Like a relaxing joint? Have a job?

[Rave]

Sorry, it's only acceptable while times are good:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20...ace-redundancy

[TheAnimus]

My contract specificaly mentions drug tests.

Its against the law, people know that, its a risk you take if you use it.

[schmunk]

Do the crime, do the time.

I'd suggest that people should also be cutting back on their shoplifting and GBH...

[Behemoth]

I shudder to think how many people where I work would get the sack then, I'd say theres a good 10 or so people that mess with canabis.

[DeludedGuy]

I know at least 3 at my work.

[Brucelles]

I am a bit concerned that smoking cannabis is not a crime in the Netherlands, but someone who did so could be fired for it. I worked in Amsterdam for 2 weeks, if I had smoked a legal spliff there on my last day and been drug tested a week later I could have been fired without having committed any offence.

I see this as a gross breach of our civil rights, as well as being a pretty low ploy to get away without redundancy payments. Still, that's Britain nowadays.

My concern is that next they will start firing people for breaches of the IT security policy. Does yours say that you shouldn't use networking sites at work? What is Hexus, at least in part, if not that. I don't think I have ever signed an Information Security Policy that I couldn't be fired for breaking, and most of them have a lot of very loose text. e.g. this is from my current company's policy:

(the company) discourages the non-job related uses of the Internet system and reserves the right to review the log of all Internet sites visited by (the company) staff. However, if you occasionally go into non-job related web sites, you should understand that this must not affect your work productivity and must not, in any way, embarrass or expose (the company) to any liability. (the company) strongly discourages chat lines, games, downloading of large files that are not business related, conducting personal finance activities or other non-job related activities.
· While software is installed to prevent access to certain types of Internet sites, (the company) expressly forbids access to inappropriate Internet sites that are insulting, disruptive or offensive to other persons or are harmful or contrary to (the company)’s business interests. Examples of inappropriate sites include, but are not limited to:
· Sexually explicit or implicit
· Ethnic or racially biased
· Religiously biased
· Any site, which may be construed, to be offensive to any individual based on their sex, race, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, religious or political beliefs.
If (the company) discovers that you are misusing the Internet system, you will be subject to disciplinary action, including, but not limited to the termination of your employment.

It's not going to be hard to fire me if they want to. I do my banking on-line at work (because there's no other time while I am away on company business) and I contribute (loosely speaking) to Hexus.

I don't know why employers need to go for something as iffy as dope smoking when the IT security policy is a much bigger blunderbuss.

[CaseyV9]

It is not surprising employers are going to these lengths. I say this as this is nothing to how low the managers at my work stoop.

But they will not do drug tests. I guess this is because myself and only a handfull of people would be left. It does seem harsh though. When a lot of these people never come to work stoned and do a good job.

Although, things are supposed to be getting worse in this country before they get better. I wonder what they will do next. Breathalyzer tests? Could be bad if you went out drinking the night before

[Funkstar]

I am a bit concerned that smoking cannabis is not a crime in the Netherlands, but someone who did so could be fired for it. I worked in Amsterdam for 2 weeks, if I had smoked a legal spliff there on my last day and been drug tested a week later I could have been fired without having committed any offence.

While not a criminal offence, it is still against your employment contract. It's just like you IT example, while it is perfectly legal to use Facebook, you can't use it at work and could be sacked for doing so. The only difference in the two examples is that evidence of drug taking would probably be classed as Gross Misconduct, while using Facebook will get you a warning or a reprimand.

Other than that, I don't see any difference in the two when it comes to breaching your employment contract.

[Mblaster]

I don't know why employers need to go for something as iffy as dope smoking when the IT security policy is a much bigger blunderbuss.

Because they only want to fire a few people, not 80% of their workforce

[IBM]

Hahahaha - all those bad people who take drugs will surely get their comeuppance!!! Bad, Bad people.

Drugs are bad m'kay...

[Knoxville]

I'll tell you something honestly about drugs, honestly, and I know it's not a very popular idea, you don't hear it very often anymore, but it is the truth: I had a great time doing drugs. Sorry. Never murdered anyone, never robbed anyone, never raped anyone, never beat anyone, never lost a job, a car, a house, a wife or kids, laughed my ass off, and went about my day...

[Lee H]

I'll tell you something honestly about drugs, honestly, and I know it's not a very popular idea, you don't hear it very often anymore, but it is the truth: I had a great time doing drugs. Sorry. Never murdered anyone, never robbed anyone, never raped anyone, never beat anyone, never lost a job, a car, a house, a wife or kids, laughed my ass off, and went about my day...

R.I.P Bill Hicks

You know what... he does have a point though doesn't he lol

[mmh]

I'll tell you something honestly about drugs, honestly, and I know it's not a very popular idea, you don't hear it very often anymore, but it is the truth: I had a great time doing drugs. Sorry. Never murdered anyone, never robbed anyone, never raped anyone, never beat anyone, never lost a job, a car, a house, a wife or kids, laughed my ass off, and went about my day...

+1 from me...

[abaxas]

The problem with all drugs is either addiction or routine.

If you can break this cycle, there is no harm in a smoke once in a while. It's when it's every night or every weekend etc. Then you have a problem.

Enjoy your drugs, both legal and illegal. Just don't rely on them.

* I include all drugs in this, caffiene, alcohol etc.

[Brucelles]

While not a criminal offence, it is still against your employment contract. It's just like you IT example, while it is perfectly legal to use Facebook, you can't use it at work and could be sacked for doing so. The only difference in the two examples is that evidence of drug taking would probably be classed as Gross Misconduct, while using Facebook will get you a warning or a reprimand.

Other than that, I don't see any difference in the two when it comes to breaching your employment contract.

There's nothing specific in mine about drugs. Just bringing the company into disrepute and getting jailed or convicted of a "serious" crime. I really don't see why I should be punished for doing something legal in a country where the company sent me. Hell, in Tanzania, I was supposed to call people "******" in the bar or they were offended. When in Rome...

I am also with Knoxville here by the way. I don't smoke dope any longer, or do anything stronger than wine, but I tried many things while I was younger and they didn't hurt me or anyone near me. I once cut a lump off a kilo brick of Afghani black hash by the way.

[Mblaster]

The problem with all drugs is either addiction or routine.

If you can break this cycle, there is no harm in a smoke once in a while. It's when it's every night or every weekend etc. Then you have a problem.

Enjoy your drugs, both legal and illegal. Just don't rely on them.

* I include all drugs in this, caffiene, alcohol etc.

Cannabis is not chemically addictive like some other drugs. Although, just because you don't have a chemical dependancy on it (e.g. herion, nicotine), that doesn't mean people don't get addicted in the same way they might to alcohol, or gambling, but very few people do (think of how many alcoholics there are compared to people that drink).