Smelling Alcohol On Member Of Staff

[Denisec4502]

I have smelt alcohol on a member of our Driving team recently.... and other colleagues have as well. I am calling him in tomorrow ......do I need proof that others can smell it as well or can I just take the keys off of him and tell him to go home, then go through disciplinary procedure?

[baza]

Having spent some time in employment which involved safety of other people I cannot understand, as you employ drivers, your company does not have a Drug and Alcohol Policy.
Should any member of my ex staff have the aroma of alcohol then the screening company would be called in, another member of staff would wait with the person until the screening rep arrived.

[RandyMarsh]

some anti bacterial hand washes make you smell like booze.

[Xeronema]

If other colleagues have smelt alcohol then why haven't they approached him or are they all management? Sure if any of them are friends then they would speak to him themselves?

I certainly wouldn't get him in a room on your own though.

[Xeronema]

RandyMarsh: They don't tend to linger for long though unless you drink the antibacterial; and yes, people sometimes do drink denatured alcohol.

Baza has the right idea :) just deal with it that way.

[murraymints]

you will have to certain..as others have said there could be other reasons..

[Xeronema]

If you deal with it alone:

1. If he has an alcohol problem and you speak to him alone then he's going to get out of there ASAP and still keep his license and have no offer of support.

2. If it was just the occasional few pints here and there and he doesn't have an alcohol problem then he's going to get out of there, wait till he's sober and then file a complaint.

That's how I see it going anyway.

[solvitquick]

i don't "swallow" these mouthwash answers. Clearly if a number of staff have smelt alcohol, address him/her directly with at least one witness present. Denisec, you don't say if it's beer or spirits. If the allegation is flatly denied, warn him/her that you will call the police. Oh, before discussion chose a day when you and the witness can smell the "alcohol". This doesn't sound like harassment - just concen about public safety.
Under no circumstances take the law into your own hands like removing the keys!
SIQ.

[Xeronema]

I have to agree that mouthwash really doesn't fit. I've done some test at home and even after less that 1 minute mouthwash doesn't register on a breathaliser. Unfortunately you can't discount it - as the police also do not.

[EDDIE51]

I was just thinking yesterday the same as Ken4155.
Why is Denisec asking for advice on a web site about a situation where he/she is possibly going to terminate an employee's career?
Getting even the smallest detail of a gross misconduct case wrong will see the employee sue the company for unfair dismissal, the damages could 'kill' the company.
Denisec , sorry but if you have to ask such basic questions about how to handle a serious disciplinary case you are not the person to do this 'job'.

[TWR]

I had that in mind myself Eddie !!!!!