Super Bummed :(

brylecc1989 · 06-22-11, 05:10 PM

Although none of you know me personally, I need to vent about this. Thanks in advance for reading my whining. Please reserve any judgemental comments unless presented in a nice constructive way! Well i have been working at my company for about 10 months now, have maintained perfect attendance, been complimented multiple times on my work ethic and ability to learn the job by management, and at 22 years old run a whole department by myself. I work in a cardboard box factory running the ink department. Well yesterday, i got sprang with a random drugtest, and since i partake in the occasional weed, i will be fired at the end of the week. This is extremely frustrating. I feel that by failing that test, all i have done is prove that one can do a good job at work while smoking a little pot in their free time. For all they konw I could have smoke 30-45 days ago since this is how long it takes for THC to leave the system. I feel that society in general treats drug users, especially not "hard" ones, way too harshly. Whereas if i wanted to sit and drink alcohol everyday i'd be able to keep my job. Now i know that smoking is a choice i made, but it just really discourages me that i will lose my job for the choices i make in my free time when i've worked really hard to do a great job for my company. Im sure some of you will feel for me, and some will think i got what i deserved, and i respect all your opinions but i just couldnt hold this in anymore. The real kicker is that i don't live with my parents, and have bills rent and the like to pay. Im pretty much freaking out and dont know wat to do! Maybe ill just take all my snakes to a cabin in the woods, burn my ss card, and do up life nature style! Just kidding, but im running out of options. Thanks for reading. Just had to get it out.

stephanbakir · 06-22-11, 05:13 PM

There is a difference between a drug user, and a drug abuser. Nuf said.

brylecc1989 · 06-22-11, 05:16 PM

Exactly. If i messed up, and drove a forklift into a wall or somethin, yeah test and fire me. But to just randomly drugtest and eventually fire an above average employee? What do they gain by doing that?

stephanbakir · 06-22-11, 05:24 PM

Public image. By setting an example of you they hope to avoid future problems.

brylecc1989 · 06-22-11, 05:30 PM

Yeah i can see that. Is it a grass is greener thing in the states or are Canada's marijuana laws way less severe?

Jay · 06-22-11, 05:32 PM

That bites man. IMO I think you should have been charged with a fine, not fired. It's not like you were smoking while on company time. Write them a letter summing up what you just posted (minus living off nature w/ your snakes) They may think you're crazy. Try it what do you have to loose?

stephanbakir · 06-22-11, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brylecc1989

Yeah i can see that. Is it a grass is greener thing in the states or are Canada's marijuana laws way less severe?

I might be a bit biased living in Quebec lol. It's not uncommon for a cop to catch you with drugs, confiscate them and not even take your name down here... Lots of the cops are crooked in my area.

I personally only did drugs for about 2 weeks, saw a friend OD and stopped completely, but I still have tons of friends that do it in my presence and that doesn't bother me at all!

vendettaseve · 06-22-11, 05:42 PM

You could always tell them you attended a Native American cultural ceremony and are a simple victim of Second Hand exposure. lol.

Serious note tho. When your in a management position, you should know better than to be doing that kind of stuff.. even if it is on your own time. I have nothing against the responsible use of Drugs/alcohol. Especially ones with such mild effects as weed, but these things do happen. Don't like it? Move to Holland.

And yes, Canadian Pot laws are far far less strict than in the US, Cops in the US act like your waving a gun around or selling Meth to children when they catch you with a bit of pot... In Canada, the cop usualy just takes it and doesn't even get your info.

brylecc1989 · 06-22-11, 05:54 PM

Sorry bout your friend stephan. What was he using if you don't mind me asking? Its impossible to OD on bud. And to vendetta, i completely understand where you are coming from. But im not a manager, i am the only one in my department. I am responsible for no one elses well being or job duties. Not discounting your opinion, just making the facts clear. Jay-Rather than write a letter, i will wait until i am called into the office and verbally state my case and opinions. I feel that a letter is too easily pushed aside. I will explain it to them just like i did to all of you. But like stephan said, its an image thing. What is also frustrating is i just passed a drug test less than a year ago when i gotthe job, so why test again? Oh well, maybe i can make this into an opportunity. It would be wonderful to be able to interact with animals in some way everyday and have it be called work. Ill most liekly try to find a job like that. It also bites that here in good old New York, I will be denied unemployment because of the reason I was terminated. Im F***ed!

