Quote:What is considered abuse? Suppose a guy went out for the first time in a year drank 3 beers and got popped for dui...Is that abuse? Or a guy got hit with smoking a joint 2 years ago and then went to a bachelor party, drank a few drinks and got hit with a dui..Is that abuse? I can see when getting popped for dui or a drug charge is something that happens within a short span of time, but there is a HUGE difference between use and abuse...In a perfect world everyone would be responsible and do the designated driver thing, but the legal limit is so low it doesn't take much drinking to be over the legal limit....So who defines when someone abuses alcohol/drugs or who uses them responsibly...Granted illegal drugs is really not open to responsible use, but the point remains the same...What is the difference between use and abuse and who makes that determination?

 

I supposes getting popped for dui wouldn't be considered using alcohol responsibly, but still...when does it cross the line from use to abuse, and who makes that determination?

Your employer has the right to determine the difference between use and abuse. People agree with a code of conduct when they accept a job for a company. If they don't like the code of conduct, then they are free to seek employment somewhere else.

 

People and companies have a right to expect certain codes of conduct because an employee is a representative of who they work for not only in a perception sense but companies can be legally accountable for the actions of their employees.

 

If a companies code of conduct is considered too restrictive or not representative of society as a whole, then they risk losing top employment talent to their competitors and can find themselves in a serious disadvantage in a competitive business world.

 

But that's an employers choice. It is their company, it's their capital that they are putting at risk, it's their assets they are putting in the hands of employees. Some companies feel that a wholesome family oriented reputation and workforce that reflects that is more valuable to their bottom line than losing out on top talent.

 

As long as an employer doesn't discriminate based on race, sex, religion, national origin, physical disability or age they are free to hire based on whatever criteria they want and in some states like FL, free to fire based on whatever criteria they want.

 

Let's not forget, it's a free country for businesses too.

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