I think my boss is addicted to perscription drugs

My boss, who's a shareholder/partner at my firm, has lots of medical problems. He's only 58 but he needs some sort of dental surgery plus his foot and his back need to be operated on but he puts it off by saying he "has too much work to do." So instead, he's on painkillers and has been for the 2 years I've worked for him. But today, he really scared me.

Whatever drug he was on had him white as a ghost and his eyes red as a beet. The bags under his eyes were hanging so bad, it looked like he hadn't slept in days. Also, his eyes were rolling all over the place and he was having trouble standing up without wobbling. He barely takes a bath and his fingernails are always dirty.

People in the firm were commenting on his behavior so I finally got up the courage to tell him he didn't look so good and he needs to go home. He just poo-poo'd it but asked me what his password to the system was. This is the same password he's used for the past 4 weeks! When his mentee associate came to talk to him and told him how bad he looked, he finally got the message and let the associate take him home.

Another time, he WAS home when a big client called him on his cell. Again, he was on painkillers and he sounded so bad, the client called our associate and asked her to go check on him. Why he thought he could talk to a client in that state was beyond me.

Twice I had to take him to or pick him up from the doctor's office because he couldn't drive afterwards. He's a bachelor with no living family and never had children.

Lord forgive me but I'm getting sick of this. He's a nice thoughtful generous man but I am sick of covering for him. And I'm sick to death of worrying about him too, if he'll overdose or something. I want to DO something, like ask the managing partner to talk to him or stage an intervention or just give up and look for another job.

What would you do in this situation?

I had that type of situation when I was 23 and working as a court reporter. I was working for a "judge" in workers' comp. The guy was manic depression, and had years before "attempted to blow his brains out." He eventually was forced to retire. He overdosed (intentionally) a few weeks later.

Your boss is not your problem. If you like your job and get paid well, then stay. Don't you all have a Board of Directors? If you do, he's their problem. If the guy is going to doctors, he is also their problem. If you have other managing partners, it's their problem. He's not your problem. Just keep doing your job.

Thanks, Mary. The first year, it wasn't my problem but I can't do that anymore. After some soul searching, I decided after two years of no raise or bonus (despite good reviews), I'm gonna move on.

After two years of no raise and no bonus, be pleasant, get looking for a job (use your cell phone number only); then give your two weeks notice when you get something better.

I also had a job after court reporting, I got paid $300 a week, (assistant secretary), the other secretaries were getting $450. After my one year, I got a $37.00 bonus and a $15.00 a week raise. I went and got another job.

Oh, I'm not really upset with "Bill". I think he became addicted because of the pain. I think he's an excellent lawyer (when he doesn't take the pills) and he's always given me great reviews; its just the firm is being stingy. I already submitted my resume to some headhunters. I know things are slow now so I'll be patient. Wish me luck!

Ya know, things like this should not be taken lightly. Not too long ago, I had a boss who ended up committing suicide. I thought something was wrong days before he was successful, and for the longest time I wished I had said something to his shareholders/partners. I know that there is advice here that "Your boss is not your problem.", but we are human beings first and workers second. This type of attitude saddens me. I would do anything to see my boss alive, well and happy today. His death had great affect on many of the people he left behind, including me. Not that you have to be responsible for saving him, but It never hurts to check in with the other partners, who in turn can check in with him. There are many programs for attorneys available today (sounds like he might be an attorney) to assist with issues such as these. Attorneys have high substance abuse and suicide rates. Good luck.

Thank you, Anony. Sounds like you understand where I'm coming from. Like I said, "not my problem" worked for about a year and now, I'm getting too emotionally invested and its scary for me. I have wrestled with this situation for quite a while but what kills me is how can the other shareholders NOT know that something is wrong? I want to go to the managing partner so bad but I feel Bill is just a big joke around the firm and they don't care. They joke about his bathing, his appearance, his alertness, etc. Plus, he was like this before I come to work for him and he's been there for at least 8 years. I DID say something to a paralegal once, about how he looked so tired and he should rest, not knowing about the drugs back then. Of course, it got back to him and he wasn't pissed about it; he seemed more concerned that he was treating me bad. But I don't understand why I have to be the one to say something is wrong.

On second thought, yes we do have an EAP for things like this. I think I will gently say something to him about it after I get a job. I don't want to tell him he's the reason I'm leaving but I would feel better if I spoke to him about possibly getting some help. In the meantime, I'll keep pushing to get the surgery, as I have done with him many times in the past. Thanks for your post!

Lynne in Decatur, Georgia said: On second thought, yes we do have an EAP for things like this. I think I will gently say something to him about it after I get a job. I don't want to tell him he's the reason I'm leaving but I would feel better if I spoke to him about possibly getting some help. In the meantime, I'll keep pushing to get the surgery, as I have done with him many times in the past. Thanks for your post!

Sorry I missed your reply until now. Yeah, I understand... my boss had strange things going on for years too and everyone ignored it, including me. Anyway, it's a hard call. Sounds like he already knew you were concerned and is in denial anyway. Maybe you are better off just moving on. My situation with my boss was really heartbreaking. He was a real nice man and I really liked him. Good luck

Hi, everyone! I thought I'd give y'all an update.

Well, I DID find another job! I saw in our daily legal newspaper that a firm had stolen away a whole section of attorneys from another firm. An equity partner I used to work with left our old firm to become a shareholder at the thief firm. I right away sent him my resume and then a secretary who defected over there called me a couple of days later so excited about an opening and rest is history.

I accepted the job on a Friday so my belly was in knots that weekend knowing I'd have to tell Bill I'm leaving that Monday. I had to take a sleeping pill Sunday night just to get some sleep.

But I never did talk to Bill about his problem. I didn't have the courage (but I was all too happy to give that HR a-hole my week notice). I just said I got a much better opportunity at the new firm. He was sad, we hugged and I got puppy-dog eyes from him for the rest of the week.

But wouldn't you know it, I have another sick attorney! He has Crohn's disease and is very private about it. He doesn't take painkillers but I've been warned about his explosive temper at what he preceives is incompetence. I've made some mistakes but he hasn't blown up at me YET.

But after he shared that he has the disease, I understood a little better why he would blow up like that. I'm not excusing that behavior but I bet its no fun living with pain. Thank goodness he has a wife and three little boys and SHE can tell him to take it easy/work from home or go to the hospital when he needs to.

All in all, I'm happy where I am now. I got an $8,500 increase (yes, I was woefully underpaid), my commute is shorter, and HOLY CRAP, I'm getting an honest-to-goodness bonus this year! WOOHOO!

To all those looking for a job, I wish you the best and good luck. Just keep your ears and eyes open and be NICE to your coworkers. You never know who can help you get your foot in the door to another great opportunity.