Suspicious after urine test request from company OH unit

So basically this is about when I came back to work after a taking 2½ days sick time due to back pain immediately after a disagreement with a supervisor.

Upon showing up to work I discovered that I'd to remain certified until I'd visited their chief medical officer (CMO). This in theory meant that I'd be getting paid for 40 days to stay at home, but I knew that was too good to be true. So I told a member of management that I'd be okay to go back to work, saying there was no need for the CMO visit. I ended up going back to work the next day, but they still insisted on the CMO visit. I was never actually told the reason why I was being sent there, and I forgot to asked due to all the distraction from defending myself over initial incident with supervisor. It might have made some bit of sense to send me initially, as they were saying that they couldn't let me work. I figured them wanting to still send me to their doc was a scare tactic. My union rep didn’t seem to think to much of it and I guess I felt assured by that.

Five weeks later at the CMO's, I explained how I'd pain in my back and that I took two days off as a result of it, and I talked through the symptoms I had. She acted surprised that I was even sent, and after 5-10 minutes she said "that's all fine, I'll just get a urine sample before you go". I told her that I'd rather not. I had done one before upon first getting employed by the company, but there wasn't anything personal to it that time. She basically said that "no result" is viewed as a positive result. Now I don't think she was saying this to manipulate me but I think maybe that I didn't like the idea of someone acting as if I'm a potential junkie just because I find it intrusive. She asked sympatethically if I thought something might show up. I said that that's not why. She tried to reassure me by saying that the nurse will talk you through the procedure, and that "everyone who comes here gives one". She again asked if I suspected that something might show up. I revealed that there was "an emotional sting" in this for me considering the circumstances. She showed that she understood what I meant. As I still acted hesitant, she began to realise that it was never explained to me by management why I was sent, and that this was an error on their part. She did say that management won't see the details of the medical report, and that they'll just see whether it was successfully completed or not. Interestingly, I think all this talk gave me the impression that it was between me and her! She said that no one was forcing me to do anything and said she'd give me some time to think about it.

I decided to go ahead with it, but I don’t think I would have been told why it was needed if I hadn’t asked. This OH unit is 3 hours away from where I'm based so it might have seemed like a trip in vain otherwise. This doctor then went to speak to the nurse beforehand, and I was then brought by the nurse to another area for the urine test. Before giving it I was asked to empty my pockets which I wasn't expecting... that certainly didn't happen during my employment screening visit. I did not like being asked to empty my pockets. I asked why and she said "you're giving a urine sample". As I was about to put the phone and wallet down on the table she said no one's going to take them, which I found very offensive. Obviously I didn't expect anyone to take the items. I wish I'd said no at that point. So the nurse didn't talk me through the procedure! If she had, she'd have explained about the emptying of my pockets when we sat down beforehand. What really hurts me is the thought of the doctor telling the nurse to "make sure this guy" empties his pockets (as an exception) because of my expressed hesitancy. When I’d given a urine sample during employment screening, I don’t recall being asked to empty my pockets.

I have been questioning whether this was meant as a message to me from management, vicariously through the CMO office. Also, the fact that my pay was withheld without a valid reason until after the CMO visit, made this hurt all the more. Was it their way of saying "we're not really sure if you were really sick that time, but you're also going to wonder why you were really made give a urine sample that time". It is illegal in my country to withhold pay, so I'm wondering if the the pay wasn't withheld, then maybe I wouldn't have felt coerced. It would mean so much more to me to have declined the test and have that victory even if it meant disciplinary action. But if it were malicious I'm sure it was only a bluff. I have received a copy of the report sent from management to the CMO, and discovered that one of the reasons for the referral was “drug screening positive”! That’s really hurt as I think they’re implying my behaviour was questionable. Now as the doctor said, “everybody” does the drug screening. and have also considering ringing their office in order to get that doctor on the phone, to give my feedback on the day. As it’s affected me so much I’m considering legal action. I’m based in Ireland.

Please share your thoughts?

 

I'm not sure that giving you my thoughts would be any more use than an arseful of boiled snow.

Apart from:
You should speak to your rep, because that's what they're there for, and if you aren't satisfied with that, speak to someone more senior in your union.
Failing that, seek out an employment lawyer. There are many who give a free first consultation.

 

Thanks,

It's funny. I wouldn't actually be comfortable speaking with my rep about this. And if he didn't care it would just hurt me more.

 

This whole thing completely puzzles.me, largely by lack of information. You raised three points, firstly a falling out with a supervisor, then time off with back pain and finally a urine test. If at all, these could be connected in several different ways.

