Should Employees Be Randomly Drug Tested Who Deal With The Public ! .

[Box11]

The reason why I ask is that a relative of mine who has been using the same supermarket for a number of years without any problems at all came across a incident their is a new employee working at the supermarket and was seen taking drugs when he thought he wasn’t being watched !..

 

There has been many problems with members of staff that deal with the public creating problems and arguments with the general public most cases the public we’re in the right !!!...

 

Their are many business establishments up and down the country and it’s clear to joe public that some of them are using banned substances !!!!....

When are employees going to get back to how they used to be:

 

Polite,Civil,Trustworthy,Professional, Honest,Knowledgable and Good Manners !..

 

I for one don’t want to be served by someone who is clearly using and especially when they try to assert their authority for no reason and become power mad and argumentative just because they need their next fix !!!!...

 

 

Edited March 2, 2022 by Box11

[Annie Bynnol]

Everybody who works should follow the rules in their contract/job description. Drugs including alcohol have long been tested for and regarded as a cause for dismissal  offence in many workplaces.

Employees and contractors have a responsibility to customers, the public, co workers and the people who employ them.

 

I would never knowingly allow anybody to work in my house if I believed they were under the influence of drugs. If I did then I could be open to situations where their or my insurance could be invalid and the possibility of litigation.

Since I cannot test, I would expect the employer/contractor to assure me that their staff are monitored appropriately.

If self employed then I would expect them not to be under the influence so that they get their job done properly, efficiently and safely.

Similarly in a place with public access I would expect my safety and the service provided not to be compromised by drugs and alcohol.

As a union rep for many years I regarded drug use as indefensible, although I would make sure that procedures were followed and that a 'second chance' might be appropriate. I would encourage people on certain medications to inform their line  manager of their possible effect and would expect management to respond positively.

 

The days of widespread boozy lunchtimes has gone and there is no place for drugs in the workplace.

 

 

 

[Rockers rule]

5 hours ago, Annie Bynnol said:

 

 

As a union rep for many years I regarded drug use as indefensible, although I would make sure that procedures were followed and that a 'second chance' might be appropriate. I would encourage people on certain medications to inform their line  manager of their possible effect and would expect management to respond positively.

 

The days of widespread boozy lunchtimes has gone and there is no place for drugs in the workplace.

 

 

 

Hello Annie, did some of that Union rep stuff myself years ago.

That boozy lunch time  (sneaking out on't night shift) went, only to be replaced by the (recreational ) drug culture we see today.

The sense of achievement defending someone, is, as you well know, satisfying.

And, totally agree. There is no place in the workplace for being under the influence of anything. Unfortunately the quite word in someones ear, has been replaced with the 'once management know of the problem', they have to offer all sorts of counselling etc under the 'Duty of Care' 'Hogwash' - those with self induced problem only too quickly use as a get out clause.

 

We went to work, were enthralled by guy's who had fought in WW2 and listened to their story's.

My Lad goes to work and has to listen to some young pup with glassy eyes (and slow on the up take) telling him he's "been doing drugs since he was 13" and its never affected him 🥴.

 

I liken those on drugs, to those who tell you they've never read a book.

(Cos you'd never had guessed if they hadn't told yer 🤣)

 

Keep safe out there  .

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Meltman]

11 hours ago, Box11 said:

The reason why I ask is that a relative of mine who has been using the same supermarket for a number of years without any problems at all came across a incident their is a new employee working at the supermarket and was seen taking drugs when he thought he wasn’t being watched !..

 

There has been many problems with members of staff that deal with the public creating problems and arguments with the general public most cases the public we’re in the right !!!...

 

Their are many business establishments up and down the country and it’s clear to joe public that some of them are using banned substances !!!!....

When are employees going to get back to how they used to be:

 

Polite,Civil,Trustworthy,Professional, Honest,Knowledgable and Good Manners !..

 

I for one don’t want to be served by someone who is clearly using and especially when they try to assert their authority for no reason and become power mad and argumentative just because they need their next fix !!!!...

 

 

First thing, your relative needs to be sure that the person was taking 'drugs' and not treating him/herself with medicines eg injecting insulin etc 

Second, if your relative is absolutely sure then did they report/ask to speak to the manager about it and if a satisfactory response was not forthcoming change supermarkets. 

[ECCOnoob]

48 minutes ago, Meltman said:

First thing, your relative needs to be sure that the person was taking 'drugs' and not treating him/herself with medicines eg injecting insulin etc 

Second, if your relative is absolutely sure then did they report/ask to speak to the manager about it and if a satisfactory response was not forthcoming change supermarkets. 

Agree. You got there a head of me, as I had some suspicions regarding this original post. All seems a little bit far-fetched to me.

 

How exactly did the poster's friend know the worker was taking drugs. Were they openly snorting coke on the checkout counter or injecting heroin behind the bread rolls?   Why exactly did they not report it at the time if they were so disturbed by it?    If so, what was the outcome?   

 

Add on the OP's slightly odd comments regarding staff members 'asserting their authority'   'creating problems and arguments'  'power mad'  and declaring how public are often 'in the right'...... seems a little bit chip on their shoulder to me.  

[crookesey]

I take a catalog of medications to help to alleviate the problems caused by Rheumatoid Arthritis, thankfully I’ve not been advised not to drive, however I wouldn’t advise any of you guys to rely on the bodily strengths that I used to possess prior to me being diagnosed with RA. I would be in favour of all medications being declared to employers, just in case.

[Rockers rule]

Unfortunately we are not talking about medication.

The workplace out there today is a different place altogether.

Recreation drugs and people under the influence while at work / in charge of vehicles etc is rife.

(I could give instances)

Drink has taken a step back from being the choice of poison to this generation, and It isn't uncommon to be working with someone only for them to openly tell you, they smoke mother nature.

 

 

 

[crookesey]

1 hour ago, Rockers rule said:

Unfortunately we are not talking about medication.

The workplace out there today is a different place altogether.

Recreation drugs and people under the influence while at work / in charge of vehicles etc is rife.

(I could give instances)

Drink has taken a step back from being the choice of poison to this generation, and It isn't uncommon to be working with someone only for them to openly tell you, they smoke mother nature.

 

 

 

‘Randomly’ implies anyone, and as for drink, I well recall the clientele of pubs located close to hospitals.

[Rockers rule]

3 minutes ago, crookesey said:

‘Randomly’ implies anyone, and as for drink, I well recall the clientele of pubs located close to hospitals.

Anyone with nothing to hide shouldn't have a problem.

We can all have pleaded guilty to having taken the car to the pub and driven home at one time (in fact, wasn't it compulsory  ) 

 

[Norbert]

Load of prescriptive nonsense, bring back the boozy lunchtimes of the 80s, 2 hours on a Friday with several games of pool.

 

I remember in the 90s turning up for work on acid, or smoking so much at lunchtime I had a whitey, in the afternoon the sparks from the angle grinder were like a firework show.

 

So long as no one could tell you were golden.