So Who Takes a Breathalizer for Alcohol Every Day at Work?

[Zeldman]

I suspect he works at Greens Creek on Admiralty Island. I don't think they run crews to Kensington with boats, but I'm no expert.

I'm fairly sure Kensington boats in their employees from Juneau. Last summer I flew some miners in from Haines and Skagway to Juneau to catch the boat, and then a week later I returned them to their hometowns. I do remember them talking about how the had to stop drinking a day before going to work. It did not make sense to me then, but it does now. That might be the part of mining they did not like...

 

[Stewartb]

A layoff implies the job will be reinstated when business picks up and the laid off employee will be invited to return to work. In Alaska the wait period for unemployment benefits is longer with a layoff than termination. As an employer it seems I get challenged either way.

 

[PaulS]

A layoff implies the job will be reinstated when business picks up and the laid off employee will be invited to return to work. In Alaska the wait period for unemployment benefits is longer with a layoff than termination. As an employer it seems I get challenged either way.

So it is dependent on the state. I haven't been in it for a while, but in Mass. once for an employer I let an employee go for cause, my boss wanted me to go to the hearing, so I did and the employee prevailed. So since then I just didn't bother with firing for cause, I would just tell the employee they were being let go. Generally they knew why without explanation, occasionally they were so thick they had no clue even after multiple opportunities of being corrected and given a few chances to straighten up, those would get a little more interesting, but time and time again other employees would ask why didn't it happen sooner.

 

[Doggtyred]

You actually seem to be agreeing with my basic point, if I'm reading your post correctly. Yes I said the employer has a right to set the standards as they see fit. And yes I think it's a crappy deal, particularly if they are the only employer in town.

You appeared to have been lambasting me for the appearance of condoning drinking in the workplace. Maybe I misunderstood you. Going from "we live in a police state" to "Sac promotes alcoholism in the workplace" is, however, a huge leap.

I've made no such suppositions. But if you somehow feel I'm making those accusations, feel free to explore those feelings and where they might arise from.

Regarding this thread, An employer has a draconian, 100% sampling, zero-tolerance approach to detectable alcohol in the workforce. An employee who knew the risks, gambled and lost, and was terminated/ineligible for rehire when he should have called out sick (if thats even an option...I've worked more than a few blue collar construction jobs in the plants where miss 3 days and you get let go... period). A man has got to know his limitations.

The blue collar working class, particularly in the trades working for contractors, has often worked without job protections or benefits that many of us take for granted.

 

[overdrive148]

Example, you are required to chock a tracked D-9 dozer, like a dozer is going to move on its own

I have to chock everything everywhere on the flight line regardless of how many built in brakes there are. Tugs, golf carts, lav carts, potable water carts, gpus... Even airplanes!

 

[weilke]

I'm fairly sure Kensington boats in their employees from Juneau. Last summer I flew some miners in from Haines and Skagway to Juneau to catch the boat, and then a week later I returned them to their hometowns. I do remember them talking about how the had to stop drinking a day before going to work. It did not make sense to me then, but it does now. That might be the part of mining they did not like...

Kensington is a publicly traded company. One dead miner found to have alcohol in his system costs them millions in bad publicity. Laying off someone, even after 22 years, costs them next to nothing in comparison.