropped a load of mushrooms at work. 😀

anonymous tip to police.

Tell him that if he's going to get off his tits at work it's amphetamines or nothing!

Go out onto the flat roof with him then you wont worry about it.

[i]As of January, the Grand Fromage is taking 6 months off and effectively the pot head is in charge during his absence.[/i]

tell the big cheese now. You want to have a job in 6 months time.

if he was drinking alcohol during work hours and his judgement was impaired you'd do something.

could always tell the dvla you know he regularly drives whilst under the influence.

You have a duty under H+S to keep an eye on colleagues and help prevent any behavior that could cause any problems.

Someone 'high' at work would be a problem.

Yossarian at work earlier...

[img] [/img]

This could be a grey area as somepeople are perfectly capable of being lucid and with it whilst having a wee toke!

I woudl say you should think about how it differs from any other substance abuse? - say drinking on the job? I have had lots of experience of this ( I am a licensee... occupational hazard) some of it was blatant and some I did not find out about till afterward... some were clearly incapable and had real issues and some just carried on regardless and did their job, properly.

The thing is the guy might be stressed about the le grand fromage being away and this is his coping mechanism, not right in my opinion but he may need help.

Pages 6 & 8 here:

I've never had a problem with people doing drugs. However, if their drug use puts my life or job at risk, it is a problem that requires addressing. How you deal with it depends on your relationship with the guy smoking. Can you approach direct?

I woudl say you should think about how it differs from any other substance abuse? - say drinking on the job?

Exactly the same problem, same approach.

anonymous tip to police.

Superb. When you get home tonight be sure to thumb-shoot yourself when you catch your reflection in the mirror accompanied by the words "I am a valuable member of society..."

Do we go over his head and tell the Big Cheese?

Yes. It's his decision, his company. There's almost certainly a clause in the contract that covers this.

How would you feel if you were the boss, someone was getting stoned on your company time in a very obvious way, and your other employees knew and didn't tell you about it?

Just maybe you may have a case not to tell if there was no way it would affect work, but making the office smell of pot? Seriously? That could bring the police around never mind lose clients!

'Grass' him up to the big Kahuna, you'll be doing the company a favour.

Some people go for a pint or two at lunch time and return to work....not that far removed from the situation described by the OP.

If it's impacting on work performance, have a quiet word suggesting he may want to tone it down a bit, esp from the point of view of client interaction.

Re smoking fags at work - I find Sort of strange how it's seen as acceptable to feed addiction to cancer causing substances during work time and that employers actively support it by providing facilities.

lol @ teasel!

How many balls have you got?
You can't tell the big boss because spaced man might lose his job.
So man up & tell your line manager that it's been noticed, he needs to stop toking at work or someone might dob him in.
Is it affecting his work? If so it's even more important that he stops.

Thebikechain has it, everyone has a duty to look after each others safety, he can't do that while he's off his head, and you have a responsibility to the other people in the office

Moses has got the right idea.
Tell him he's been spotted, and if he doesn't cut it out, it's only a matter of time before someone "else" grasses.

+1 Moses - talk to him FFS.

alfabus - Member
anonymous tip to police.

wwaswas - Member
could always tell the dvla you know he regularly drives whilst under the influence.

Wow. Or you could just talk to him!

Join him. Make your last 6 months at work enjoyable.

As per Moses, tell him people are talking and give him a chance to deal with it.

There's been gossip in my office recently and truth of the situation is very different to what people think; there may be a good reason why he's needing such a crutch during the day OR he could be a lazy pothead, best to let him know.

This could be a grey area as somepeople are perfectly capable of being lucid and with it whilst having a wee toke!

This is the nub of the matter. It doesn't *seem* to have much of an effect. He's probably fairly immune to it after many many years of (ab)use.

I think as soon as it starts to affect his 'performance', then it's time to make an issue of it.

Have a little word with the the fella, don't just grass him up to the boss unless you want him sacked.
Do you get on with him?

Straightforward solution is to just tell the big baws, no grey areas here - fk him.

More measured approach if you think he's a good man is to have a word but it's as you said in your OP - WE confront him. ie not you on your own. He's the baws in 6 months and no good deed goes unpunished, so this is something to tackle as a group (if that can be done discretely).

Lots of alcoholics "seem" to be lucid all the time too but the physical and mental affects are still present. If you reckon he would take a friendly word kindly then try that. If you reckon he is more likely to then have it in for you then go straight to the top man.

Tell the guy that he's been spotted. Go for the "whoever in the office you dont like" has been talking about them smoking joints on work time and is going to grass them up approach.

