I've Got Someone Sacked .....

Werewolf · 22 Sep 2011 at 05:53

steve-h said:
Wow you little snitch

He was wrong to consider going into work... but you could have said that upon picking him up instead of running to your boss, you massive jobsworth.

The op doesn't say when he was told - it could have been just as they were pulling up to the works entrance, or halfway there and too late to say "well I'll leave you here and you can call in sick".

The op may also have expected the guy to have been given an official warning and sent home which might have had much more impact that a quiet word from him, not to mention if someone is willing to do it once who is to say he isn't willing to do it when the op isn't giving him a lift? (for all we know the guy could have done it before without the op knowing and been warned previously).

We don't have much information, other than the op took one of only two options that he could have taken to protect himself, and the other workers from a self confessed potential danger.

I feel sorry for the guy who got the sack, but that is tempered by the idiocy of going to work where you know you'll be using heavy machinery when you've been drinking.

ElliorR · 22 Sep 2011 at 05:54

As others have said you could have taken him home, or maybe stopped, told him to get out of your car and if he turns up at work you'll have to report him. Totally moot now.

For those slagging Albert off I think you need to understand how things are in this day and age....

Albert says nothing as he doesn't want to be a snitch (how ****ing old are people with this stupid mentality?), Fred has an accident himself, or seriously hurts someone. During the investigation, and if serious enough the HSE are doing an investigation (possibly along side the police), it comes to light Albert knew Fred had consumed 4 cans of alcohol then Albert is suddenly interviewed by the HSE under caution. Fred and Albert both then find themselves in court with a very high expectation of going to prison if someone has died.

The HSE is a very powerful body and I was on a course where we had a HSE investigator giving us a talk. It was one hell of an eye opener and I would not want them investigating me.

Spit · 22 Sep 2011 at 06:25

Well you just got yourself a stalker!

Yosiah · 22 Sep 2011 at 06:41

albert said:
...and i feel terrible about it. I hate playing good cop , bad cop

I'm a Team Leader at work and pick up a workmate on my way to work. On the way there he told me he'd had 4 cans of lager a couple of hours previous. As he drives machinery at work i told my supervisor what he'd said in the car. Subsequently the lad was taken to office and then walked off site. He had worked with me for a year and a half.

I know i did the right thing by telling my supervisor but i can't help thinking how i could have handled it differently so the lad would have kept his job. To make matters worse he was one of my best workers, knew every job and more and was always talking about trying for promotion. Also he's just bought a house and is paying for a holiday for early next year. This keeps going around and around in my head.

I'm not paid enough for this and my head is buzzing ......

Why didn't you just tell him to call in sick, or you would report him because you felt he was in danger of losing his job if they found out or he might have hurt himself? You really didn't have to get him fired did you? What did you think would happen?

Edrof · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:02

franco_22 said:
Man I really hate people like you. Why tell on people? It's the lowest thing you can do to someone.

Another top notch Franco_22 post.

Kenai · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:14

In fairness, I doubt either you or he would have expected him to get sacked for that, he was stupid but at least honest enough to say so and probably expected to be given a bit of slack for his honesty about it.

Is it worth talking to whoever did sack him and finding out if that was the sole reason for it? It seems a touch harsh to sack the bloke for one offence that he admitted to before he actually did anything dangerous, i'd expect most places would just tell him to sod off for the day, take away a day of his holiday or not pay him (depending on how he's paid) and give him a dressing down on his return.

Sacking seems harsh to be honest, don't beat yourself up over it as I imagine it's the last thing either of you expected to happen.

Edrof · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:15

So much hind-sight in this thread!

At the end of the day, nobody was physically hurt, and they could have been if you hadn't done what you did. If he was that great, then do your absolute best to get him his job back.

He drank, he knew he had to work, he knew his work involved heavy machinery, he told you about it. There's a pattern here

You're just feeling bad because you're a nice guy.

wesley · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:22

watch your back for knives, tbh

jmc007 · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:23

Some good points and you say yourself we don't have all the information, then straight away say there were only two options available. :confused:

Werewolf said:
The op doesn't say when he was told - it could have been just as they were pulling up to the works entrance, or halfway there and too late to say "well I'll leave you here and you can call in sick".

The op may also have expected the guy to have been given an official warning and sent home which might have had much more impact that a quiet word from him, not to mention if someone is willing to do it once who is to say he isn't willing to do it when the op isn't giving him a lift? (for all we know the guy could have done it before without the op knowing and been warned previously).

