I was then forced to take a drug and alcohol test, which both came back negative. This was embarrassing and I am worried that I will have lost respect from my co-workers. While I was gone taking the test the situation was being discussed with other employees including employees that directly report to me. I was suspended until the director of human resources comes back to work, even though I had the test results and they were negative. Any advice?
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Is There Anything I Can Do, I Was Falsely Accused Of Being Drunk At Work?3 comments to Is There Anything I Can Do, I Was Falsely Accused Of Being Drunk At Work? |
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Calm down, it will blow over. It came back negative, for goodness sake.
First of all what was their probable cause for believing that you were intoxicated? Did they smell alcohol on your breath?, because actually alcohol itself has no odor. Anyhow, when you were hired did you agree to submit to drug/alcohol screening at your employers will? If not, then your right to privacy may have been compromised. Mere curiousness, office gossip, and/or concern not back by provable facts should not be sufficient enough to subject you to a test of this nature (in my humble opinion). I would have a sit down with the powers to be and explain that you saw this as an embarrassment. Good luck and have a lawyer on stand by just in case things go south.
The real issue is whether the information your employer got was honestly offered or malicious. If honest, then the system made a mistake and you complied with policy as you would expect your subordinates to do.
If malicious, then the system was subverted and you have an opportunity and an insight to begin an investigation into how.
Don’t be heavy-handed, but be alert to factors which might point to a group or individual.
Also, be sure that that whole incident is removed from your permanent record. An attorney might smooth any friction you get about that.