Coworker Issue- LONG VENT

[FlyingDumbo]

I have a coworker who is bat poop crazy (donutgate Sue for those who remember that thread). Mood swings, erratic behaviour, shows up late and calls in sick a lot. I have posted about her before, it is obvious she has some sort of mental illness that is not getting treated and her behavior has been going downhill for the last year or so. I must also mention that we work in a medical office and she functions as a receptionist and medical assistant, so her behavior or lack of judgment can actually harm a patient.

This past week she came in one day for work and basically refused to do her job all day. She was very agitated first thing in the morning, and it got worse all day. She was screaming at people, fighting with coworkers, and actually put a patient in the middle of one of the fights. She went into the waiting room where patients were waiting and cussed out another employee loudly. I reported her behavior to the office manager (useless) and also to one of the DR of the practice.

A meeting was called between she & I and the office manager to discuss this incident. Sue showed up slurring her speech. She told the office manager that she "blacked out" the other day due to a change in her psych meds and she doesn't remember anything that happened and she apologized profusely. I think that is bs, but it appeared as though she may have been intoxicated at the meeting. The Office Manager who is on the turnip truck still (didnt fall off yesterday still riding along) even noticed and asked her what was wrong. She blamed it on prescription ativan. I am not buying it.

Anyway- bottom line is she was given just a warning and told if she messes up again she will get fired. After the meeting she told me I better hope I do not run into her out of work or her friends will kick my behind. She also mentioned that for being a rat, I would be stabbed if I were in prison. I really don't think she would ever harm anyone and I am twice her size, but I do think she was drunk. Office Manager was told about these threats (not by me, by another employee who witnessed the conversation) No action was taken.

I think she should be forced to get medical clearance to work. If you black out for a whole day, you are a danger to the patients. Would you want this girl drawing your blood or giving you an injection? Can she be trusted not to harm people? I am so fed up.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I didn't think receptionists and medical assistants could give injections.

She could be bipolar (or have another type of disorder) and in fact in the midst of a med adjustment. Maybe her superiors are aware of things you aren't.

If she is erratic, she should not be at work. Maybe that's why she calls in sick a lot.

I have a coworker who is bat poop crazy (donutgate Sue for those who remember that thread). Mood swings, erratic behaviour, shows up late and calls in sick a lot. I have posted about her before, it is obvious she has some sort of mental illness that is not getting treated and her behavior has been going downhill for the last year or so. I must also mention that we work in a medical office and she functions as a receptionist and medical assistant, so her behavior or lack of judgment can actually harm a patient.

This past week she came in one day for work and basically refused to do her job all day. She was very agitated first thing in the morning, and it got worse all day. She was screaming at people, fighting with coworkers, and actually put a patient in the middle of one of the fights. She went into the waiting room where patients were waiting and cussed out another employee loudly. I reported her behavior to the office manager (useless) and also to one of the DR of the practice.

A meeting was called between she & I and the office manager to discuss this incident. Sue showed up slurring her speech. She told the office manager that she "blacked out" the other day due to a change in her psych meds and she doesn't remember anything that happened and she apologized profusely. I think that is bs, but it appeared as though she may have been intoxicated at the meeting. The Office Manager who is on the turnip truck still (didnt fall off yesterday still riding along) even noticed and asked her what was wrong. She blamed it on prescription ativan. I am not buying it.

Anyway- bottom line is she was given just a warning and told if she messes up again she will get fired. After the meeting she told me I better hope I do not run into her out of work or her friends will kick my behind. She also mentioned that for being a rat, I would be stabbed if I were in prison. I really don't think she would ever harm anyone and I am twice her size, but I do think she was drunk. Office Manager was told about these threats (not by me, by another employee who witnessed the conversation) No action was taken.

I think she should be forced to get medical clearance to work. If you black out for a whole day, you are a danger to the patients. Would you want this girl drawing your blood or giving you an injection? Can she be trusted not to harm people? I am so fed up.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

In this state Medical Assistants can give injections. And we have some in the office that are wonderful. I think they work under the license of the Dr or RN? I am in another department. I am just so surprised that anyone that would use blackout as an excuse and it would fly.

 

[EMom]

Sticky Finger Sue should have been fired for threatening you. No one should have to work under those conditions. Sue has been a nut for a while and now she is a threatening nut. Time for the office manager to grow a pair and do her job.

 

[surfergirl602]

I would be notifying someone higher up since your superiors have failed to manage the situation. She's now threatened your life/welfare, and if they will not take that seriously, its time to find someone that will.

i would also be reporting those that have failed to do nothing about the situation as well.

 

[hambirg]

Wow! First I am sorry you are having to go though this.

