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Original poster

Is there a way back after suspension?

28 replies

itsthesamebutwithoutay · 30/03/2022 14:35

DH has been suspended without pay. Short story is that he got ridiculously drunk at a work function. He’s fairly senior and he recalls nothing. I am absolutely livid with him but our relationship issues are for another thread. We’re planning for it to be dismissal and he is spending the time updating his CV and meeting with agencies. He also getting the relevant employment rights advice (I should add that we’re not in the UK). I am wondering if anyone was ever offered a way back from this or if dismissal is pretty much a done deal and we’re just going through the motions? Either way I think his working relationship is ruined but staying, even in the short term, would be a better outcome.

OP posts:

girlmom21 · 30/03/2022 14:39

It depends on his behaviour and what he does for work.
Were customers at the function?

thingymaboob · 30/03/2022 14:40

Obviously more to it than getting drunk. My work xmas do consisted of meeting at Wetherspoons at midday and last man standing

chipsandpeas · 30/03/2022 14:40

depends on what he done/said

Dejavuvuzella · 30/03/2022 14:41

What part of the world/country, if Middle East I'd leave.

HollowTalk · 30/03/2022 14:43

It'll depend on what he said to whom. If he's insulted customers then I doubt there'll be any coming back from that.

Blue4YOU · 30/03/2022 14:46

OP he will know what he did because he will have been told.
He’s not being suspended for drinking too much (unless he’s in a country where alcohol consumption is an issue).
Did he sexually harass someone or use racist/intolerant terms?
Not that you need to tell us but if either of the latter I’d expect dismissal.
Otherwise it’s hard to say without specifics

Villagewaspbyke · 30/03/2022 14:48

Depends what he did. Suspended without pay isn’t a good sign though.

MobLife · 30/03/2022 14:54

Does he recall nothing? Or is he so mortified with what he did that he can't tell you? Getting drunk at a work function isn't going to get you suspended......it's what you do while your drunk that's the issue.
So, what has he actually done?

BigSandyBalls2015 · 30/03/2022 14:56

You need detail OP. What did he do whilst drunk?

CanIHaveASnaaaaak · 30/03/2022 14:57

He’s not given you the full story.
But the suspension allows for a full investigation at work.
He could go back, but the repercussion be a demotion, pay decrease, or nothing at all.

The fact he’s not given you the whole story makes me think it’s a sackable offence.

BeforeGodAndAllTheFish · 30/03/2022 14:58

Lots of people get drunk at a work do. It wont be getting drunk that is the problem. It will be whatever he did whilst drunk.

Or are you in a country were drinking is really limited and only really allowed in hotels? Because that could possibly be the reason that being so drunk is a firing offence.

purplecorkheart · 30/03/2022 15:07

What country are we talking about? And why exactly was he suspended? You say it was because he was drunk but is that the full story or is he suspended because some action he took while drunk. I don't think you are being given the full story.

DesignerRecliner · 30/03/2022 15:08

Agree with PPs that there's more to this story - has anyone from work told him what he was doing/saying while under the influence?

Original poster

itsthesamebutwithoutay · 30/03/2022 15:11

Absolutely agree that there is more to it. He has never been aggressive with drink, my assumption is that he has said something offensive. No clients/external parties were there, it was an internal team building event. They went for a meal in the evening and then a few of them headed to the bar afterwards.

We’re in Europe.

OP posts:

workshy44 · 30/03/2022 15:20

Did he say what they said ? We had a new person get horrendously drunk on a night out with customers there and while it went down like a lead balloon people moved on from it. He wasn't really senior though , although not junior and he was new too. Getting drunk while not ideal does happen so I doubt he would be suspended without pay if it was just that.

girlmom21 · 30/03/2022 15:23

I had a colleague who was sacked for being racist to a security guard at our works xmas party in the UK. He was sacked the next working day without warning but he was junior and had been there less than 2 years which I guess made it easy.

Original poster

itsthesamebutwithoutay · 30/03/2022 15:23

Sorry loads more replies whilst I was typing the last one. He agrees there must be more to it but he just doesn’t remember. One of his colleagues took him back to his room. He has spoken to him and he said that he was distressed and disruptive. He also told DH the next morning that it would likely be just a slap on the wrist but now I suspect he said that to calm him in that moment. DH has been interviewed by HR for his version of events but he couldn’t tell them anything. I don’t know if they will share the statements from his colleagues with him but of course they would need to provide a reason in the case of dismissal.

OP posts:

BritInUS1 · 30/03/2022 15:27

Without knowing what country you are in it is very difficult to know if there is likely a way back

Are they allowed to suspect without pay?

Original poster

itsthesamebutwithoutay · 30/03/2022 16:08

Switzerland, so a similar attitude to drinking as the UK. We don’t know enough about employment law or his rights here which is why he needs to use this time to get advice. I doubt they would suspend pay unless allowed, the Swiss are not rule breakers .

I would be surprised at racism and it was all men so I also doubt sexual harassment, although I appreciate that takes many forms. I am not even sure I can take the details. He is well aware that our marriage is on the line here too.

OP posts:

girlmom21 · 30/03/2022 16:17

I can't think of much that would force a suspension without pay.

I guess the other possibilities are homophobia or physical aggression.

Gonnagetgoing · 01/04/2022 12:09

He shouldn't be drinking to the stage where he blacks out or can't remember.

I agree with @girlmom21 that it's either homophobia/physical aggression. I don't know much about Swiss employment but a close friend (non Swiss) worked there and her DH (who's French Swiss) works in a corporate role in Geneva and I also know someone from there but who now works in Brussels. They can be very conformist from what I can tell.

Hollyhocksarenotmessy · 01/04/2022 14:25

Hi, I work in HR.

It would be something serious to warrant a suspension. I've dealt with around 6 disciplinaries that included suspensions, and out of those one returned to work and the rest were dismissed.

picolata · 01/04/2022 20:32

I have also worked in HR and agree with above. He is likely to be dismissed. Before his disciplinary he should get to see what the case against him is. He can choose to resign of course prior to dismissal.. check what the rules are for claiming job seekers allowance there though. I think in the U.K. you can't claim job seekers if you choose to resign.

Theunamedcat · 01/04/2022 20:38

Did he actually drink a lot or get spiked? It's unusual to remember absolutely nothing

Strangeways19 · 01/04/2022 20:59

I wonder if there's a union he could talk to or someone, he might be able to negotiate a resignation & minimal style reference as a way out rather than dismissal?

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