sensitive issue in the workplace

fluffy*giraffe*

good morning, not been on for a while but had lots of good advice in the past.

i work with a person who is an alcoholic, we first noticed it was affecting her work about 2 years ago.

it was a little like the "waterloo road" programme, same sort of setting and i was totally slated for reporting her. senior staff and the said person said i was victimising her.

she sorted herself out a bit and was ok in work for about 18 months..... it has all started again!

drinking before coming into work, drinking sometimes in work at lunchtime and i have reported her on lots of occasions but nothing seems to be done about it.

my question is can i refuse to work with her as she is my support a few days a week?????

i dont think the children are safe and she is a liability and i know the parents would be horrified if they knew.

thanks in advance

dandelionclock30

Raise it with the safeguarding person for you organization in a formal meeting with your union rep present.You have a right to voice your concerns without being accused of victimizing someone. Get someone to minute the meeting properly.

fluffy*giraffe*

thanks for the reply, safeguarding person is the headteacher and she doesn't seem to think there is much of a problem and she will get over it like last time,

this woman has been phoning people i work with and threatening them not to speak to me and saying i am her friend and nobody will ruin that! she is a grown woman for gods sake, all when she is drunk and knows nothing about it the next day, not just a work issue she is making my life difficult.

the strange thing is that everyone thinks she is wonderful and is best buddies with everyone which doesn't help when i say something

if she is just as bad when we go back after the hols i will try and do as you suggested but i think the head might refuse.

paulineb_2

You may need to raise an official grievance. Surely your employer has policies about not being drunk in the workplace. Im afraid you arent going to get anything done unless you do something formally and that may mean raising a grievance against your line manager for leaving you in an unsafe position because they havent taken your concerns seriously.

fluffy*giraffe*

i can probably handle all she throws at me it's the children, they are 4 and 5 year olds. swearing in front of them and falling about is not good, can't be to specific about what she has done on here but it's just a matter of time before something goes horribly wrong and i can't watch her and 30 kids at the same time let alone teach them anything!

my line manager reported her last week and the head just shrugged it off.

warehouse

fluffy*giraffe* wrote: »

i can probably handle all she throws at me it's the children, they are 4 and 5 year olds. swearing in front of them and falling about is not good, can't be to specific about what she has done on here but it's just a matter of time before something goes horribly wrong and i can't watch her and 30 kids at the same time let alone teach them anything!

my line manager reported her last week and the head just shrugged it off.

OP that is a pretty serious issue. Is there any way you can get a parent to "notice" what is going on?

Caroline_a

Most employer liability is null and void if a person is drunk. This means that by keeping this woman on the premises, your employer is I think technically breaking the law. Perhaps a letter stating your grievance and mentioning this point to the school governors might help?

Fluff15

The head teacher is just shrugging it off?! This is a very serious situation. Raise your concerns with the head again, and remind her what she is doing is illegal. If she fails to act, contact the schools councillors or even the police. She shouldn't be allowed around children.

See www. legislation . gov . uk /ukpga/Edw7/2/28/part/I

fluffy*giraffe*

i just wish there was a simple answer! there are people who work with her every day that i am sure don't know so getting a parent to notice may be difficult, i dont know any that well to just come out and say it lol.

i could write an anonymous letter to the governers i suppose but would they take it seriously???

HurdyGurdy

I think I'd be inclined to go to Ofsted, if the head is not taking your concerns seriously.

Or the local council - they must have school liaison people? Unless the school is an academy, in which case, if I understand it correctly, they don't fall under the LA any more?

But I think your first port of call has to be Ofsted.

Does this woman drive to/from school? If so, I would also be having a word with the local police.

Auntie-Dolly

How about the Chair of Governers?