totheend · 06-22-11, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brylecc1989

Although none of you know me personally, I need to vent about this. Thanks in advance for reading my whining. Please reserve any judgemental comments unless presented in a nice constructive way! Well i have been working at my company for about 10 months now, have maintained perfect attendance, been complimented multiple times on my work ethic and ability to learn the job by management, and at 22 years old run a whole department by myself. I work in a cardboard box factory running the ink department. Well yesterday, i got sprang with a random drugtest, and since i partake in the occasional weed, i will be fired at the end of the week. This is extremely frustrating. I feel that by failing that test, all i have done is prove that one can do a good job at work while smoking a little pot in their free time. For all they konw I could have smoke 30-45 days ago since this is how long it takes for THC to leave the system. I feel that society in general treats drug users, especially not "hard" ones, way too harshly. Whereas if i wanted to sit and drink alcohol everyday i'd be able to keep my job. Now i know that smoking is a choice i made, but it just really discourages me that i will lose my job for the choices i make in my free time when i've worked really hard to do a great job for my company. Im sure some of you will feel for me, and some will think i got what i deserved, and i respect all your opinions but i just couldnt hold this in anymore. The real kicker is that i don't live with my parents, and have bills rent and the like to pay. Im pretty much freaking out and dont know wat to do! Maybe ill just take all my snakes to a cabin in the woods, burn my ss card, and do up life nature style! Just kidding, but im running out of options. Thanks for reading. Just had to get it out.

What does that matter? You have worked there for 10 months....so obviously you worked there 35-40 days ago.

If it is your company's policy to fire those who do not pass the drug test and you knew that then really?......

I don't know of any employers in Canada that test for drugs except for transport operators.

TeaNinja · 06-22-11, 06:22 PM

no offense, but it's kind of to be expected. i smoke a decent amount, but i get jobs that don't drug test. i know that if a random drug test comes up i will get fired and you probably should have taken that into account. it sucks that it was random and uncalled for but people get tested all the time for no reason in jobs.

i'm a habitual user and i've never been repremended in my life for smoking SPECIFICALLY because i understand tests happen and i seek out jobs that don't.

that being said, i'm sorry and that sucks.

totheend · 06-22-11, 06:26 PM

Is it common for employers in the US to do drug tests on their employees??

shaunyboy · 06-22-11, 06:27 PM

not having a go but its 30 days for thc to leave your system mate

i have no problems with weed smokers

when was the last time someone got stoned and beat their wife or acted anti socially.well apart from eating all the chocolate in the house maybe

an old friend of mine has ms and the only thing that gives him relief and an appetite is weed

re your work
i have to agree since those tests cannot tell how long ago you partook in a puff then your job should not be on the line

that said you must have known the company performed random drug tests when you started there

can i ask one thing that being if you were impaired at your work would it put you or any others at physical risk ?

if not i cannot see a problem

put it this way i would rather have a weed smoking workmate or next door nieghbour than someone who drinks

sorry to hear of your predicament mate

cheers shaun

shaunyboy · 06-22-11, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by totheend

Is it common for employers in the US to do drug tests on their employees??

don't know about the usa but its fairly common over here in the uk

cheers shaun

brylecc1989 · 06-22-11, 06:41 PM

In the US it is extremely common, going as far as even walmarts and supermarkets drug test. Which leads me to my response to those that said it should have been expected. I am yet to find a decent job that doesnt test. I would much rather have the peace of mind of a job that doesnt, but they are few and far between if yuo want to make a decent living. Shaun- Even if i smoked on the job, which i DO NOT, i put no one at risk. Like is said in my original post, i knew some of you would react this way, and i dont feel that you are "wrong." The company has a right to do whatever they want. It just grinds my gears becasue i do not deserve to be terminated, pot smoker or not. I can be real, i smoke just about everyday, but not before work. And it does not effect my ability to do my job duties. Again, no ones opinion is wrong, i think it is societies stigma against marijuana in general that is wrong. Marijuana was illegalized because hemp farmed by mexicans was threatening the white man ran lumber business in the 30s. Thus began the slabnder campaign of weed makes black men rape white woman, reefer madness etc. I feel like im being prosecuted solely because some rich dead white men could get richer almost 100 years ago. Urghh DAM THE MAN. I appreciate all your inputs and sympathies.