Make the guy paranoid, but at the same time make him think you're on his side.

Garry_Lager - Member
Straightforward solution is to just tell the big baws, no grey areas here - fk him.

That's the **** solution.

Depends.

Would you trust a guy who'd had a couple of pints at lunch to run the office?

In the grand scheme of things, the odd bifta is of no consequence. If it's habit forming, or he's schmoking on the premises then you're justified in having a word with him.

But be nice.

If you don't want to tell him just send him an anonymous email saying that everyone knows what he's doing and he either stops or the boss finds out

Thebikechain has it, everyone has a duty to look after each others safety, he can't do that while he's off his head, and you have a responsibility to the other people in the office

If they work in a machine shop maybe but an office is hardly the most dangerous place in the world. If there's no question mark over performance I'd probably leave him to it.

Thebikechain has it, everyone has a duty to look after each others safety, he can't do that while he's off his head, and you have a responsibility to the other people in the office

Many people think its ok to have a pint or two at lunch and then are fine for the afternoon, There is no difference IMO apart from the legality issue... Not that I do either at work.

I'd be having a word about the stink though.

Be nice it won't be illegal for much longer. 😉

If he stinks of pot, go up to him and say 'You stink of pot'.

Simple, fair and honest. Could be taken as a friendly warning.

In my current line of work, what this chap is doing would probably be instant dismissal. As can drinking. If anyone has an accident we are immediately drug and alcohol tested. People do get caught. I wouldn't have the slightest issue with shopping him myself.

If they work in a machine shop maybe but an office is hardly the most dangerous place in the world. If there's no question mark over performance I'd probably leave him to it.

No matter where you work you are governed by the same health and safety regs. People do get injured and killed because nobody speaks out. I've met people who have seen the dead bodies minutes after the accident. Yes, it's a different industry, but how this makes a difference I fail to see.
For instance, is he driving a car at ant point?

Will this guy be meeting clients/customers/suppliers as part of this job or his temporary promotion?

I'd do what jota suggested, just a little note printed on a piece of paper left on his desk telling him that the boss will be told if "you" see/smell him smoking weed on work time.

That way you've given him the chance to stop before it gets out of hand, but not put yourself in the position that if you do go to the big boss the guy won't know it was you that said something.

Be careful, if you talk to him he may decide that you're the first one to go when he's in charge...

tbh I had a couple of guys who 'did', and they needed a certain level of 'watching'. Basically I couldn't trust them, so slowly moved them out.

For me, you've no choice but to talk with your big Boss, or at least someone who you know will talk with them - secretary maybe, or somebody who you know is very loyal. Anything short of this, best you leave now.

Look at it this way...

Lets say for example he finishes work, gets in his car and ploughs down someone walking through the car-park...

How would you feel knowing you'd not done anything ?

make sure he 'accidentally' overhears you asking someone else if they can smell pot.
maybe best to brief them for an appropriate response beforehand.

just try not to forget that the loonies took over the asylum a good few decades ago now..

[img] [/img]

be careful that the top dawg isn't this guys main source

Or something similar...

It's an office - not a machine shop. Most dangerous thing here is the pencil sharpener.

Do you get on with him?

Lets say for example he finishes work, gets in his car and ploughs down someone walking through the car-park...

if you talk to him he may decide that you're the first one to go when he's in charge...

No matter where you work you are governed by the same health and safety regs.

Advise that he gets a job in newspaper publishing. Where its generally considered pretty bad form to keep your lunchtime alcohol intake to less than 3 pints. And racking up on your desk is par for the course. 😀

Not really surprised to see so many 'grass him up' type comments. The members of STW with no guts, would rather go behind his back than talk to him face to face.

Grow some balls and stop hiding behind your keyboard/boss/wife.

"Oi mate, I'm not going to say who but people have noticed your toking at work; leave it at home yeah?"

The members of STW with no guts, would rather go behind his back than talk to him face to face

Er, that's nice and all but it's a workplace, and there's a heirarchy for a reason.

If it were a friend or a personal situation I'd say to his face, I've not got a problem with courage.

But I do think the OP would be best telling his boss, cos it's actually more his boss's business than his.

binners - Member

racking up on your desk is par for the course.

I spotted a machinist racking up on a CNC lathe once.
Nice lad but he had a lot of problems (bloody top class machinist, mind).

Tony the crackhead; if you're reading this, God Bless! 😀

He neither drives nor owns a car.

OK, pours a cup of boiling tea over someone at their desk...

