help. Xmas do... suspected of doing DRUGS!!!!!!

pitkin2020

u264047 wrote: »

Like I said... think i'm screwed.

TBH without being harsh I think you are too. The drugs incident and the sales manager seem to be irrelevant and are just the icing on the cake they seemed to need to get shot of you, or atleast thats what the sales manager is thinking. All you can do really is damage control now.

The things that are in your favour is the wild accusations of drug use, and the fact it appears you weren't in company time nor were you representing the company at the time, due to the fact the company party had ended and staff had parted. You were effectively in your free time. You offered to take a drugs test which they declined (if I recall). You also have some good witness statements to back you up.

Whilst I understand you are under alot of stress getting signed off wasn't the best move, it looks like your trying to play the sympathy card and drag this out as long as possible, although we know your not.
The email you sent to start your grievence was a little late and should have been done straightaway, it now looks like your trying every possible angle to get off the hook by bringing others into the equation. Also it should have been watered down a little, just stating that you wish to start a grievence, names and the main reason. Any more information that is required would be brought up at the intial hearing as part of the investigation. Also internal mail/email is never secure and you don't know who could see it and give the heads up to your sales manager about the claims, giving him extra time to defend the claims.

You mentioned a "Race" claim, now that is valid, but if you have already given a statement of what happened and you have not put it in then its too late, again if you add that now it just looks like your trying your best to make the sales manager look bad and it will not go in your favour and tbh they wouldn't believe it now so late in the game.

I think at best your going to get a formal warning at worst dismissal, either way you need to appeal. Don't be scared to appeal a formal warning it can't get worse but they will have to get someone else, usually higher up in the company or from a different plant/branch to investigate it. Obviously if you are dismissed I would say you have a strong case to go to a tribunal with.

I wish you luck I know its hard but you have to be strong and believe in yourself. If they want shot of you its likely they are throwing as much at you in the hope you just cave in and roll over, and it probably does seem the best option, but when you know you are right you have to fight to the bitter end.

Make sure you keep contact with ACAS they are the knowledge when it comes to things like this and if you think the company is not following the procedure (when you get the handbook and read it) speak with them and see what advice they offer. When I was a staff rep I had them on speed dial (sad I know) but they are usually quick to give you the answers you are looking for.

jaffacakes82

u264047 wrote: »

Statement 5 - Office apprentice - I offered her cocaine before the work do the week before this one. Said she was told I was joking but she is not so sure now. Talked about my infatuations with several girls in office.

I think this statement is the only one holding up to the Sales Manager, all the other ridiculous ones regarding funny eyes and tongue (indeed !!!!!!) are obviously total boll*cks and statements from intoxicated 'pals' of the Sales Manager.

The fact that others had told her you were joking, were there others about when this actually happened (pretending to offer her drugs)? In my place of work there's a lot of this type of banter going on between people (especially the guys) and you do across some people (mainly young girls) who either just don't 'get it' or think you're being serious.

The thing about 'having infatuations' with female staff is completely irrelevant unless an Employee had made a complaint against you regarding sexual embarrassment (or similar). Did she include herself as one of the girls you're supposedly infatuated with?

u264047

interesting points from you all! thank you.

The anti depressant i'm taking is called Citalopram. I began usage at the end of the first week of December.... shortly after my second burglary. After speaking with my Doctor and reading the pamphlet that comes with them, it seems they could account for much of the 'mistakes' and sickness i've suffered, the doctor was also unsure about how they would react with alcohol.

I don't want to blame anything on a pill though.

Also, if any of you doubt my honesty regarding the drug usage - I can barely handle my beer, i've hardly graduated to Class A drugs (besides I wouldn't know how to go about buying them even if I had)

jaffacakes82

pitkin2020 wrote: »

Whilst I understand you are under alot of stress getting signed off wasn't the best move, it looks like your trying to play the sympathy card and drag this out as long as possible, although we know your not.

No true. A situation such as this would drain the best of us, the OP has been on anti depressants since before this whole incident happened which his GP could confirm if needed.

It's not as though the OP is trying to cheekily gain 3+ months of pay, it's 2 weeks. It's not a sympathy card. He's being accused of x, y and z and is facing the strong possibility of losing his job - it's not a surprise he's not mentally his best at the moment. HR Departments will face this kind of thing all the time.

It only becomes a wrong move if the OP then extends that 2 weeks to another 2 weeks, then another month, then another month etc, in which the Employer will actually be glad about as they'd eventually have grounds to dismiss the Employee without even a Hearing.

u264047

jaffacakes82 wrote: »

Did she include herself as one of the girls you're supposedly infatuated with?

No she didn't... even though she is by far the prettiest out of the ones she had said I did. :A

jaffacakes82

u264047 wrote: »

The anti depressant i'm taking is called Citalopram. I began usage at the end of the first week of December.... shortly after my second burglary. After speaking with my Doctor and reading the pamphlet that comes with them, it seems they could account for much of the 'mistakes' and sickness i've suffered, the doctor was also unsure about how they would react with alcohol.

I was on those as well, for about a year. I had terrible side effects for the first couple of weeks I was on them. Main ones I remember were really bad headache, stomach ache, feeling sick, dry lips/mouth.

u264047

jaffacakes82 wrote: »

I was on those as well, for about a year. I had terrible side effects for the first couple of weeks I was on them. Main ones I remember were really bad headache, stomach ache, feeling sick, dry lips/mouth.

Yeah, It sucked... .still have the dry lips & mouth now.

pitkin2020

jaffacakes82 wrote: »

No true. A situation such as this would drain the best of us, the OP has been on anti depressants since before this whole incident happened which his GP could confirm if needed.

It's not as though the OP is trying to cheekily gain 3+ months of pay, it's 2 weeks. It's not a sympathy card. He's being accused of x, y and z and is facing the strong possibility of losing his job - it's not a surprise he's not mentally his best at the moment. HR Departments will face this kind of thing all the time.

It only becomes a wrong move if the OP then extends that 2 weeks to another 2 weeks, then another month, then another month etc, in which the Employer will actually be glad about as they'd eventually have grounds to dismiss the Employee without even a Hearing.

The problem is most people know stress related time off is usually longer than 2 weeks, what I am saying is to go off for stress for 2 weeks then return will not look great. There is nothing the company can do they have to take the OP's word for it, but a lot of people can "get stressed" and the doc signs them off for two weeks. I'm not implying the OP has gone to the doc with "i'm stressed sign me off", i genuinely believe the OP is stressed and it understandable. All I was merely pointing out from their view point, he throws in a grievence against the sales manager just before the disciplinary is due, they say it would be best he attends. The the OP throws a sick note in, from their view it really is going to look like he is stalling for more time.

u264047

i'm aware of how it looks, but it is what it is. Surely a company cannot make a judgement over a ailment supported with a doctors note?

moggylover

u264047 wrote: »

i'm aware of how it looks, but it is what it is. Surely a company cannot make a judgement over a ailment supported with a doctors note?

They shouldn't, but they often do! I really think you need to be there for that meeting - with a friend for support!

You've had some really good advice on here and the sooner you get going with it the sooner you will be able to sit back and relax and let the stress go.