Should I stay or go?

ali-t

Going to London sounds like a kneejerk reaction and you could end up trapped in London as opposed to feeling stuck wherever you are just now.

I am a firm believer in looking for silver linings and the whole 'everything happens for a reason' mentality. Could you use this as a chance to totally change your life and go for any dreams you have always had but didn't do due to the security your previous job gave you?

In some ways you are quite lucky (I am sure it doesn't feel like it though) as although you have lost your job and certification you were not using drugs in the workplace so don't have a conviction so there is no issue about you going down a different route. This could be time to rent out your cottage and go and retrain in something else or travel the world etc etc.

FWIW, I think you have been very unlucky in getting caught in the drug test. Ironically if you had taken heroin, cocaine or any other class A's your test would have been clear 48 hours later.

scottishlass72

ali-t wrote: »

FWIW, I think you have been very unlucky in getting caught in the drug test. Ironically if you had taken heroin, cocaine or any other class A's your test would have been clear 48 hours later.

Wow, I didn't know that, how ironic!

I am really liking the idea of volunteering to undertake some drug counseling while I consider my options. Who knows, maybe I could get my certification back if I did that. Or maybe I could move on to something different. I do feel very fortunate that I don't have a mortgage to pay. On the other hand I feel very unlucky that the drug test happened when it did because if it had happened at any other point in my career I would have passed with flying colours.

I wasn't an office worker in the clerical sense but just in the sense that I didn't work in the plant directly. I'm so sorry, I don't want to be more specific than that because as I say I'm embarrassed. The certification is nice to have for my field but not 100% necessary I suppose. It is mentioned in most job adverts for it.

Oh, and when I talked to my union rep he basically told me I was stuffed, there wasn't anything he could do to help me :-(.

Buttonmoons

That's really unlucky I know a few people who work offshore, dealing with dangerous equipment, and they snort loads when they come back, but because it comes out of your system within a few days, they always pass :-/

I hope you can find something else.

pinkclouds

scottishlass72 wrote: »

Is it really so difficult not to judge? ... I'm asking if it's really seen so negatively because if I ever am going to get my career back I need to know how to explain what I did to potential future employers.

Drug use is an emotive topic (it's nothing like traffic fines or tax evasion) and my empathy for a stranger is limited. So, I'm sorry, it *is* difficult not to judge. I mentioned it to be honest - and because I expect it to be the initial reaction from a great many people. If that makes me a lesser person, then I can but accept that. We are all only human and fallible.

scottishlass72 wrote: »

I am really liking the idea of volunteering to undertake some drug counseling while I consider my options. Who knows, maybe I could get my certification back if I did that. ... The certification is nice to have for my field but not 100% necessary I suppose. It is mentioned in most job adverts for it. ... Oh, and when I talked to my union rep he basically told me I was stuffed, there wasn't anything he could do to help me :-(.

Perhaps you should determine whether you *can* regain your certification and whether you need to disclose a failed drugs test to future employers (and whether your past employer can disclose it in a reference)? I read your initial post to mean there was no prospect of continuing in your chosen career. If you are a member of a professional organisation, they may have free helplines offering legal advice, etc.

If the failed test does not require disclosure, then the simplest thing to do would be never mention it. If it does *not* bar you from regaining certification but *does* require disclosure... then the suggested drug counselling sounds useful. Perhaps a private medical check too, showing you are "clean" of all such substances after a suitable interval (like after the counselling). The way you mention the incident may also reflect on you - it sounds a bit trite but downgrading and neutralising the terminology to "one-off incident" and "private hours" or something like that...? (I think that terms such as "recreational drug use" imply habitual usage, even when it isn't.)

Your union rep doesn't sound like he's tried to help at all. Has he actually spent some time with you or was this a one minute phone call? Your union may have access to some suitable courses that you could take, that may help demonstrate how seriously you are treating this e.g. drug and safety awareness, etc.

Your embarrassment and distress says the most about you, in a good way. It demonstrates that this was atypical behaviour and shows true remorse. I think this would come across when mentioning it and would help validate your sincerity towards a fresh start. It doesn't change *my* feelings about the incident but I *do* think it won't happen again and that is what you would have to convince a new employer (if required to do so).

elantan

scottishlass72 wrote: »

Is it really so difficult not to judge? I know what I did was wrong but do I really deserve to lose my whole career that I studied for years for? I was at a party, not at work when I did what I did. I didn't cause any safety issues. I smoked a very small part of a joint on a Friday night and it was 48 hours before I was back at work.

