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Bit of a quandary, here.
Small company, and my Line Manager (late 40s) has recently taken to smoking a phat one in work-time. He’s been spotted before at lunchtimes in quiet parts of town shmoking and been seen with dealers. He’s always nipping out onto the flat roof for a fag-break, but lately it aint just backy he’s smoking out there. Those higher up the chain of command are unaware of his habits - he waits till there’s no one important around. He’s trying to be discreet, but it’s obvious what he’s doing.
What he does in his own time is no concern of mine, but during office hours he’s making big decisions, dealing with important clients and suppliers. Not to mention the place stinks of it when he comes back - what if a client should drop in? As of January, the Grand Fromage is taking 6 months off and effectively the pot head is in charge during his absence.
So.
It’s unprofessional and he should know better.
Do we confront him about it?
Do we go over his head and tell the Big Cheese?
We don't know how much it's effecting him.
Do we ignore it and let him get in with it? Is it a big deal?
Your thoughts, comments and experience, please, STW massif.
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...
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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
A paper cut to the jugular could be lethal.
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..
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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?
I don't like the fella. Miserable and cantankerous much of the time. Occasionally brilliant one-liners.
Lets say for example he finishes work, gets in his car and ploughs down someone walking through the car-park...
He neither drives nor owns a car.
if you talk to him he may decide that you're the first one to go when he's in charge...
Yep, that has crossed my mind.
No matter where you work you are governed by the same health and safety regs.
Derp. And the risks associated with each behavior vary between each workplace.