The actual act that causes harm isn't the discussion here.

Not really surprised to see so many 'grass him up' type comments. The members of STW with no guts, would rather go behind his back than talk to him face to face.

Grow some balls and stop hiding behind your keyboard/boss/wife.

If he's a habitual smoker (years of experience 😉 ) he''ll have built up a tolerance so i guess (purely specualative here) it doesn't affect his work as for all you know he could be having a breakfast joint, lunchtime joint and when he gets home after work he could be having 4 or 5 joints a night so a joint here or there will make sod all difference to his ability to work, some folk can smoke loads without any perceivable affect on themselves and some folk have one joint and turn into a space cadet for hours.

If you have a problem with it the workplace then i'd have a quiet word with him directly, running up the chain with your accusations is rather petty, perhaps something along the lines of "Look mate, folk know and have been talking bout your sneaky joints so you'd better knock it on the head.

From a personal perspective i'd say a good 90% of my friends/social crowd smoke weed, I've smoked on/off for the past 20 odd years, not had a J since last new year but i imagine i'll be having a few home made t'weed truffles come this New Year. I don't find so called drug use a big deal in the slightest as long as it doesn't affect me or is detrimental to those around me so i'm prob the wrong person to give advice on this subject, another point of view though and those folk advising you to dob him in to the police/advise the dvla? - Yeah...you sound proper self-righteous upstanding members of society, i bet you're closet curtain twitchers - sad n' uptight.

He neither drives nor owns a car.

OK, pours a cup of boiling tea over someone at their desk...
The actual act that causes harm isn't the discussion here.

Are you serious? 😆

resign and put in a good word for me

I would speak to him personally- I dont actually think it is on to do in works time tbh and the least he should do is be more subtle

I know friends that could perform and function perfectly well while stoned, but I would have bloodshoot eyes and be a bit of usless mess!

I'd advocate having a chat with him being a complete stoner. Its a bit like when you thought your parents didn't know you smoked because you'd had a Polo afterwards, but they knew and said nothing - perhaps he belives in his stoned state that he is a ganja ninja of pure stealth and that he is fooling all of you

+1 for chat about the cold truth!

another point of view though and those folk advising you to dob him in to the police/advise the dvla? - Yeah...you sound proper self-righteous upstanding members of society, i bet you're closet curtain twitchers - sad n' uptight

You are aware it's Illegal ? Aside from the dangerous aspect, which i doubt i can convince you otherwise... it's completely and utterly against the law.

You are aware it's Illegal ? Aside from the dangerous aspect, which i doubt i can convince you otherwise... it's completely and utterly against the law.

Presumably you show the same moral indignation over people who speed slightly in their cars when driving home (probably most people)?

I used to start my working day with a cheeky line before i got in the shower....i would draw the line (no pun intended) at actually taking drugs at work though.

grum - Member

You are aware it's Illegal ? Aside from the dangerous aspect, which i doubt i can convince you otherwise... it's completely and utterly against the law.

Presumably you show the same moral indignation over people who speed slightly in their cars when driving home (probably most people)?

I'm an Ex motorbike racer, i don't even consider speeding an offence 😉

double standards are allowed in here aren't they ?

Ah so you're just a massive hypocrite, as well as petty little tell-tale. Go you. 😉

tell him you have seen him & can smell it, in a nice, Im helping you out kind of way...

may be enough for him to reign it back in to personal time only

I would imagine he has something bad on his mind if he is doing this at work.

Perhaps a supportive pint one night to see if he wants to talk about something would be an idea too. He might just need a wee bit of help with something he sees as huge but you might see as small.

If he stinks of pot, go up to him and say 'You stink of pot'.

Simple, fair and honest. Could be taken as a friendly warning.

Molgrips has it, as does timc.

If it's not affecting his work, then the only real issue is that he's stinking up the office which may adversely affect the sensibilities of other employees. "Jeez - do you know you're reeking of weed? Honestly mate - poeple have noticed" would probably do the job.

I would imagine he has something bad on his mind if he is doing this at work.

You don't know many stoners do you!

its a plant ffs its immorally illegal, I bet some of the best decisions the manager has made are shortly after his rooftop bif.

Drugs hehe its a plant and medicine for MILLIONS 😉

He neither drives nor owns a car.

OK, pours a cup of boiling tea over someone at their desk...
The actual act that causes harm isn't the discussion here.

what if it's a cat's face next time?

or a baby robin

You are aware it's Illegal ? Aside from the dangerous aspect, which i doubt i can convince you otherwise... it's completely and utterly against the law.