We don't have much information, other than the op took one of only two options that he could have taken to protect himself, and the other workers from a self confessed potential danger.

I feel sorry for the guy who got the sack, but that is tempered by the idiocy of going to work where you know you'll be using heavy machinery when you've been drinking.

Werewolf · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:30

jmc007 said:
Some good points and you say yourself we don't have all the information, then straight away say there were only two options available.

There are basically only two serious options available if someone admits to drinking before going to work on heavy machinery - either you report them to the superior, or you tell them not to go in.

Those are the only two basic options that do not put anyone at risk of injury.
The third basic option is to ignore it, hope for the best and let him be a danger to people.

You do not let someone who has been drinking operate heavy machinery.

vanandjuanunited · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:34

How exactly is the op a snitch. Its the guys own fault for putting him in this position. Its his responsibility to adhere to his contract. He knows the risks as much as the op does. If he has outside responsibilities its his life therefore he made the decision himself to drink knowing he was risking his job.

benneh · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:49

albert said:
Yes indeed it is. I just wish i'd pulled over and told him to take a sickie.

You didn't though did you chap, you put him against a wall and shot him.
Ran to the office, grassed him up, and no doubt scoffed as he was escorted out. ****.

Meh.

Fingers crossed someone shows you the same kindness eh?.

Dolph · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:49

You did not get him sacked, his conduct did.

Sometimes it's hard trying to be a manager and a friend, but ultimately, unless you're making up lies or planting evidence, you cannot get someone sacked, it is always down to the individual's conduct, behaviour or performance.

MrMoonX · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:50

benneh said:
You didn't though did you chap, you put him against a wall and shot him.
Ran to the office, grassed him up, and no doubt scoffed as he was escorted out. ****.

Meh.

Fingers crossed someone shows you the same kindness eh?.

This, you should have told him to go sick!!!!!!

Dolph · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:53

MrMoonX said:
This, you should have told him to go sick!!!!!!

But he wasn't sick, he was unfit for work voluntarily.

Are you (and everyone else promoting the same idea) suggesting he both committed an act of misconduct, and advised someone to commit a further act of misconduct by abusing the sickness policy?

robgmun · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:54

Rainmaker said:
You're looking for validation, it seems. I wasn't there, but perhaps it would have been better to point out your seniority in the car in light of his admission, and say it's best he takes a sickie to avoid you having to report him out of duty, and to stay sober for work in future. Consider it a warning etc.

This was the first thing that jumped into my head, force him to take a sickie and warn him if he does it again he's out. But to just drive him to his P45 is a bit callous mate.

Bosses can be such ***** sometimes. Never trust them. And you've just taught him to never trust bosses either

benneh · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:54

Dolph said:
Are you suggesting he both committed an act of misconduct, and advised someone to commit a further act of misconduct by abusing the sickness policy?

Yes. Tell the guy to take a sick day.

Well I mean the choice between that and contributing to the ruination of his life isn't really any kind of choice at-all. Assuming you're not a ****.

Mercenary Keyboard Warrior · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:56

You did right. If he had been caught and you had been foudn to have known you would have been sacked as well.

One of the big problems with the world now is complete lack of responsibility for peoples own actions.

HE did the thing that caused him to be sacked.

YOU did what you are paid to do, lead a team, its a junior management position which requires you to enforce the companies rules and protect them from people too stupid or ignorant to do so themselves.

Its quite simple, don't do things that are against the law/company policy/whatever and you cannot be "snitched on". Do something that is against them and run the risk that someone who understands why said thing is not allowed will see the bigger picture and report it. If you don't like the rules/contract/whatever don't go there/work for them/live in that country etc

From working in a related industry as far as I can tell just about any decent sized construction company will have a no alchohol/drugs policy as well due to health and safety. Plus our employees who visited the sites were expected to work under the same rules.

You could have handled it differently agreed, and in hindsight you probably would have, but its not your job to act as nanny to so called adults.

Belloni · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:57

Fair enough if you only just knew him, but over a year and a half of working with him? You also claim he was your best worker, good job!

Dolph · 22 Sep 2011 at 07:58

benneh said:
Yes. Tell the guy to take a sick day.

Well I mean the choice between that and contributing to the ruination of his life isn't really any kind of choice at-all.

There is no contribution to anything, the entire responsibility for drinking before work and all associated consequences lies with the drinking employee, not the employee who raises a concern about it.

Why are so many people so happy with irresponsible behaviour and so willing to try and 'spread the blame'?