I'm asking if it's really seen so negatively because if I ever am going to get my career back I need to know how to explain what I didyour contract to potential future employers. Thank you for all the answers so far.

sadly if your contract states you can be sacked on the grounds of gross misconduct for taking drugs and you chose to take drugs then you have to accept the consequences,

i'm not saying it is right, and i reckon it sux big time tbh, but you knew your companies stance on drug taking and you chose to take drugs ...

annoying thing is if you wouldve taken heroin/coke etc it wouldve possibly been out of your system by the time of the drug test ( not that i think you shouldve taken them ) the harder drugs last less time in your system

but you never know your company may put you on probation with random drug tests ( much more frequently) and possibly a last written warning or something ... ( not that that is good either but it would be better than losing everything)

i would deff recommend the drug counselling but speak to your company and see if they recognise this and who they recognise to do the counselling as someone in oh's job went through similar and went for counselling but his company refuse to recognise the counselling that he is going for

good luck op i wish you all the best and hope that it works out for the best for you

ali-t

elantan wrote: »

i would deff recommend the drug counselling but speak to your company and see if they recognise this and who they recognise to do the counselling as someone in oh's job went through similar and went for counselling but his company refuse to recognise the counselling that he is going for

I think drug counselling is the wrong route to go down as the OP has said this was a one off incident. What would drug counselling/support/advice gain? I would have thought that seeking counselling would indicate that there was a dependency issue NOT a one off toke of a joint!

I used to work in the drugs field and we would never have taken a referral from someone who just needed to prove a point to an employer or a potential employer. There was so much work to be undertaken with people who had drug dependency issues that the tarrif was set fairly high for providing interventions.

elantan

i know of people that do use the service just to prove a point to the employer ... i'm not saying it is right ( or wrong) i am just stating a fact ... if her company feels she isnt taking the situation seriously ( and they get to decide what they consider as serious ) then they might not be willing in anyway to discuss her keeping her role within the company ... if however they would be willing to accept her going for advice ( cause lets face it if its a one off it is just advice and support and possibly how to deal with any further situations should they arise ) and if it would help her keep her job and if she wants to then i dont see why that can do harm ... i'm not suggesting the op should go there with a fabricated story and claim to have an issue if she doesnt in fact have one ... i am suggesting that if she wishes to keep her job then she could look at counselling services

January20

scottishlass72 wrote: »

Is it really so difficult not to judge? I know what I did was wrong but do I really deserve to lose my whole career that I studied for years for? I was at a party, not at work when I did what I did. I didn't cause any safety issues. I smoked a very small part of a joint on a Friday night and it was 48 hours before I was back at work.

I won't judge you because I think we all make mistakes but I do think (please don't be offended I'm saying it with the best of intentions) you were incredibly stupid as you must have known all along about the risks of using drugs and the random testing? So why do it? That's what I find difficult to understand. Why risk your whole career for a quick smoke at a party? I'm no angel by the way, and although I would never do drugs of any kind, I do feel sorry for you.

Having said that, to respond to your original question, I think you are still in shock about what happened to you, you are mourning your career and your plans for the future and I would advise you to take a bit of time to decide on your next step. Moving to London with the boyfriend is, imho, a really bad idea since the relationship doesn't seem very strong.

You have a job now, you can survive financially, so take some time, lick your wounds, take some stock, and when you are a bit more settled emotionally then think about what to do.

cazziebo

Op- just want to say I really feel for you. it's a terrible penalty for a small transgression. I also think people are being unfairly judgemental. The odd joint at a party is far less harmful than binge drinking, or continual drinking yet these seem to be socially acceptable. Occupational drugs testing is so flawed. As some other posters have said, the hard drugs which are real problems are out the system so quickly, yet cannabis remains detectable for weeks. I know many large companies now do random drug testing for all staff, whether that's call centre, clerical, canteen workers. A spliff at a party a week ago is hardly a threat to someone's ability to handle a telephone call. If it's any consolation, many HR people I know abhor having to implement these policies and see the unfairness.

It sounds like you are happy where you are so I'd suggest trying to find a way to earn a living and not moving. Is is difficult to advise without knowing your field. Is freelance consultancy a possibility? Could you work away on fixed term contracts while you build up a bit of career history? (I know that would give you a dog sitting problem). Could you develop your current knowledge into a different field?

(FWIW, I don't take drugs, never have, mainly because I'm so anti smoking. I do however enjoy a glass of wine or three)

Whatever, I do hope this is a temporary blip that you get over soon..

Welshwoofs

scottishlass72 wrote: »

I'm asking if it's really seen so negatively because if I ever am going to get my career back I need to know how to explain what I did to potential future employers. Thank you for all the answers so far.

Honestly? In my line of work people openly discuss what recreational drugs they have used or do use (I'm in game development). I'd consider smoking a bit of a joint on a Friday night to be too trivial to even need a mention....but I guess it depends on your line of work.

If your current career is over, do I think you'll be penalised looking for other work on the strength of you smoking a joint? Well I'd say that it depends on the profession. What I can say is that in media/new media people really wouldn't bat an eyelid...you'd probably get sympathy for being fired for something so trivial to be honest.

Sorry to hear that you've had such a harsh penalty..and good luck.