So much for me recognizing when someone is under the influence of anything other than alcohol.
A while back, I think I mentioned in a mini-rant or something that I was displeased with a work-friend who was so tired she seemed drunk. She was going to school and working two jobs, and I had heard she had sleep issues so when she would claim she was just so tired I believed her.
I ended up distancing myself from her at work (we weren’t close outside of work) because she was so frustrating to work with sometimes. She was making mistakes, having to be double-checked for anything math related, needed to be told things twice, and was sometimes just generally annoying. I would get short tempered with her because I got so frustrated trying to check her and still lead the team on busy Saturday nights.
At the end of the night, if we were leaving at the same time, she would offer me a ride home since we really don’t live that far from each other and I take the CTA. With other people, I’ve taken the offers without a second thought. With her, on nights she was like this, claiming sleep deprivation and acting like it, I said “no thank you.” I also declined on nights she seemed OK, just to keep it all the same.
Turned out, a few weeks after my frustration hit its peak, apparently our workplace did, too, and drug tested her on the spot. I heard this second hand, but she failed the test and was let go. I don’t know what she tested positive for, but I know she was on some prescription sleep meds at one point. She had a letter from a doctor (I heard second-hand) for the sleep meds, but I don’t know if it was the same class of drug she tested positive for at work. Not sure it would really matter if it still affected her cognitive abilities on the job, where accuracy and good judgement are paramount.
Proof it wasn’t all just a big misunderstanding or mistake on her part with timing doses? A trip to rehab in another state for three months.
Anyway, thought I’d splurt that out here. Anyone else have coworkers who were busted under the influence? Oh, yeah, I have another one to share if anyone wants to hear it. Much shorter story, but more spectacular ending.