AIBU to think I need to report this? Or that I might lose job?

[PrincessCarrieFisher]

I've found out recently that a few people in my company do drugs.

Not at work, obviously, but they do it regularly outside of work. If they have done it outside of work, then I wouldn't know about it.

One of these people is a very very close friend, and it's no secret that we are good friends

Do I need to report? Drugs are strictly forbidden in our employee contracts. If it came to be known that I knew, and didn't say anything, I might get into trouble...

Part of me thinks that it's off work premises so it's none of my business

Oh gosh, I'm not against drugs or against them at all.

I don't care what they do in their spare time! I am just concerned if this might affect my own job or reputation

And one of them has admitted to me she does it on weekdays, and she's often disorientated at work. So I wouldn't be surprised if this did affect their jobs.

But anyway! I think I have my answer, I'm relieved I don't need to report

Definitely don't get involved....see no evil,speek no evil,hear no evil....or whatever order that is supposed to go in

A personal trading account, even if not rich, can affect the business if it means they are prepared to do business in a way which might give them (even not very big) favourable returns but wouldn't be great for the company.

Really, re cocaine, if they're just doing a few lines at the weekend it's not going to affect them much more than a bottle of wine.

You sound very innocent. It's pretty widespread and often comparatively harmless. If you live in London you're probably coming into contact with all sorts of people all the time who do it. Unless they're a surgeon, pilot, President of the United States I really wouldn't bother.

I found out recently my hairdresser is a raging cokehead but she's still fucking good at cutting my hair. Meh.

Twinkle- coming to work under the influence is prohibited under the employee contracts.

So if someone was coming to work sloshed then presumably that's something the company wouldn't like

There's a difference between prohibited by a contract and placing the employer in a problematic legal position. Whilst taking drugs is illegal, the employer isn't going to get into trouble unless the drug taking causes a danger to others (pilot, driver etc). Being under the influence and making errors on a financial spreadsheet isn't really that different to having an incompetent employee who isn't taking drugs, but is a bit shit.

I don't know anything about having a personal trading account, but I guess that it is something to do with fraud or insider dealing and might lead to legal repercussions for the employer for failing to prevent fraud or similar.

Is it not a bit different from alcohol though, in that drinking a bit of alcohol at the weekend is perfectly legal, and taking cocaine isn't? Most companies don't like their employees taking part in anything illegal, because it may reflect badly on the company, and often have a clause in your contract on this.
Also, most larger companies have a code of ethics nowadays, which may say soemthing about what they would expect if you become aware of other staff doing something they forbid? Make sure yourenot falling foul of anything like that?
If i thought it was possibly affecting their work, I might be tempted to report through whatever 'whistleblower' scheme your company has, without naming names. It would likely result in a programme of testing for everyone, which may well clean up the issue without anyone losing their job.
Quite surprised that most people see it as completely fine tho - I guess I must be old fashioned!

Disorientated? The day after?
How Would that be related to the cocaine she had taken the night before?
How old are you op? You sound very young and naieve.

I think that what your colleagues do outside of work is none of your business and you should butt out.

Recreational drug use is very common op, I doubt your colleagues are incapable of working after a couple of lines/tokes. The other scenario isn't comparable. I suggest you stay out of it.

I suppose the thing about it being illegal is true. But in a lot of ways drugs are illegal in name only know and the police aren't in the slightest bit bothered about personal use, just dealing or smuggling.

Also, being disoriented could just as well be booze.

You're not coming across very well on this thread OP. As a previous poster said you sound a bit sanctimonious and intolerant. These aren't qualities generally favoured in an employee and if you report it would probably affect your career prospects worse than your colleagues.

Well if they were disoriented due to booze at work that would also be a problem in most workplaces I've been in!
I really don't get the argument that someone who can't think straight won't do much harm with spreadsheets etc, as there could be someone equally incompetent when sober/clean. People are employed to do their best at a job, for money, and employers surely have a right to expect that? Yes, they can do what they want at the weekend, but showing up 'disoriented',unless they are medically unwell, is not ok, surely?

Messing up a mere spreadsheet, could well cost a company money, or damage its reputation with an important customer, no?

There must be some very relaxed work places out there

I don't think the OP is being sanctimonious at all. They're doing something illegal, plus it's against their contract. I'm baffled you're not all saying to report tbh. Otherwise, where do you draw the line?

Never ceases to amaze me on here how so many seem to think they can intrude and judge others and their lifestyle choices .

Its not done at work I assume so No ,, Nothing to do with work , ,or you.

You sound like a teachers pet and rather out of touch. What people do at the weekend has nothing to do with you. cocaine is very common and as long as it's not during work hours it really has nothing to do with you.

Unless they are train drivers, doctors, pilots or similar not sure what your issue is. You mentioned financials. Well if they mess that up due to drugs they could be in bother but they would need to make the mistake first. If office based job how is this affecting you?

Why would you want to get your close friend into trouble!?

I'm sure if the company thought these people were doing a shit job and / or were high, they would do something about it.

Don't report it. You will look like a that.

I guess the company, and even the british legal system are also 'out of touch' then, with their quaint contracts and laws!

PrincessCarrieFisher, why are you even asking if your mind is already made up?

You've admitted you don't actually know what they're doing, so clearly they aren't being all that clear with you. Maybe you've got the wrong end of the stick. They could be talking about helium, or nitrous oxide, or poppy tea, or any manner of things. I knew some giggly 40 year olds who once all shared a spliff and acted like they were a hardcore street gang, swaggering for weeks afterwards and telling the story - using all the most cringeworthy late 70s lingo. They needed some baggy pants and a backwards baseball cap to complete the look. Maybe your colleagues had a shared puff of weed and now think they're pretty 'street'.

Yeah or they do cocaine, I dunno. Not sure reporting it is a good idea unless it could impair their work.

Trading in the financial industry is different - it can lead to instant accusations of corruption, fraud and more.

If this is govt employment and they have a security clearance that would be jeopardised by illegal drug taking, then you should report as it makes them vulnerable to pressure.

blimey, with friends like you...

I think it depends on the field of work, but as employment goes, it's a bit of a tough one to prove. Unless you have a program of random testing, then an anonymous note to HR may prove helpful.

If they're in a profession where they could be putting peoples lives at risk.
ie Airline Pilots, Surgeons. Then yes. You have a duty to report for their safety. If its not going to impact anyone's lives aside from their own that is. I'd turn a blind eye

There are lots of things that employers would find undesirable.
Getting into debt big time, going one over the eight at weekends, complicated personal lives etc. They can't do much about it - most would love a squeaky clean employee.

I do think there is a difference between somebody coming into work high on drugs or booze, and then somebody getting off their face on whatever at weekends / their days off.
If your colleagues are inebriated at work, your employers would notice without you having to point it out maybe?

I put Keith Vaz forward as a bit of an example here. Off his head on drugs whilst hiring male escorts - he's not had to resign.
Where does that leave the rest of us? I wouldn't dob a colleague in unless I could see real harm being done (and I had evidence that drugs was really the cause of it ).