What!!!!!...it's illegal?, are you sure?...omg...omg...omg...omg....omg....omg.....

And as for dangerous? - i'm not even gonna go into that feeble argument with someone that quotes the law.

FWIW i was involved (numerous blind tests) with the original cannabis spinal pain relief Sativex trials with Dr Geoffrey Guy/GW pharmaceuticals at Porton Down in 1998 as i shattered my spine in many places in a car accident back in 91, had two vertebrae removed and the rest pretty much fused together and i was freely given and advised to use cannabis for control of muscle spasms/pain relief and to aid bladder control by the medical establishment in the Edenhall Spinal Unit back in 91, thus i have used it on and off for the past 20 odd years, i have also grown it hydroponically, have advised others on growing it hydroponically and in the past i have supported the various Medicinal Cannabis projects around the country who help many patients with MS, Glaucoma, Pain Relief, Radiotherapy/cancer treatment etc. I have stood up in court over 50 times in the past 14 yrs as an "expert witness" in cases against individuals who have been growing it for personal medical reasons with great success and i've tied up in knots many a so called "prosecution expert witness" in court whilst being described as a very credible witness by the judge in high court cases so please keep your knee jerk reactionary bile to your self.

Yes, some people do come to harm when using cannabis, some people come to harm with overeating, should we regulate food? - no, we offer medical and health/dietary advice, i see no reason why this approach cannot be used with so called drugs.

Rant over, this sort of crap boils my piss.....see ya later.

[quote=somafunk ]
Rant over, this sort of crap boils my piss.....see ya later.
Apparently, one of the side effects is a tendency towards inappropriate anger.

so please keep your knee jerk reactionary bile to your self

I'm the knee jerker ?

Have a word with yourself.

Ha-ha!, touché 😉

that was not inappropriate druidh - for clarity I mean his post not yours 😉

I used to drugs education in schools

you try and deliver the facts then explain why the two biggest killers are legal - ou laws make no sense either morally or from a danger viewpoint

somafunk - Member

blah blah rant

yeah, that is all well and good, but we are not talking about a person suffering chronic pain. We are talking about an annoying bloke at the OPs work who is likely to get caught sooner or later, and if the OP does nothing, it is highly likely his reputation will be tarnished because he knew about it, he could even lose his job over this guys illegal habit.

Either shop him to the boss or get the plod to come and solve the problem for him.

All of you whining about guts/balls/courage etc. can get stuffed. OP asked what to do about a guy in his office who is taking the piss by doing something illegal during work hours. Getting him out of there and protecting the OPs career is not cowardice, it is the right thing to do.

Very different situation to either medicinal users/growers or one of your mates having a toke.

Dave

I would have a friendly chat with him and if that didn't work I would tell your boss. What people do in their own time is up to them (pretty much!) but when it affects other or is in work time it's a different ball-game. You must have a H&S policy that covers this sort of stuff?

alfabus - Member
yeah, that is all well and good, but we are not talking about a person suffering chronic pain

How do you know he's not using it for chronic pain?

One of my mates has MS, when he's got stuff you can't tell because it controls the symptoms.

Another mate has Crohns and before using he had operations to remove sections of his gut, was on pescription drugs with horrible side effects and basically couldn't function. He's been using for 5/6 years, hasn't needed an operation or pescription drugs, has put on weight and looks healthy.

The only way you'd know that either of them were ill would be if they stopped smoking.

alfabus - Member
Either shop him to the boss or get the plod to come and solve the problem for him.

The police? [i]Really?[/i]

This thread's making me fancy a smoke.
Is the OP next line for stoner managers job?

it is highly likely his reputation will be tarnished because he knew about it,

This is where the ability to "play" dumb comes into its own.
"did you know that XX was using drugs?"
[homer mode]"what are drugs?"[/homer mode]

Don't tell the goddamn po-lice though. Bad karma.

did you know that XX was using drugs?"
[homer mode]"what are drugs?"[/homer mode]

Make sure they dont think your short term memory is shot whilst doing this

Unless you design bongs, it's not really on, is it.

The guy is stoned at work. I don't buy the idea that some people can remain perfectly lucid under the influence. If that was the case why the hell would you do it? Building tolerance is a myth too, I've smoked plenty enough to know that.

butcher - Member
I don't buy the idea that some people can remain perfectly lucid under the influence.

Well it happens

If that was the case why the hell would you do it?

Medicinal, perhaps.

Building tolerance is a myth too, I've smoked plenty enough to know that.

It's not.