O/T--I need some personnel advice too

M

Maximus

Cathlete
My boss's secretary comes to work regularly drunk as a skunk.

I have no idea how to deal w/this. My boss refuses to do anything about it. He's the administrator (think CEO) of our township. So we have residents calling him all day long, & she's answering the phone & greeting visitors slurring her voice & pretty much making no sense at all. It's an embarassment.

I feel really bad for her b/c she's had a really tough time (husband died a year ago, left her w/o life insurance, she has serious money problems, things are breaking down all over her house & she doesn't know what to do b/c her husband used to handle that stuff, plus she doesn't have money to fix it.....the list goes on & on).

Anyway, like I said, my boss just sticks his head in the sand when I ask him to deal w/the issue. My heart goes out to her but I have a duty to town hall, and to my boss for that matter, to make sure work gets done & it gets done right.

Not to mention the woman really does need help. She's gonna drink herself to death. She spends her lunch hours w/a bottle.

Any advice?
 
Do you have access to an Employee Assistance Program? Her boss should take her aside and tell her that either she gets some help and quits coming to work drunk or she'll lose her job. He's not doing her any favors.
 
Maximus,

Does your insurance provide for Addiction help? I work at a huge Aerospace company and I know that several employees have been through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) at work where their addictions are treated through their company medical insurance. It's kind of a co-op between the company where person is employed and the insurance company. A very dignified way for the employee to get help.

But, first, someone has to take responsibility to report that person to HR. At our company, HR and benefits make the arrangements.
 
We don't have EAP. I'm pretty sure our insurance will cover detox or at least therapy, but if I even mention it to her she'll go off the deep end. She's in a pretty shaky condition.

Unfortunately, I AM HR. But since she reports directly to my boss I don't have the authority to do anything about it. I'm really stumped on this one.
 
Man, you are in a pickle.

I would suggest you contact a family member if I didn't think that may be overstepping your boundaries. Can you go above your boss?
 
Hey Maximus --

Sorry to hear that you've been put in this situation. First, your boss should have the balls to deal with it. It's not your responsibility. However, I can tell that you are concerned about her condition as well as how it impacts the work environment.

I know you say she'll go off the deep end if you mention it. Maybe she would be more open to help if you sat down and told her that you can tell something is wrong (but not necessarily mentioning the drinking thing). Perhaps she will let you know what's going on if she can tell you're genuinely concerned.

Of course, I have never had to deal with this situation so I can't say for sure. It is a difficult situation!

Shonie
 
Well, my boss is pretty much at the top, so going over his head is out.

She would never believe I was genuinely concerned b/c I'm management--no matter what I say she'd be suspicious & probably think I was out to get her.

The family member is a possibility though--her son works here too. Maybe I can have a casual chat w/him w/o seeming like I'm trying to cause her trouble. Thanks for the idea, maybe it's a way out of this mess.
 
Maximus,

Just be careful when approaching the son. I don't know if you could get in some sort of trouble addressing what some would term a "confidential" situation with someone else, even if it's a family member.

But, being you are the HR manager, this may not be an issue.

You gotta wonder why the son isn't helping her with the house???

This could be a Hornet's nest

x(

Good Luck
 
Max - I don't know much about municiple government, but is there an entity that your boss is accountable to, like auditors or such?

Depending on your relationship with him, you might mention that her public drunkeness would be a liability if it were brought to their attention. Not that you'd rat her out, but being that this women is the public voice and face to anyone dealing with your office, it wouldn't be hard for them to find out.

It sounds like a sad situation. I hope she gets some help.
 
Seems odd that your boss will not confront this.

Does he realize that he is doing her more harm than good by enabling her to continue to work in this condition?
 
Well it does not matter if she only drives a couple miles or 5 she is breaking the law.....
And she could kill someone..............
I would have to turn her in, sorry..... Rhonda
 
Maybe he feels sorry for her? If so, you should reiterate that he is not doing any her any favors. She obviously needs help. I would highly suggest you talk to him & both of you confront her & tell her she needs treatment. She can't come back until she gets treatment but once she's back you both will support her. This is something that needs to be done. If you guys can't steer her towards recovery I fear something worse will happen. Like someone else mentioned, she's driving down the streets.

Just remember to treat her with dignity. She is a sick person right now.
 
Are you sure she is drunk? My aunt had a neurological condition that progressed gradually until she died(the same disease Dudley Moore had).
Her speech was slurred and she wobbled in the beginning stages and everyone thought she was drunk. Her mental and social faculties were unaffected however. It was a source of pain to her and her family to have everyone speculating about her alcohol and/or drug use. Perhaps this is the reason why your boss does nothing. Just a different perspective.
 
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