I wouldn't mind one of my employees calling in hung-over once, it has happened in fact and I thanked him for his honesty. However, two-days in a row raises all sorts of flags and would cause me to worry about his or her overall maturity and dedication unless something major is happening in their life like death of a family member, divorce, etc.

Did someone die? Even then, I imagine that's a one day bender.

Aarontology: I'm sure your other employees love the fact that you're excusing her from doing her job, thus making them have to work harder because you're too much of a pussy to fire Ms. "Alcohol is more important than work"

Or maybe they'll learn you allow "I'm hungover" as an excuse to play hooky and start doing it themselves.

This is a good point. Give em an inch and they'll take a mile. You don't necessarily have to fire this employee, but there needs to be consequences of some kind.

I'd pull her into HR when she got back, document what the call-in reason was and encourage her to seek treatment -- starting with the EAP. If she refuses, our butt is covered for termination at the next incident.

Klippoklondike: This is a good point. Give em an inch and they'll take a mile. You don't necessarily have to fire this employee, but there needs to be consequences of some kind.

Yep. One day is fine. It happens.

Two days in a row? That's the beginning of a problem.

myschief: My last company we fired someone that was an alcoholic. It was because she used up all of her sick/vacation time and still called out sick. It was in NY, an at will state.

At-will does not trump federal law. Had she somehow established her alcoholism as a disability (no idea how such a thing would be done), she could have sued for a violation of ADA.

TrancePI: Also, some of you are being retarded.

Sounds like you need a drink.

TrancePI: CommieTaoist: I wouldn't mind one of my employees calling in hung-over once, it has happened in fact and I thanked him for his honesty. However, two-days in a row raises all sorts of flags and would cause me to worry about his or her overall maturity and dedication unless something major is happening in their life like death of a family member, divorce, etc.

Finished her last chemo session two weekends ago. Went out with friends to celebrate a little too hard.

Well in that case you could let it slide.

If she is taking her own personal time, it's no one's business what she's doing with that time anyway. The fact that she trusted you enough to share what was going on is not even relevant. If she gets her work done, who the f*ck cares what she does on her own time???

vernterv: R.A.Danny: babysealclubber: As long as they have personal/sick days, who cares?

Over in the third.

I agree with this. So, what if she went out for a special occasion and over did it? She's at least telling the truth, and a good functional alcoholic wouldn't have this issue. My guess is that it's a one off thing.

After a "explosive diarrhea" email a few years back, we want nothing more then "I'm not feeling good, I'm staying home". We actually went to an unlimited sick/personal day policy and we got rid of everyone taking the last week of the year off so as to not lose sick days. There is actually less absenteeism than before.

angrymacface: myschief: My last company we fired someone that was an alcoholic. It was because she used up all of her sick/vacation time and still called out sick. It was in NY, an at will state.

At-will does not trump federal law. Had she somehow established her alcoholism as a disability (no idea how such a thing would be done), she could have sued for a violation of ADA.

Agreed. She didn't claim anything, we didn't fight unemployment.

TrancePI: CommieTaoist: I wouldn't mind one of my employees calling in hung-over once, it has happened in fact and I thanked him for his honesty. However, two-days in a row raises all sorts of flags and would cause me to worry about his or her overall maturity and dedication unless something major is happening in their life like death of a family member, divorce, etc.

Finished her last chemo session two weekends ago. Went out with friends to celebrate a little too hard.

ah. yeah. i think that's celebration-worthy and if she's got the hours and nothing time-sensitive on her desk then, go for it.

Sensei: I'd pull her into HR when she got back, document what the call-in reason was and encourage her to seek treatment -- starting with the EAP. If she refuses, our butt is covered for termination at the next incident.

Yup. She's got two unexcused absences assuming you document them properly and now has put herself in reproach because you must now wonder if she's ever come and done the job while intoxicated. I wouldn't literally tell her to seek treatment but I would mention the company's zero-tolerance policy on coming to work affected by non-prescription substances and mention that there are different options available to employees such as EAP and open-door policies.
THEN your ass is covered for her inevitable termination.

Klippoklondike: Give em an inch and they'll take a mile.

It doesn't work like that.

TrancePI: CommieTaoist: I wouldn't mind one of my employees calling in hung-over once, it has happened in fact and I thanked him for his honesty. However, two-days in a row raises all sorts of flags and would cause me to worry about his or her overall maturity and dedication unless something major is happening in their life like death of a family member, divorce, etc.

Finished her last chemo session two weekends ago. Went out with friends to celebrate a little too hard.

Oh Jesus....seriously dude...I would give her a f*cking week of drunk days for that. Christ.

TrancePI: Also, some of you are being retarded. She's not getting away scott-free on this. I simply respect the fact that she is being honest and am not going to be as stiff as I normally would be had I found out otherwise after the fact.

A cool boss will respect the honesty. But yeah a verbal reprimand should do the trick. Give her a chance to rell her side of the story, as someone upthread mentioned she may have a touch of alcohol poisoning.

myschief: Agreed. She didn't claim anything, we didn't fight unemployment.

So being in an at-will state was irrelevant to your story, then.

The English Major: She's got two unexcused absences

No she does not. She called in using her sick days.

Perhaps a boss that is a decent human being would ask her in private if there is a problem and is there any way he/she can help. Just maybe that would help morale and loyalty, but go ahead and be a badass and train a noob.

