Colleague drinking at work

[Chasa]

My colleague is known for liking a drink and I and others have smelled drink on him on previous occasions. However, over the past fortnight his behaviour has become more hyper at work as if he wasn't just nursing a hangover but was actually still perhaps drunk? Another colleague suggested that maybe he was drinking at work so we decided to go and look in his backpack and there was an empty kids drinks bottle with a tiny bit of wine left in it. So he is drinijng on the job. So do we do anything or mind our own business? He's a nice guy on the whole. I'm thinking say nothing, I need advice.

I'd suggest keeping your hands out of people's bags and MYOB.

Poor bugger, I've been there.
The most I could have coped with is a passing remark,eg " heavy night last night ? Or did you need a pick me up this morning?."

Report your concerns about his behaviour, alcohol smell. Let them take it from there. I wouldn't mention it to your colleague. He's hardly going to care what you say if he is in the grip of addiction. The fact you looked and found his secret stash is irrelevant. It's not a criminal offense .

Well it does sound like he has a drink problem, but unless he is a danger to himself or others you might just have to leave it until a supervisor cottons on. Especially in light of you going in his bag, which has put you in a precarious position.

If you think his erratic behaviour is a risk, report that. Don't be going through people's things again!

OP could be in danger of disciplinary action? Who knows?

It's dodgy, ethically, but can't think of a law it breaks.

What was your plan when you decided to check his bag for evidence? What were you expecting to do with the information?

Maybe you don’t mind breaking the law, and infringing someone’s privacy … but it’s illegal and morally wrong, plus none of anyone’s business except the management

You've smelt drink on him. You know he's driving pallet trucks. Report it.

Arrested for what?

I would flag your concerns about the smelling of alcohol and behaviour to your manager. He's driving fork lift trucks / machinery. However I wouldn't mention the kids bottle, let your manager deal with it if they want.

You had no right to go rooting through his bag. If you were genuinely concerned, you should have approached your manager.
You’ve behaved appallingly. What if something is missing from his bag - you’re right in the frame for it!
I can’t understand why anyone would think it was ok to do this.
The only thing you can do now is report your concerns to you Manager then back off and leave him be.

Invasion of privacy

You make no mention of looking in his bag, and give your concerns about the smell of alcohol regularly, stating that you're a bit worried about him, so want to make sure that support is there if needed.

After that, you keep schtum about everything, including no discussions about it with your colleagues.

He smells of alcohol so you take your concerns to management, you don’t search his bag without permission.

If it’s in retail then it’s usually in your contract that managers can search bags randomly for loss prevention so they could have done it.

You need to bring your suspicions to your manager.

It is a health & safety as well as welbromg concern.

WTF were you thinking looking in his bag. Completely wrong even if well intended.

If you tell manager you did that, they will have to address it. You didn't need proof. You need suspicion. It's manager's job to investigate - not yours.

If workin g with equipment/ machinery and driving i would tell someone. You could make something up, say you saw him swiggi g from a bottle and smelled it on his breath or something. For safety reasons it needs to be tackled. He could cause harm or harm himself. Hes an alcoholic.

Theres no offence called 'invasion of privacy' is there?!

I would speak to a manager about your concerns but leave out what you saw in his bag..you shouldn't have done that as you rightly say.

The guy needs help but it doesn't sound as if you know him well enough to offer it yourself? That would be better than approaching a manager.

Of course there isn't! The PP saying OP would be arrested made me laugh 😂

morally it's wrong, legally there's no law saying you can't go into someone's bag. Especially for concerns of welfare.

You could mention to your boss that you can smell booze on him & his behaviour has been erratic. Leave out the part about snooping in bag, given he is using heavy equipment i think you have to say something. At least then you’ve done your part.

You shouldn't have gone into his bag. But you know now he almost certainly is.

If he wasn't my direct report I wouldn't say anything. Unless the work was medical or legal or to do with children. Or using machinery where you could cause an accident.

If it was just an office job and he could perform it adequately through practice while under the influence, then I'd probably not care.

Plenty of people do go for drinks at lunchtime from work and I bet a load of people drink while WFH. If they have a high tolerance and can function. They almost need it to function if they're addicted.

This ^^

DH used to work in a workplace where there were pallet trucks, forklifts, conveyor belts and lorries. Anyone found with alcohol was immediately sacked and escorted off site. DH has had to sack people doing exactly that.
Don't make any reference to going through his bag. Just tell your manager that you believe he is drinking on site. He has nobody to blame except himself.
(I've also been that colleague that makes the first step in telling the boss).

You can't admit you went through his backpack. All you could do is speak to a senior manager and say that you've smelt alcohol on him and you're concerned. He could be drinking heavily at night, to the point he still smells of it the following day or he's drinking on work premises.

There was no need to go through his backpack, if he smells of alcohol. That's all you need to go to senior management, is the fact he smells of it. If he's drinking on the job, well that would be found out.