Boss drinking at work

[Anonymous]

I'm the second in command at a small, remote office of a large company. Our boss started drinking at work last Fall and it's progressing to where he is outright drunk. I told him months ago that we've noticed and that drinking at work makes the staff uncomfortable. Since then I think he thinks he's hiding it better but he isn't fooling anyone. I have been with the company a long time and have no real plans to leave. What do I do? There's a chance that the bosses above us know because he's expensing a lot of his alcohol as entertainment, which all gets reviewed by his boss.

[Anonymous]

Does he drive home? Missing work because he's in jail for a DUI would probably get someone's attention.

[Anonymous]

He takes public transit home.

[Anonymous]

Talk to his boss for sure

[Anonymous]

I would talk to his boss, but that is all you can do. It is up to his boss and the company to take action.

[Anonymous]

In short, at a big company, I would think there is some sort of ombudsman, office where you can report on this. He most likely won't be fired; they will treat it as a disease. Meanwhile, you should somehow reach out to Legal, the dept overseeing mental health, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In short, at a big company, I would think there is some sort of ombudsman, office where you can report on this. He most likely won't be fired; they will treat it as a disease. Meanwhile, you should somehow reach out to Legal, the dept overseeing mental health, etc.

We have anonymous ethics hotline or HR. Would ethics be appropriate? I like the idea of keeping it anonymous since I will still have to report to him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In short, at a big company, I would think there is some sort of ombudsman, office where you can report on this. He most likely won't be fired; they will treat it as a disease. Meanwhile, you should somehow reach out to Legal, the dept overseeing mental health, etc.

We have anonymous ethics hotline or HR. Would ethics be appropriate? I like the idea of keeping it anonymous since I will still have to report to him.

I wouldn't do ethics if you have choice of an HR department that deals with employee problems. If you have any stature at all within the organization (say a supervisor or manager) I also would not go anonymous. As a supervisor you would always have the legitimate business issue that the boss's behavior is affecting the work and morale of those you supervise. If you are simply an employee with no one reporting to you, I could see doing anonymous, although anonymous complaints are taken less seriously. Another alternative would be to have you and your co-workers together report to HR.

[Anonymous]

What's the culture of your organization like? Are problems confronted and dealt with or are they swept under the rug?

If the former, then I would write directly to your boss's boss; with a cc to HR. The latter -- either learn to deal, or look for a new job.