Long read but please do. Before i start, let me preface by saying i’m a vet tech so i deal with controlled substances. So i get how this would be a big deal if it was true. Yesterday my PM & lead doc pulled me into the office & said somebody smelt weed on me. Per corporate they ubered me to take a drug test & ubered me home (told me i wasn’t allowed to take my car). I kept asking wtf was going on because it came out of nowhere and they just kept saying it was a difficult situation and they couldn’t get into it, i should “just know”. They said there was some sketchy behaviors but wouldn’t elaborate. I told them i was going to fail the test bc i do smoke weed- when i was hired they told me they didn’t care & didn’t screen for it. The dr said he would work with HR but he couldn’t tell me how long it was gonna take or what the outcome would be so it would be in my best interest to look for other employment. They called me when i got home and said they were dropping it..Apparently a new tech heard me and some other techs joking about weed, I pulled my retainer case out of my bag and she assumed it was weed? I still don’t really know. But she went to the lead tech who then went to our PM. They said they’re going to drop it and forget about it. I’m still really upset and confused. It feels like theres something somebody isnt saying. Why would they just take her word for such a bold claim? And then just dropping it suddenly? They didn’t apologize to me for how humiliating and upsetting it all was. They acted like they did me a favor by dropping it..obviously I do appreciate doc going to bat for me to corporate, but what the fuck? I feel like it was completely handled the wrong way and like duh you guys should’ve dropped it! I didn’t do anything! They were literally ready to terminate me over something I didn’t even do. And they wouldn’t even tell me what was really going on at first. I’m sketched out. I’m only 20 and this is my first “big girl job” so I don’t know how to handle it or really how to feel. Right now i just feel attacked and embarrassed and I don’t even want to go back. In the meeting with the dr & PM i felt like they were accusing me of being high but wouldn’t pin point why he was accusing me of it. He kept saying he didn’t want to “open a can of worms” and kept asking me if something was going on. I’m still really confused..we’re all going to talk about it on Tuesday but i’m just astounded. They almost fired me for something i didn’t do (and wouldn’t even really give me an explanation!) with no proof other than a new girls word (it was her first week), not to mention it could’ve fucked up my chances of getting another tech job. I could really use some advice or even just perspective.
I also feel the need to note a few things-
1: I have a chronic illness so I will say I’ve taken an excessive amount of sick days but they have all been excused with doctors notes. I was open about my health issues from the jump. When they called me to tell me they’re dropping it they mentioned I was on thin ice due to my attendance so i’m wondering if they’re trying to push me out of the practice. This wouldn’t be the first time something shady like this has been done to employees at this clinic.
2: I have been smoking marijuana since i was in highschool- i’m smart about it. I would NEVER in my life bring it out of my house much less to WORK! I don’t smoke in my house or my car and i don’t smoke during the work week- EVER. I understand how big of a deal it would be if it was true, so i get why they took it seriously but they literally wouldn’t talk to me about it. They jumped down my throat and it was humiliating.
3: They checked the cameras and did say it looks like I pulled something out. Which was my retainer case. And i didn’t just take it out, i also took out my stethoscope and some body spray. Everything else aside, if i was doing some sketchy shit i KNOW there’s cameras! Why would I pull out a bag of marijuana at work but much less IN FRONT OF THE CAMERAS OF ALL PLACES??