And yes, I think "blacking out" should disqualify her for her job. I worked as a para-transit driver for awhile, and these types of things are not taken lightly. Holy cow! If she has clearance to inject people and has black outs. . .sorry. . .you can't work here anymore! We weren't even allowed to take allergy or pain meds unless they were cleared through work. And this brings up another issue. If they have reason to believe she was under the influence, isn't your job a mandatory random testing site? I know with driving ADA we were subject to random drug testing. . .and if anything suspicious happened it was actually a mandate that we be tested within a certain amount of time.

Can you talk with an HR person? Do you have one? Or is it just the office manager that you talk about? If I were you, I would be sure that the MD in your office is fully aware. After all, it is really their *** on the line here. You would probably get more results talking with them. The truth is anybody can be fired from their job for just about any reason. But if this employee caused harm to a patient or another employee, than the employer would be liable. I would make that point clear to the MD. "Look, she threatened me and I don't feel safe at work. What are you going to do about it?"

 

[rie'smom]

Will Sue have to hurt someone and have the medical clinic sued before they take action?
If I remember correctly, one of the doctor's wives oversees Sue. Her husband and his partners will be none too happy if they're dragged into court.

 

[*JoGo*]

You need to make a complaint about her threatening you. I don't know how these things work, I'm sure there's some sort of paperwork, right? To keep track of complaints? You even have a witness.

If nothing is done, you need to go above the office manager.
Ultimately, it appears the office manager is not doing her job or covering for the coworker... and HER boss needs to know before someone gets hurt or sued.

Good luck.

 

[agnes!]

I think everyone who has witnessed Sue...
*slurring her speech and appearing to be in an altered state
*threatening co-workers
*having verbal altercations with patients
*having verbal altercations with co-workers
*showing up late
*not doing her job
...needs to have a sit-down with every doctor in the practice, not the Office Manager, not just one Doctor, but every single Doctor. And by everyone I would include the people who work there and any patients that Sue has gone after. The staff needs to make clear that this atmosphere is infringing on their rights and that a hostile work environment is being created and being allowed to fester. The patients need to make clear that they will not tolerate the level of rudeness this person engenders and they are in the process of looking elsewhere for medical care.

Frankly, if it were me, and yes even in this economy before any meetings I would be making plans to work elsewhere. The doctors are opening themselves and their entire staff up to HUGE legal liabilities if they allow this person to continue working there. Just because she has issues doesn't mean she has the right to continue to inject people with medications. Who knows if she'll inject the right drugs? Who knows if she'll inject in the right place? Who knows if she'll care about injecting painlessly? It's only a matter of time before she'll have another "blackout"... in her present position she could easily do something that could have life-altering consequences for someone.

By the way, if she did 'black-out', how was Miss Blackout able to make it home that day if she was in such an altered state?

agnes!

 

[NMAmy]

The whole issue with the blackout from medication has been handled. However, at that meeting, you say she was told that if she messed up again, she'd be fired.

She should have been fired when, immediately after the meeting, she threatened you in front of witnesses. If they're going to discipline her, they need to follow through. You should not have to work in an environment where you're being threatened.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Stop posting this on the Dis and file a police report. Do you think we can help you? The police can. After you file the report with the police, take a copy to your boss. Demand that they take action.

Also, why are you still working for these loons? They obviously do not care about you. This isn't about the other employee. The people running that office are not worth your time. Leave.

ETA - This is as hostile as a work environment can get. You can sue them if you have witnesses to the threat if they do nothing.

 

[johnsontrio]

It's pretty obvious that the office managers and the physicians you work with are not going to do anything about your coworkers behavior. More pressure from you will not force them to do anything other than label you as the troublemaker. I think this is a clear case of your values and ethics clashing with the "corporate culture" that exists in your workplace. I would concentrate my efforts on finding a job with people that function in a manner that I can respect. The inmates are running the asylum where you currently work but the powers that be are content with that. You are not, and you need to move on to a job where the concern is for the safety of the patients and "crazy" behavior on the part of employees is not tolerated. You are not going to change them and you will be much happier in an environment where the management reflects your values. Calling the police or filing complaints about obvious problems that they are willing to ignore will only ostracize you. Good luck!

 

[wdwmom2]

I didn't think receptionists and medical assistants could give injections.

I work in Maryland, and giving injections is a large portion of my job as an assistant. Anything from vaccines, rocephin, decadron, and depo. We occasionally do allergy injections, but most of our patients go to our local allergist.

I would not let this woman touch me with a 10 foot pole!!!! At my office, she would have been gone a long time ago!

Sorry she is giving you such a rough time. Seems like you are looking out for your office's best interest and no one is listening. So sad.

 

[Jennasis]

In this state Medical Assistants can give injections. And we have some in the office that are wonderful. I think they work under the license of the Dr or RN? I am in another department. I am just so surprised that anyone that would use blackout as an excuse and it would fly.

