So, we had an incident last night that forced us to call the police to escort out an employee after the store closed. Basically he was high on something and refused to do any work. Refused to leave the store even after the store manager himself told him to go home. Police confirmed he was high, but could not do any testing. Of course he still has his job, as all it amounted to was a write up. He also played the race card.
So my question is, what can be done about people who are obviously on drugs and completely out of it all the time? I know because of the union, they can't just give out drug tests willy nilly, so what can be done? Just wait for them to do something else against policy to fire them?
Can't really do that if what you can get them for, other people do it as well but are never punished(being late, calling in, no call no shows, not getting work done, etc) as then they'd have an easy out if they pursue it as unfair discrimination.
I thought you were talking about a guy that used to work for my Kroger store. Same thing happened. High, wouldn't leave store, had cops called on him. He didn't loose his job. Right at first I guess. He continued to work for a few weeks and then one day I realized I hadn't seen him in awhile. Don't know if he was fired, quit, went to jail again...who knows!
Here's what my employee handbook says (Kroger Southwest):
When there is reason to believe an associate is under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, based upon factors such as an associate's change in behavior, appearance, speech or work performance, mangement shall have the right to require the associate to submit to a test to determine the presence of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine or any other controlled substance in the associate's system. Refusal to take the test, as instructed, will be grounds for discharge.
Every time you see him and suspect he is high, drunk, whatever, you should report it to management.
