Question by sueblue47: Someone called my work and accused me of being a drug addict,theif, and stealing narcotics from work!?
I have been an LPN for 22 years. I have been at this-job since February of 2009. The social worker took the call wrote everything down that the caller had said then she signed it and wrote the time. I was off work for 3 days and returned on a tuesday. I was starting my med pass when I was called into the office and was shown the letter. I was taken to the E,R for a drug test and alcohol test and was told not to return to work until they call me. They called me on Friday to return to work on Saturday which I did. Problem is management continues to find mistakes andI am the first one they look at. If some one had done the mistake its O well. My employment never called the police or sheriff department to report the incident. I have no idea whats in my file they seem to be to busy to show me. Is their anything I can do? Or do I just go to work and be on pins and needles? I have a clean work history. I told the company my husband was wanted by the US Marshalls for violation of parole. He is a white collar criminal.
Best answer:
Answer by Mindy
No, there isn’t much you can do. If you realy want to keep your job, then you will want to be a good worker who doesn’t cause any problems for them, or to avoid difficulty or hostility, you could just quit.
If you know who the person is who called, then you could sue them for slander, but it sounds like you don’t know who this person is, in which case you won’t be getting anywhere if you go to court. And since your work place didn’t do anything besides questions you or look on you suspiciously, then you can try suing them, but I guarantee you will not win. There is no reason to brign this to court and and no reason to get an attorney, and I am telling you right now that if you do, you will not win, guaranteed, because so far, there is nothing that your employers did wrong. I just thought I should add this based on another users answer.)
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
Some one really tryed to jerk you around. Not much you can do to change a bad rep but let time go by it’ll blow over
You need to consult an attorney. You have a legal right to confront your accuser and you don’t know who your accuser is. You may have to sue your employer for labor violation laws. And your husband isn’t on trial in this case – you are. You have to defend yourself if you are innocent. If you are – good luck.
This seems a little odd too – as it is 2009 and you apparently just started working there don’t they have cameras on the narcotics at all times? That could be the proof you need – or the proof they need.
Many of your concerns involve uncertainty about your status.
However, you know if you were responsible for the errors and also the truth regarding the allegation of drug use.
I will assume that you are not responsible for either for now.
Have you asked your supervisor about your concerns? You might schedule an appointment with this person to discuss your concerns and this issue. Make a list of questions: Such as what your status is. How your work product is perceived by management. How you might improve performance. If you are unfairly being blamed for all errors within your work group.
During the discussion, you should plainly speak the truth about the drug allegation — if you are in fact not guilty. If guilty, you might not want to have this meeting.
I assume that you passed the drug test or you would have been sent packing immediately?
If I am correct, the caller has been discredited to some degree. You might point out this fact — if you did pass the test and were not found to have been manipulating via dilution or other tricks.
Do you know if this was an anonymous caller? Do they know this caller?
Your husband’s issue should be irrelevant except that it does lead a superior to paint you with the same brush. This might seem unfair, but think how you might see that situation if the roles were reversed. Your choices in partners does reflect upon you and that fact is inescapable. It is easier to just go with the pattern rather than deal with each issue individually.
Pins and needles? No — establish good habits and make good choices. Keep all documentation and try to work smart and hard. Be a good employee so that you will give no reason for them to lay issues at your feet. Be above reproach because you are under the microscope for now. Rather than permitting stress to impair your performance, make it a challenge to be all the sharper and perfect your skills. Work your way out of this.
Sue: It is a shame people can be so vicious. However, some are and you need to understand there isn’t always a solution to this type of hatefulness.
First off, there would be no reason to contact a local constabulary with respect to the charges against you as there is no evidence of you committing any crimes. This is not a police matter….yet.
Every employee is entitled to view their employee file. Request in writing a time to review your personnel file. Do so VERY soon. The reason being is, you want to see what it says NOW and what it may look like in a few months. Don’t appear angry or hostile. You want to appear concerned. Let your management know that you are simply upset that someone would be so vicious. Since you’ve been there since Feb., you should have had at least one review. Being in a medical field and handling meds, I would be shocked if you hadn’t had a 3 month review or at the very least a 6 month review. Politely ask for a copy of the review as well as the letter with the alleged accusations. Under FOIA, you are entitled to copies of those.
In the meantime, document, document, document EVERYTHING you do. Make sure all your T’s are crossed and your I’s dotted. If you cannot make copies of your daily logs/rounds, then at least keep your own log of ALL duties. This is really important….because if you are ever called on the carpet…you some documentation of dates and times that you can refer to. Personal logs are also a good source IF you ever have to go to court. They are not evidence per se, but most judges do take into consideration the contents of these logs/diaries/notes.
By no means should you feel like you have to walk around on pins and needles. For the time being though, you do want to cover thy butt and not give anyone one damn excuse to pounce on you. Sad to say, you are under a microscope for now.
Now then, I realize the accussations are pretty serious considering you do work with meds. However, an annonymous phone call is not exactly a reliable source of evidence. Know this, the social worker taking the report and signing it doesn’t mean there isn’t an avenue to track the caller. ALL calls can be traced via computer chips within the phone company’s system. Since the SW noted the time, that call can be traced should it become necessary. So, if it were I, I would call the phone company and ask how you can get that record. They will tell you can’t because it is not your phone line. However, you will have the info needed to take to the SW that took the report. Request that she or the hospital security make a request in writing to the phone company for all calls coming in at that particular moment. YES, they CAN do that. If they refuse, at least you have made them aware you are not taking these accusations lightly. Whomever placed the call is tampering with your professional and personal life. It is also illegal to use any electronic device to harrass a person.
FYI: Not knowing what state you are, I don’t know if your state is an “at will state” which means, your employer can fire you for anything they want…right down to not liking your hair style though they won’t cite that. So for now, you are at their mercy so to speak. A shadow has been cast over your person, you need to work to remove it. Do your job as you always have. Don’t act suspicious. Don’t act overly nervous. Discreetly let your co-workers know you have taken the allegations seriously and are looking into it outside the hospital. Know this…the hospital does not want a scandal so tread lightly when making comments.
While all the dust is settling at your place of employment, think really hard about who would gain from doing this. Husband on the lam perhaps? A jealous fellow employee? Someone you ticked off? Somewhere there IS a clue/hint. Don’t tell people what you are thinking or doing. Go about your daily routine as normal as possible.
And…..don’t be surprised if you are required to take another random drug test. If they request one….say “sure, no prob”. You have nothing to hide. This might be SOP for a few months. IF ANY undo harrassment starts (which was never there before), it is time to at the very least, consult with an attorney. Know what your rights and what you remedies are.
I wish you all the best Sue. I will say a prayer for you…….:)
PS: Sorry this is so long.
retire o resign