Is it your responsibility to report a coworker's drug use on the job?

Since I functioned in the executive management group most of my career I was more likely to be the person to whom a report came. In most of those positions HR was one of my reports. Looking back those situations were pretty black and white. If a drug test supported the information received there was a clear policy. I always felt the more difficult situations were sexual harassment and theft. Although policy might be clear the facts became more difficult to gather and verify.
 
If you work in a career with children you are required by State Regulations to report even suspected
things like this as well as any type of abuse to the children. You are told not to approach the child or adult
so when they investigate nothing can be said to be coerced or fed to child in regard to their being questioned
as well as to protect yourself from retaliation. I have had to report suspected sexual abuse 2 times and both times
it was proven and father was removed.
Possible retaliation can be frightening, if work places want this reported they should maybe do as the State does.
 
IrishEyes said:
If you work in a career with children you are required by State Regulations to report even suspected
things like this as well as any type of abuse to the children. You are told not to approach the child or adult
so when they investigate nothing can be said to be coerced or fed to child in regard to their being questioned
as well as to protect yourself from retaliation. I have had to report suspected sexual abuse 2 times and both times
it was proven and father was removed.
Possible retaliation can be frightening, if work places want this reported they should maybe do as the State does.
Click to expand...
That all sounds sensible.
 
While you should report it, odds are nothing will be done about it. That is how corporate works now. You might as well just keep your mouth shut and just do your job. The big wigs only care about what hurts their bottom line.
 
I'm not a fan of Titles so open for individual interpretation that easily results in thread hijacking.

Title is:
Is it your responsibility to report a coworker's drug use on the job?

Title should be:
Is it your responsibility to report a coworker's dangerous or illegal drug use on the job?

Of course the OP's intent was not someone taking aspirin for a headache, or someone's prescription medicine, or for that matter the person filling their coffee mugs down in the break room with caffeinated coffee. The OP is expecting one will immediately think it is referring to some drug that may affect job performance, might affect safety of them and others, or could affect overall company efficiency, or is societally illegal.

Thus, some people for decades have been nailed by others for during breaks, sneaking in snorts from hard liquor bottles in their coats. But then what about the driver that with lunch drank a single 8 ounce light beer? But because the OP used the word "drugs" they probably were not thinking of reporting those many historically that quietly drink alcohol when they think they can do so secretly. So if not alcohol, this must be some types of illegal drugs? Like one truck driver reporting on another driver they see shooting up with smack at a truck stop.

What about someone with a long weekend that on Monday morning takes a Ritalin tablet to stay awake? Or likewise a semitruck driver that on an employment important delivery, possibly feeling sleepy for whatever reason, very occasionally takes a like lower potency amphetamine during situations they don't want to fall asleep while driving and after which more coffee won't help. Much like military forces of all nations sometimes give their soldiers amphetamines only during long combat situations?

Well we can certainly imagine some situations where use of numbers of depressant drugs would endanger the rest of us while say driving their company vehicles in public. Or the employee that ignoring policy, smokes nicotine cigarettes in a restaurant kitchen when they think they are alone, where it might affect the flavor or prepared foods. But then what about that temporary minimum wage person during a work break sharing some other workers joint while working for the county cleaning vehicles at a motor pool?

Yeah a lot of situations. Because life can be complicated.
 
The company that I worked for walked a fine line when it came to drug and alcohol use.

If it didn’t effect a person’s ability to perform their job it was pretty much overlooked.

I never really had an occasion to have to deal with it or choose what to do.

I would report a school bus driver, medical professional, etc… that could cause harm to others and keep one eye closed for the guy chasing carts at the local Wegman’s.
 
Yes, if the drug use interferes with the work. I was told the case of a senior woman, an alcoholic who drove a small bus (9 seats including driver) with disabled children to school and back in the afternoon. She was also a diabetic.

The women who told me this also worked for the same company. I asked her, if she had reported it. She didn't. In such a case I wouldn't hesitate to report it.
 
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