My ex used the "blackout excuse" to explain why he would be out until 2am some nights refusing to answer my phone calls and never telling me where he was.

I divorced him for it (and many other reasons).

Start looking actively for a new job. In the meantime, do as Bama suggested and file a police report. When your car gets keyed or your house vandalized, or God forbid you get attacked you have the report of her threat documented and the police can go after her.

Is it possible to have all of your fellow employees present a united front on this and go to the OM and the docs and say FIRE SUE OR WE ALL WALK?

 

[Ciao Mickey]

My ex used the "blackout excuse" to explain why he would be out until 2am some nights refusing to answer my phone calls and never telling me where he was.

I divorced him for it (and many other reasons).

Start looking actively for a new job. In the meantime, do as Bama suggested and file a police report. When your car gets keyed or your house vandalized, or God forbid you get attacked you have the report of her threat documented and the police can go after her.

Is it possible to have all of your fellow employees present a united front on this and go to the OM and the docs and say FIRE SUE OR WE ALL WALK?

I agree with this advice.

I would go to the police and file a report immediately.

Start a paper trail.

Always put all comments and complaints in e-mails.

When you send your emails to the office manager always copy the doctors on them so later on they can't claim ignorance of what is going on in the office with this nut.

Please take her threats seriously.

Good luck and watch your back.

 

[Jennasis]

OOh! One other idea is to document her behavior in video. Any interaction you have with her, simply turn on your cell phone camera and shoot away. Or buy a small pocket size voice recorder and turn it on in your pocket. My sister's DH had to go this route with his lunatic ex who was belligerent, violent etc. The vids came in very handy in court.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Stop posting this on the Dis and file a police report. Do you think we can help you? The police can. After you file the report with the police, take a copy to your boss. Demand that they take action.

Also, why are you still working for these loons? They obviously do not care about you. This isn't about the other employee. The people running that office are not worth your time. Leave.

ETA - This is as hostile as a work environment can get. You can sue them if you have witnesses to the threat if they do nothing.

I agree with this post. My first thought was file a police report. Those were serious threats. She is unstable. You don't know with certainty what she will or won't do. But you do know she is nuts.

The above post has a lot of sage advice. I hope you heed his/her advice.

 

[walden]

I agree with this advice.

I would go to the police and file a report immediately.

Start a paper trail.

Always put all comments and complaints in e-mails.

When you send your emails to the office manager always copy the doctors on them so later on they can't claim ignorance of what is going on in the office with this nut.

Please take her threats seriously.

Good luck and watch your back.

Absolutely, all of the above and start looking for another job. This is not a tenable situation. She has threatened you personally and specifically (the stabbing comment is quite specific) so a police report is in order. Also, the office is risking huge liability if Sue messes up with a patient!

That said, as a matter of interest, are there more than 15 employees where you work? It seems Sue has self-identified as having a MH disability and claims her meds are to blame for her behaviors and "black outs." (Note Ativan + alcohol = memory loss in many cases.)

I can't help wondering whether the practice isn't completely misunderstanding ADA and reasonable accomodation. Reasonable accommodation doesn't mean that her issues can disrupt a working environment. Not only that, the ADA tends to side with employers (not employees) where front line staff are concerned.

Do they think that they can't fire her or discipline her for this behavior? Absolutely they can! The sensible thing to do would be to have her take a month off using FMLA or short-term disability to get her MH issues assessed and her meds in line. Then have her doctor sign off on her ability to return to the workplace and function reliably with it.*

It is certainly not for you to recommend, but your office really needs to get some legal and/or HR advice as to how to handle Sue.

* Just wanted to add: the ADA does not cover active addictions to alcohol/other substances or just plain bi*chiness.

 

[Swan4Me]

Anyway- bottom line is she was given just a warning and told if she messes up again she will get fired. After the meeting she told me I better hope I do not run into her out of work or her friends will kick my behind. She also mentioned that for being a rat, I would be stabbed if I were in prison. I really don't think she would ever harm anyone and I am twice her size, but I do think she was drunk. Office Manager was told about these threats (not by me, by another employee who witnessed the conversation) No action was taken.
I think she should be forced to get medical clearance to work. If you black out for a whole day, you are a danger to the patients. Would you want this girl drawing your blood or giving you an injection? Can she be trusted not to harm people? I am so fed up.

Hello! These are threats-I'd have another meeting to discuss the threats and tell them you are filing a police report if they do not do something about this nut

How can they keep an employee who fights in front of PATIENTS??

 

[OceanAnnie]

If serious threats against you isn't "messing up", then what kind of place are you working for? Sounds like your office managers/doctors (in the know) don't have a clue.

I'd definitely get that police report, post haste! And I'd be looking over my shoulder too.

She might try to harm you and claim she "blacked out" again.