This is bizarre. Maybe it’s just part of their routine? I mean, going next door and getting a lottery ticket is really no different than getting a cup of coffee, if we are really looking at the nitty gritty of “addiction”.
And why is this other person at the store every day? What draws them there so often that they can confidently say that this other person is problematic? Maybe they need to look inward.
If the reporter is someone who is generally trustworthy and level headed and gave some concerning details, I’d mentally file it away because they probably didn’t decide to say anything lightly. But if they are a general tattle tale I’d be more dismissive. Either way I wouldn’t bring it up to the ticket buyer.
No, it's outrageous and invasive. Going to someone's manager because you're "concerned" about something you observed outside the office is aappalling.
I have coworkers who like to gamble. They go to Atlantic City (not together), have a lottery pool when the pot is big AND get scratchers if they go out to lunch. And then scratch away at their desks LOL. It is no one's business!
What is the other employee doing at the convenience store - buying a snack? Does the lottery ticket person think they may have a junk food addiction because every time they go to buy scratch offs, Joe is in there buying a candy bar?
I wouldn't say anything but if you start to see performance problems or something new impacting their work I guess you could ask them if they are struggling with anything. I mean hopefully you would ask that anyway.
Post by nancybotwin on Mar 10, 2024 9:56:08 GMT -5
Thanks, all.
When I say I will file it away, I don’t mean to bring it back at the slightest hint. But the person who reported it is generally a trustworthy human and employee. And if I saw that the person they reported is not getting their work done, for example, I might look to see if they are spending too much time at the convenience store.
The employee that got reported has had some recent financial troubles (that I chalked up to some changes in their life, their partner wasn’t working but just got a job) - and maybe that’s all it is. But I generally have the kind of relationship with those I supervise that is open, people do come to me for support with various personal things; and if this person comes with concerns that could be related, it’s now filed away.
Post by purplepenguin7 on Mar 10, 2024 10:01:08 GMT -5
I would do absolutely nothing. Maybe it’s how I grew up but my family loves scratch off tickets. No one considers it a gambling addiction. Seems like a non-issue, wellness related or not.
Do you have an ESP at work? I think that's what it's called? We have access to free counseling and financial education/planning resources. Sending out a broad reminder about this could be helpful to both the reporter and reported employee. It's like you're signaling to the reporter that you've taken workplace appropriate action, and you've also provided a resource for anyone that might need assistance.
I often share out our "life resources" information when employees mention personal hardships, and it's a good general reminder anyway.
Post by RoxMonster on Mar 10, 2024 11:03:25 GMT -5
When my grandpa was alive, he’d buy scratch-off tickets for himself and my grandma to scratch off virtually every day. I really don’t see this as a big deal. I would do nothing with this info.
If the reporter is someone who is generally trustworthy and level headed and gave some concerning details, I’d mentally file it away because they probably didn’t decide to say anything lightly. But if they are a general tattle tale I’d be more dismissive. Either way I wouldn’t bring it up to the ticket buyer.
No, it's outrageous and invasive. Going to someone's manager because you're "concerned" about something you observed outside the office is aappalling.
I have coworkers who like to gamble. They go to Atlantic City (not together), have a lottery pool when the pot is big AND get scratchers if they go out to lunch. And then scratch away at their desks LOL. It is no one's business!
I do think there are times when bringing up activities outside of the office is appropriate—my father had a coworker who would stop at a liquor store on the way to work, drink in the parking lot then continue to work. This went on for a long time. He seemed fine on the job (sales) and no one had any idea but the person who saw him every day finally said something when he offered to drive another coworker to a different store. Obviously a different scenario but it wasn’t a problem at work until it was. He never actually drank at work—it was a jewelry store so everyone was searched coming and going.
My manager had to threaten calling the police over some violent scratch off buyers more than once when I worked retail in college. People behave in strange ways.
Would I, personally, bring up seeing anything to my employer? Probably not! But I can see how saying something could come from genuine concern and/or not knowing what to do if you saw something truly alarming. Sometimes people actually want to help other people or get advice. That doesn’t mean someone is a tattletale or a trouble maker.
