Should I report my suspicions?

[MaryRoze]

I'll preface this by saying I don't like this guy- he's a lazy bastard. I'm trying not to let this cloud my judgement though.

We have a contractor who I suspect is coming to work under the influence. He's frequently late, sometimes looks absolutely terrible, disappears multiple times during the day. I brought this up with his boss and he agreed to give him his notice to leave. So, he's leaving end of September/beginning of October anyway.

During the course of this conversation with his boss, he made just an off-handed comment "I think he's a drinker".

I didn't think anything of it until I heard him wretching/throwing up in the bathroom on Friday. Now I'm adding 2 + 2 and coming up with 5.

We've got a zero tolerance drug and alcohol policy, and this contractor is going to be responsible for a huge high risk operation in a few days time. If something goes wrong / he hasn't planned it properly due to being under the influence, this could end in fatalities.

What do I do?

YABU - he's leaving anyway. double check his plan for the high risk activity and let him get on with it.

YANBU - this is too dangerous to ignore. report.

He might be really ill

OK you've made your point.

So people suspected he was a drinker and he was given notice.

Did his manager arrange a sit down meeting with him to discuss concerns about his lateness and behaviour, or just sacked without discussion?

You could be right that he was drinking at work …….. but he could also have a serious illness that he is struggling with. Surely he should be given a chance to explain his recent behaviour before being dropped. Isn’t there law to follow, warnings given and a chance to improve before notice given?

Fell sorry for the poor guy if he’s maybe just been diagnosed with cancer and struggling to continue working without anyone noticing. And then sacked at work!

@MaryRoze does it not depend more on what the job of the contractor is?? if he is a cleaner, then doesnt matter. If he is a sparky, then it matters a whole lot!!!! what is he??

Yes report it and don't ever question yourself again as far where serious safety issues and fatalities are concerned. Yes it could be a GI issue or an allergy, even a neuro issue but if it was affecting his work to such an extent he would have some medical proof and anyway that's not your problem to investigate. Let your manager deal with it. You're not being interfering, or out of order or anything like that, this is a serious safety concern so please act on it.

YANBU - I work for a major facilities management firm and although I'm not front line I have done the standard training they give anyone and a very important part of that is that frontline workers are told they should always stop work if they have a safety concern.

He was still on his probation period for his employer so I think the lateness / laziness / leaving the job, was enough to terminate. I'm not privy to what the actual conversation involved. Drinking wasn't brought up as a concern though. That was just a comment his boss made to me.

Thank you.

I really hope this isn't real 😳

You have serious safety concerns about this guy - to the point that you're concerned there might be fatalities if he's allowed to supervise an upcoming project - yet he's still working for your company even though he's apparently been sacked?

Fucking hell. Massively uncalled for. And if you can’t handle a debate, no wonder you need MN to do your job for you.

I hope all the comments made have convinced you to report it.

This poster isn't debating though. She's posting the same thing again and again, and making up her own narrative despite the fact I've corrected it!

They have, thank you.

If he isn't performing to whatever level needed whilst he is employed leading to safety concerns then yes you report.

If your workplace has a zero tolerance policy then report your suspicions. Mitigate the risk.

That's what I thought too @ExtraOnions It sounds like he could be really ill.

I'm sure you know you have to report it. If it's a life an death thing, you're probably in a regulated industry with some sort of legal obligation or at least a policy one. That is so that people who may find it hard to report because they're somehow worried don't get to make the decision. Please, just report it.

So something this serious which could result in fatalities, and your Umming and ahhing, on mumsnet 🙄

So has anyone asked this key not so key member of staff if he has a health condition?
I mean he might have one let's say that causes chronic fatigue and Pain that might make him vomit like inflammatory bowel disease
Bit of a sticky wicket for a shitty company to sack someone with a disability
but given their idea of HR Is
ask Mumsnet
who knows