Employee served with disciplinary charges alleging he was intoxicated at work
Human Resources Administration v Grimes, OATH Index #1985/12
OATH Administrative Law Judge Kevin F. Casey sustained charges that alleged that an employee was intoxicated at work.
Coworkers noticed the individual looked disheveled and was laughing and crying to himself at his desk, in marked contrast to his usual demeanor. "911" was called and the employee was taken to a hospital by the first responders.
Noting that the Emergency Medical Technician's records indicated that the first responders had made a presumptive diagnosis that employee was intoxicated based on his unsteady gait, slurred speech, and the odor of alcohol on his breath, Judge Casey found the individual’s claims to the contrary to be vague and unsupported.
The ALJ recommended that the appointing authority impose a penalty of a 20-day suspension without pay
The decision is posted on the Internet at:
http://archive.citylaw.org/oath/12_Cases/12-1985.pdf