Concern about an employee

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I am the manager of a convenience store/gas station that is part of a national chain. Bess (not her real name) has been my assistant since I transferred here 4 years ago. She has been with the company 8 years and until recently has proven herself to be reliable, ethical, and hard working. However, her attitude and emotional state has been going steadily downhill over the past 6 months or so. I think crystal meth is involved. She is showing all the signs and has that look.

Bess is married to a lowlife, scum sucking, abusive ass I’ll call Gus. Over the four years that I’ve known her, there have been a number of occasions that Bess has been beat. Every time, I’ve encouraged her to leave. One time she actually did but went back to him about 3 or 4 months later.

Yesterday, Bess didn’t show up for her shift that began at 8:00 am. She had called me about 30 minutes prior to her shift starting and said that she was sick, but was still going to come in, just would be a little late. She then called me 30 minutes after she should have been there and said she was too sick and couldn’t make it. As far as I know, that’s the last time anyone has talked to her.

She was supposed to open the store this morning. When I talked to her yesterday, I voiced my concern about her opening, and she assured me she would be there. She was not. Gus called the District Manager and told him that Bess was “sick and stressed” and wouldn’t be in. This was after the store was already supposed to be open.

I am afraid that Gus went to far this time and hurt her really bad. Maybe even killed her. I’ve witnessed several times how out of control he can be with her. I’ve seen the black eyes and the bloody noses. Most of all, I’ve seen the blind rage Gus can have that makes me believe he’s capable of murder. I hope I’m wrong, but as time goes on and still NOBODY has talked to or seen Bess my suspicions keep rising.

Why would Gus call the DM? Why have I still not heard from Bess at all? Maybe she thinks I’m going to fire her (which I probably should) and is afraid to talk to me?

I hate that I’m thinking this, but maybe Gus is trying to cover his tracks by contacting the first place she should have been today and letting us know she wasn’t going to be here? Perhaps buying himself some time.

I called a friend of hers and told her I was concerned. Her friend went out to her house and found Gus there. Gus told her that Bess is in bed, but wouldn’t let her in the house. I called the sheriff to have them do a welfare check on her, but when they went there nobody was home.

I’m really worried. It’s almost 2 am and I can’t sleep I’m so worried. Maybe I’m making something out of nothing, but I don’t think so. I rarely get such a strong gut feeling about something. I just want to know that she’s ok.

2

You suspect she may be killed and you post on a bulletin board?

Call the police, for fucksake! It sounds like it’s domestic assault at the very least!

3

That’s a shitty situation all around. I’d be suspicious, too.

4

I did call the police (sheriff actually) and told them my concerns. They said they would do a welfare check on her. They called me back and said nobody was home. I don’t know what else to do at this time.

5

Keep calling and bugging the cops/sheriffs office. Something is wrong and you can feel it. So can I just by your post. If you need to, go over to her place with several friends and check out the situation. Preferably in the early hours when most folks would be asleep in bed. DO NOT leave until you see Bess.

Best wishes to Bess and you. It’s very kind of you to worry and be concerned. The world needs more folks like you!

Thanks and keep us all informed.

6

Did you tell the police you suspect domestic violence?

7

I don’t think that OP should put herself in danger to check on the welfare of an employee. This is a situation best left to the police. Keep calling them. Make a nuisance of yourself, OP.

8

This is bad advise, imo. Do not put yourself in danger from Gus yourself. If she has met foul play, the above actions won’t bring her back. Let the LEOs do their job.

Here’s hoping she’s OK.

9

Thank you for actually calling the police. A lot of people wouldn’t.

Like others have mentioned - keep calling the cops, explain why you are so concerned, and maybe even go down to the police station.

I hope “Bess” is ok; keep us posted.

10

Definitely. Thank you, Two Wheels.

11

Update: It looks like I got all worked up and worried for nothing. She’s fine. At least physically.

She didn’t show for her 8 am shift this morning, so that sent me into full panic mode. I called the sheriff’s office again this morning. They went by the house but again found nobody home. It appears that all they did was knock because she actually was home.

Another employee of the store drove out to her house and broke in to find her in bed. She is physically fine but obviously very high on something. I have no idea where Gus is.

Obviously I have to fire her and it breaks my heart.

12

Why do you have to fire her?

13

Jeez, good work by the sheriff… not. I would call them back and let them know she was there when they “checked”.

Well, thanks again for caring about someone, and also for telling us how it all turned out.

14

So, absent any concrete evidence of wrong doing, a deputy should have broken into a private home? That would go over well…

15

Job abandonment. Most companies have an extremely low tolerance for “no show, no call”. Where I currently work, 2 days of not showing up and not calling would be cause for immediate dismissal. As long as you call in at the earliest reasonable opportunity it’s considered an unplanned absence. We’ll cut some slack there, spiff happens. No call at all is generally not excusable.

16

Not to mention the drug use that’s affecting her ability to do the job (or even show up).

17

Just seems like a well-being check would involve trying a bit harder. If you think someone might be lying in there hurt and unable to come to the door or answer the phone, then what can you do?

18

Would depend on how much information the police were given. Just someone who’s not showing up for work for a day or two, not worth more than a few loud knocks on the door. If somebody says that they’re planning to kill themselves, and then disappear, you’ll probably see the emergency responders breaking in a door.

19

What if the person is not capable of calling in because of a acute severe illness? And/or a mental illness that has nothing to do with drugs/choice? Is it cool/expected to fire someone for being severely sick?

20

Speculative. There are plenty of illnesses that cause people to “look high.”