Reporting someone for drug use on the job

[oganesson]

This is a hypothetical thankfully but I was listening to a podcast here in Ireland and a woman wanted to report her friend who is a nurse because she admitted to being constantly high on cocaine and speed even before going to work.

A few people were saying it was none of her business but many others said that it stops being about her when she goes to work under the influence.

I know drug testing in jobs isn't common in Ireland/UK like it is in the States, but have thought that for high stakes jobs (i.e. construction, medicine, aviation), employees would regularly get tested.

In theory think I would feel compelled to report a nurse attending work under the influence because it's clear that their ability to make decisions has already been impaired by their addiction.

But... I don't know if I have the balls to do it in practice. Experience has shown me that the person doing the reporting (however well-intentioned) is the one that ends up in the shit.

Testing is much more common than it used to be because it saves you money on insurance.

I wouldn't personally report someone, I'd reckon if you're high enough for it to matter then you're not going to be in the job for long. Doing class A drugs before a shift must be pretty obvious no?

They can be tested on a suspicion basis. I am against drug use in general, but also believe in live and let live.

Obviously completely unacceptable for a nurse to go to work under the influence and no her friend shouldn’t mind her own business, people’s lives are at stake. She will likely be struck off if caught.

However, nursing is a high stress, underpaid job where there are huge issues with vacancies and recruitment. Regular drug testing might put people even further off applying and whilst that might be a good thing in certain cases, can we say someone shouldn’t be a nurse because on their week off they smoked some weed due to their high stress job? Or that they should have to provide evidence of any prescribed pain medication they take due to being on their feet for 12 hours shifts? Or that they should lose their vocation and livelihood because they used cocaine on a weekend off? I don’t think drug use is okay, but I also understand that I have never felt the need to use any. Drug use whilst working as a nurse is a serious legal issue and she could seriously hurt someone, drug use in your own time may have minor legal consequences but generally is more of a moral issue.

In the circumstance you talk about it’s a no brainier that she should report it, but I can see that if the person was an admin or something where there was no risk of harm (physical or financial or whatever) to anyone but themselves that there is more of an argument to mind your own business.

Yes I absolutely would report her.

I think you have to look at it individually
a person on the till at Tesco off there head is nether here or there

a taxi driver different matter

are they a danger to themselves and others

Personally I would only report someone for taking drugs at work if the job they are doing means that if they mess up as a result of the use that they could seriously hurt of even kill someone. Like a surgeon or a long distance lorry driver for example. I have known people with very high functioning drug additions who have been completely able to function and hold down their jobs to a high standard. If they arnt doing this it's going to get noticed at work anyway and if they are holding down their job to a high standard still then it's not my business to potentially collapse someone's life like that. With the exception of if they could seriously hurt or kill someone on the job. I think that's a bit different

If you could report anonymously, like at my place, that would be a factor

For transport and some manufacturing companies you can be drug tested at work.

I worked for a manufacturing company donkeys ago and it was in the contract. Made no difference to me and the people I worked with even though, as while we were all office based the only way to and from work and the different sites was to drive.

One of my relations was going to work for a transport operator and other people I know who do work for transport operators have it in their contacts. I know they are only likely to be tested after incidents.

Not hard to see why drugs are such as endemic, if these few replies are anything to go by, concerning people's attitudes to it.

My job contract (in Ireland) specifies I can be tested at any time, but in 23 years I never have been.

I wish I could drug test at work. It's not in our contract of employment though as I never dreamed I'd need it. I could sack my employee on the spot if I could !! He's putting my PI insurance at risk if he goes out to see customers and had an accident due to dui. Knob

I'd report, people on coke are utter cocks and I wouldn't want to deal with the aftermath of decisions made while feeling invincible.
And I work in fintech not something life or death like nursing.

If they travel to and from work by car or cycle, they could injure or kill someone or themselves because of drug use.

It's in my contract that I agree to random drug testing including alcohol.

If it's an issue for anyone they shouldn't be in the job especially where mistakes can be made. You just have to read the threads here to get the idea that it's on the increase. People also don't seem to understand that it's illegal.

So, if you can, report.

I wouldn't hesitate in reporting someone I suspected of doing coke, particularly someone who works in healthcare and especially if that person was driving to work. Drink/drug drivers are self-centred twats who deserve to have the book thrown at them. 🤬