TrancePI: Finished her last chemo session two weekends ago. Went out with friends to celebrate a little too hard.

Ah, valid extenuating circumstance in my book so long as it doesn't become a routine.

angrymacface: myschief: Agreed. She didn't claim anything, we didn't fight unemployment.

So being in an at-will state was irrelevant to your story, then.

No, I am saying you can fire people without reason in an at-will state. If they come back and prove that they were an alcoholic and that you knew about it you may have problems.

Just be glad she's not a Fark admin. If she showed up, all sorts of inane stuff would be greenlit.

Wait. In light of the new information...

Is this a two day hangover from celebrating? Or did she call in hungover then go out drinking again?

Because those would merit very different responses.

Dr_luckyz: I'd rather that than the "food poisoning" excuse, so weak.

Back in my fast-food days, my employer called me out on that claim over the phone (it was the first time I'd called in sick, too). So I just didn't bother to show up to that job ever again. F*ck 'em. Can't pay minimum wage and give sh*tty, inconsistent hours and expect to be a priority.

R.A.Danny: No she does not. She called in using her sick days.

Even if you have sick time to use, they are still technically absences.

The English Major: R.A.Danny: No she does not. She called in using her sick days.

Even if you have sick time to use, they are still technically absences.

They aren't unexcused though.

Raging Thespian: I'd hire her.

She clearly is awesome.

Considering that this was due to the chemotherapy celebration this is the no brainer of the exercise. As I said if you try to perhaps see why one does the behaviors that they do instead of merely being the person to dismiss and judge them you will see that things are not always the black and the white such as in Atlanta, GA or most major cities of the Southeast. Of course it is always the simpleton thing to do to simply dismiss someone because their behaviors such as their drinking or posting styles cause the annoyance to you. She just conquered something that has quite the emotional wrenching situations. I know this as someone who has once gone through the cancer treatment for nearly the whole year. Also as someone who is judged in the repeated fashion perhaps the boss of you should instead do the embracing of the situation. Yes maybe it is appropriate to talk to this individual but also take into the account that this individual is someone who has gone through a very rough situation and likely has not had the alcohol for some of the time and thus has done the overestimation of the ability to use it.

Also, don't hate the playa...

I'd be refreshing to have someone be that honest.

aquigley: Aarontology: Or did she call in hungover then go out drinking again?

I understood the headline to be this.

Yeah. Celebrating kicking cancer in the nuts gets a slide. But it definitely shouldn't be used as an excuse for a bender.

TrancePI: aquigley: Aarontology: Or did she call in hungover then go out drinking again?

I understood the headline to be this.

I'm kinda gathering that is the case as well, but I havent spoken to her yet. She's due in the office in about 2 hours.

As a bonus info: I donated a rather large chunk of change to help pay for her right-boob reconstruction. Totally irrelevant to this topic, but information none-the-less.

Yeah, I think it makes a difference if it's a 2-day hangover or 2 consecutive nights of drinking.

meow said the dog: Considering that this was due to the chemotherapy celebration this is the no brainer of the exercise. As I said if you try to perhaps see why one does the behaviors that they do instead of merely being the person to dismiss and judge them you will see that things are not always the black and the white such as in Atlanta, GA or most major cities of the Southeast. Of course it is always the simpleton thing to do to simply dismiss someone because their behaviors such as their drinking or posting styles cause the annoyance to you. She just conquered something that has quite the emotional wrenching situations. I know this as someone who has once gone through the cancer treatment for nearly the whole year. Also as someone who is judged in the repeated fashion perhaps the boss of you should instead do the embracing of the situation. Yes maybe it is appropriate to talk to this individual but also take into the account that this individual is someone who has gone through a very rough situation and likely has not had the alcohol for some of the time and thus has done the overestimation of the ability to use it.

Well said!

TrancePI: aquigley: Aarontology: Or did she call in hungover then go out drinking again?

I understood the headline to be this.

I'm kinda gathering that is the case as well, but I havent spoken to her yet. She's due in the office in about 2 hours.

As a bonus info: I donated a rather large chunk of change to help pay for her right-boob reconstruction. Totally irrelevant to this topic, but information none-the-less.

If this is chain of events is a one time deal, I'd go easy on her. She could have just lied and no one would have been the wiser.

Fire her? Hell, I'd buy her a drink!

Maybe she's trying to do the female version of Leaving Las Vegas...

Any employee who would straight up tell you she's recovering from a 2 day hangover and isn't working is either an idiot or is signalling that she wants help. It all depends on what kind of incompetant people your HR department hires. If she's doing a good job in general, earning the company money and doesn't need to be in office every day, let her off with a verbal warning but be stern and tell her next time you are getting HR involved. Offer help if she has problems with alcoholism.

If she's been doing a shiat job or being in the office is a requirement like for answering phones or being on sales calls, write her ass up and get HR involved. She'll probably repeat, if she does you'll have a better excuse to terminate.

I'm a fan of the three strikes rule for employees. Give them a verbal, write them up, then terminate. Everyone makes mistakes, but those who continue to make them are just doomed to repeat them.

TrancePI: Finished her last chemo session two weekends ago. Went out with friends to celebrate a little too hard.

Oh, well, sure, get us all ragey, then do the full reveal and make us all feel like scumbuckets for railing on a cancer survivor. You, sir, should be twirling your moustache by now.

Fire her ass and hire someone that will show up for work.