A valued employee's drug use: 59.5--4

[philish]

I will soon be joining a friend who owns a small restaurant business and we've been discussing an on-going, but recently escalating situation with her "star" employee. The customers love him and he's very good at making them happy, but he has a terrible reputation with his fellow employees (some of whom have quit in part because of his attitude). We've suspected, but now know that he's using drugs (which explains much of his behavior).

As much as he is adored by the clientel, he cannot be running off our other staff and he's becoming increasingly more erratic towards the staff. On the other hand, even the city mayor comes in because she loves his work. And he has a set of skills that would be difficult to replace in the short term.

What's the best action for X to take about Y's behavior? 59.5-4.
Lay low and get more information? Let him implode upon himself?

 

[willowfox]

What's the best action for X to take about Y's behavior? 59.5-4.

X has to certainly do something, she really needs to find a solution that would allow him not only to continue working there but to be more cooperative with the other staff as well. She needs to find something, an idea, that will unite him and the others to work together for the common good, so she will have to really take control of the situation. She cannot leave him alone to burn out, she has to find a way to get to back down to ground level.

Hex 4 says that she currently does not know how to handle the situation, so you are all going to have to get your heads together to find that solution.

 

[philish]

Thank you!

After reading your response I do see how isolating this young man will only injure him. But because neither of us knows exactly what steps to take right now, I'll ask the Yi about how to approach him, etc.

Again, thank you for your timely response. You'll definitely see additional readings on this situation soon.

 

[philish]

Hi all. An update. This is short, as I have nothing else to report.

Owner approached the morning staff about an opportunity to reduce her insurance costs by having the employees drug tested, starting with any new hires. She asked for responses. The only staff member to complain was the one suspected of doing drugs, while the rest thought it was a good deal. (We've got a lot of granola greenies at the shop.) Of the rest, we suspect only one or two might not pass a test.

On to the next step!