Again, I wouldn’t say anything to anyone if I was OP but she knows what this person said now and is unlikely to completely forget it anytime soon. She can’t go back in time and have this coworker not tell her. Maybe the person does have a problem and OP will be ready to act quickly if they need help. Or nothing will come of it and it’s a total nonissue and she will eventually forget.
When I say I will file it away, I don’t mean to bring it back at the slightest hint. But the person who reported it is generally a trustworthy human and employee. And if I saw that the person they reported is not getting their work done, for example, I might look to see if they are spending too much time at the convenience store.
The employee that got reported has had some recent financial troubles (that I chalked up to some changes in their life, their partner wasn’t working but just got a job) - and maybe that’s all it is. But I generally have the kind of relationship with those I supervise that is open, people do come to me for support with various personal things; and if this person comes with concerns that could be related, it’s now filed away.
I think you need to file away for the tattle teller too, because she’s clearly at the convenience store just as much as the scratch off employee.
There is a lot of information missing here and unless you know the information, then I wouldn't do anything. How did this other person define "concerning behavior?" They see the Scratcher at the store 5x a day buying thousands of dollars worth of lotto tickets? They have seen a shift in behaviors, attitude or mood over the past month?
Also, you don't have to answer, but in some jobs, financial issues--including loss, credit issues and gambling issues can make people security risks--so it's not like it's a nothing burger, but I'd probably assess if it's something to be concerned about at your specific job and better define what the concern actually is.
If the person is missing work or not getting all of their work done, it's a problem for the workplace or if there is something about "no gambling" during business hours that is a workplace rule. If it's their break time, they can do what they want with their break.
I bet a bunch of folks on this board buy scratchers.
Post by pizzaandtulips on Mar 10, 2024 22:08:29 GMT -5
Am I correct that you work in a school? Was this person actually concerned about a gambling problem, or is the scratch off ticket buyer a teacher who is being policed for activities that the community might clutch their pearls at seeing a teacher participating in? It reminds me a of teachers who get in trouble for drinking, posting pics online in swimsuits, etc.
If I'm misremembering the school part, disregard all of this
Am I correct that you work in a school? Was this person actually concerned about a gambling problem, or is the scratch off ticket buyer a teacher who is being policed for activities that the community might clutch their pearls at seeing a teacher participating in? It reminds me a of teachers who get in trouble for drinking, posting pics online in swimsuits, etc.
If I'm misremembering the school part, disregard all of this
You’re right that I work in a school. I really don’t think it had to do with behavior that a community might clutch their pearls at – I think the person reporting it had a genuine concern, and I think the board is right that it’s not my job at this point to say anything. If I see the person spiraling with addictive behavior, I might say something in order to be helpful and out of care, but there’s nothing impacting their professional work at this time.
Ok douche, go ahead and call it mud. My husband DID have halitosis. We addressed it after I talked to you girls on here and guess what? Years later, no problem. Mofongo, you're a cunt. Eat shit. ~anonnamus
Post by underwaterrhymes on Mar 11, 2024 5:24:55 GMT -5
Now that I know you work in a school, I have this vision of them using the kids to scratch off tickets during a math lesson. Now, THAT would be worth a discussion. 😂😂😂
Do you have an ESP at work? I think that's what it's called? We have access to free counseling and financial education/planning resources. Sending out a broad reminder about this could be helpful to both the reporter and reported employee. It's like you're signaling to the reporter that you've taken workplace appropriate action, and you've also provided a resource for anyone that might need assistance.
I often share out our "life resources" information when employees mention personal hardships, and it's a good general reminder anyway.
EAP. And yes, it’s a good idea to share reminders of these resources with your team, even if not prompted by a specific concern. Unless the employee in question is exhibiting clearly problematic behavior, like spending an unreasonable amount of work time buying scratchers, you should let it go.
ETA: you should also keep an ear out for gossip about this. Hopefully the person who came to you did so out of genuine concern and won’t repeat it to anyone else. But if they do you need to be prepared to intervene.