A Sign Company Owner Contemplates Drug Testing His Employees

HIRAM DAVIS MCINTYRE, Jr. was having a double Scotch at a bar in the Emperor Trajan Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas when he heard that a number of his employees — along to attend the major Printing City Expo starting the next morning — had patronized a nearby marijuana dispensary.

“I don’t like it,” Davis said to Delbert “Cash” Money, his loyal second-in-command who had informed him. “No sir,” Davis reiterated. “Not one bit.”

At nearly 70, the second-generation owner of McIntyre Sign Co. in Mt. Pleasant, SC prided himself on helping to uphold the best traditions of both God and country in his corner of America. South Carolina is one of the dwindling number of states in which marijuana is still completely illegal, a point of both pride and worry.

“You’ve got to remember it’s legal here, Davis,” Cash — who was 64 — replied, seeing that the boss was clearly upset.

“Doesn’t make it right,” Davis said, looking up at one of the many screens showing sports. He quickly looked back at Cash.

“Did you say who all went?”

“I just heard it was a small group,” Cash answered. “And you don’t want to go there, Davis. It’s legal — like playing blackjack right over there.”

“I’d still like to know,” Davis said. “That stuff can affect your mind even doing it once.”

“Best to put it out of your mind,” Cash said, finally taking the seat next to Davis at the bar. He motioned to the bartender, who came right over and took his order.

“Put it on my tab,” Davis said to the bartender and Cash thanked him. They exchanged “Cheers” and each took a sip.

“You know, though, Cash,” Davis said after more thought. “It makes me wonder if any of that — how’d you call it? — ‘small group’ is smoking that weed back home… or at work.”

“What would give you pause to think that?” Cash asked.

“Don’t try to tell me it’s the first time for this lot,” Davis said, raising his voice a bit.

“You’re saying no one’s doing something in Vegas that they’re gonna leave in Vegas?” Cash replied with a smile. “Where did you gamble for the first time? Certainly not in Mr. Hiram’s town!” he exclaimed, referring to Davis’ father, the company founder and a deacon in his church.

“How’d he feel when you came out here for that first show in… when was that… in ’84, the year before I started, right?”

“None too pleased,” Davis said with a quiet laugh and a shake of his head. “Nope, none too pleased.” He finished his drink and ordered another for himself and Cash.

“Way I look at it is, this is like that,” Cash said.

“Maybe you’re right,” Davis answered. Cash smiled on the inside, happy for the way he’d talked the boss back in off the ledge.

Nevertheless, the following morning as the attending McIntyre Sign team assembled in the hotel lobby to catch the shuttle over to Printing City, Davis sized up his employees like he hadn’t sized people up since his first airline flight a month after 9/11.

Cash was the last employee to arrive, 10 minutes late. “Sorry, y’all,” he said. “Maybe one too many on the first night… rookie mistake.” Everyone laughed as Davis looked keenly throughout the group for hysterics or aberrant behavior.

“Should we get that next shuttle?” Cash said, reasserting his role, and the employees began filing toward the revolving door. “Feeling any better?” Cash asked Davis after sidling up next to him.

“Hmm? Oh, yeah,” Davis replied. And he was feeling better. He was making a mental note to look into drug testing after they all returned home.

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Bruce B.
Decatur, GA

I’ve had three memorable recollections over my sign career involving coworkers that were under the influence of marijuana and it affected their performance and firing.

One fellow was driving the company crane truck and while smoking the weed thought he saw a person standing in the road and ended up rolling the crane truck six times. He only had minor injuries (because he was pretty loose)… The truck did not do so well.

The next two fellows were placing a billboard and had stopped to do a joint on the project… The boss pulled up and caught them and they tried to hide it by jumping up and getting right back to work… They proceeded to ruin the crane and drop the billboard in the process.

The third memorable occurrence happened after work… But he was so high, they all were walking across a large log they had thrown on the bonfire and he fell in… Both hands were burned, hair singed and he was unable to work for months.

Cindy G.
Placerville, CA

I feel that if a business owner wants to do drug testing they have that right because they are the owner… and this is still America. Right?

If a person seems to be falling down at work there may be a reason… then a drug test might be the way to go. Mistakes are costly for everyone. If the company has a close relationship with employees then maybe a long talk with the boss is the only thing necessary to get back on track. If it continues then that employee has chosen to be a weak link and not dependable in the current work environment and may have to be let go to prevent costly mistakes.

The saying, “One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch” or set the reputation for quality back that usually takes years to build up.

Dan W.
Tucson, AZ

Drug testing? Davis, do you really want to open this can of worms? You’ve got a good crew. It’s hard to find good replacements. If people smoke pot in their spare time, you gonna fire ’em for it? Isn’t running the business hard enough as it is? This is not worth the trouble.

Rose W.
Columbia, SC

AHHH… and how many drinks did he have at the bar? And he is not worried about being impaired?”

Bobby J.
Joppa, MD

We have all wondered what new marijuana laws would look like. I believe in the don’t ask/don’t tell policy. What an employee does on their time is their business. I wish going to the dispensary on a business trip would have not been reported back. There is a gray area in that regard. You are there to represent your company. However, at work and on the job I have a zero tolerance policy for any type of drug. You have to because if something happens you are liable.

Michael C.
Gainesville, GA

My workmans comp does not allow it, it’s illegal in our state and against company policy. Everyone would go in for drug testing and I as company owner would be first in line. I do not even drink as a few drinks the night before crawling in a company truck could bode poorly if in an accident and blood was drawn because someone was injured.

Lisa H.
Mabelvale, AR

Will he also set up a breathalyzer, too? Alcohol, especially several double shots of Scotch, affects the body as well.

I would recommend implementing a drug test requirement only if the management is seeing repetitive behavior with employees that would indicate problems with their performance.

Just because a “small group” visited a dispensary does not confirm that this small group of employees partake in “smoking weed.” And if they do, on their own time and their off-hours curriculum doesn’t affect their work performance, then leave it alone. [Drug testing] will create a sense of lack of trust with his employees.

Again, a little hypocritical being concerned about smoking weed while chugging down hard liquor.

 

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