Firstly lets deal with the back pain and whether it is an ongoing problem that is affecting your work. Assuming that physical work or hobbies have not damaged the lubrication between your vertebrae causing swelling, ONE possibility is renal infection or disease, the latter, allows albumin and protein into your urine. Glucose in urine can also be an early indication of type 2 diabetes.

This is a typical first stage dip test list. The second (more advanced) uses Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

• pH value (the acidity of urine. Normal values range from about 5 to 7, depending on your diet. A pH under 5 is too acidic, and a pH over 7 is not acidic enough.)
• Protein (not usually found in urine)
• Sugar (glucose, not usually found in urine)
• Nitrite (not usually found in urine)
• Ketone (a metabolic product, not usually found in urine)
• Bilirubin (breakdown product of hemoglobin, not usually found in urine)
• Urobilinogen (breakdown product of bilirubin, not usually found in urine)
• Red blood cells (erythrocytes, not usually found in urine)
• White blood cells (leukocytes, not usually found in urine)

In addition, bacteria found in urine needs to be cultured.

Bladder and prostate cancer can also be indicated. The next step in the later is a PSA blood test (prostate specific anagram)

BACK TO YOU.
Does your employer feel that you are in denial of a medical condition, sufficiently enough to present a third party sample.
If you want to get away with that one, just make sure that the sample does not show that you are pregnant.

 

That's quite interesting.

But in this case, it was done as a drug screening test. Simple as that. I even said to the doc that the request was unrelated to my condition and she basically agreed.

More details about the initial incident and the job I work:

I work as a city bus driver in a fairly toxic semi-state company. One day I'd taken over a bus with a bad seat. It wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't for the fact that I'd a long first half before the break... 5½ hours. But add to that the lay-over periods (at the termini) were taken away due to running late in traffic. My back began to get very stiff.

After driving for 4 hours without standing up, I requested to turn around before getting to the terminus in order to put the bus back on time, and to get a chance to stand up. They're supposed to allow a driver a chance to stand up in such situations, which he did, but he got narky about it. It's a fairly common thing to do if the bus is empty at that point. But there was a misunderstanding in doing so and the inspector (in the control centre) thought I was taking the break at the terminus. A few minutes later he radioed into the bus in a panic that I hadn't made the end point, and said that he was going to report me. I was about to defend myself but he ended the call on my first few words. This seemed really uncalled for and after previous abuse from supervisors all year, it seemed like the final straw for me.

By the time I got in for my break, after handing over the bus, I realised my back was still in pain and decided to go home. There have been other times when I worked headaches and pain on the job, but this time I decided not to. I called the control centre on my phone and told that same fella that the conditions weren't good enough and that I was going home and hung up before he could say anything! I didn't care about how it looked.

I'd heard a few other drivers bragging about how they go sick when either bullied or when the company breeches its own rules. And having faced abusive behaviour from supervisors before and having had it get ignored upon being reported, I began to let this go to my head. I went sick for two days; the first I needed, and the second I'd to take as I couldn't get a doctor's visit the first day. Technically, it's easy for anyone to fake being sick and get a doctor's note, and there's a culture of doing this in my company, but the way I did it wasn't smart. I should have been polite on the phone when I was saying that I was leaving work that day. I did feel throughout this, that they might have some sort of other trick up their sleeve.

 

Europe

 

Before we go any further, can I ask what city or town you are driving in and the company you are working for.

My brother inlaw drove the same route from Cork (Republic of Ireland), to the Galtee mountains, (where the bacon comes from), for 52 years.
Even today, wherever we go, people stop to say hello to "Mike the bus". His final vehicle was a state of the art tour style coach, with reclining seats. full AC and mood lighting along with automatic blinds. He was one of three drivers, they all lived in the same town and changed shifts from home. It was the way the city ran everything.
Their were 6 services on the route every day. He and his team ran 3 of them.

My point in mentioning this, is that when he visited us in London, he said that if he had worked on London busses, he would not have lasted 52 days.
He could not believe the way the companies treat their drivers. Or the way the passengers treat them either.

 

I live where there is no public transportation... or unions for that matter. Sometimes I wish my employer would whiz quiz me and others in the name of safety. Especially with automobiles and working around many moving parts. With the precious cargo whom place their lives in your care whether out of necessity to traverse to work and even holiday. People depend on you. Here in America much gets taken forgranted.
Pray your back gets better my friend.

 

It has. That's the least of my worries!

 

I have a commercial driver license, with mandatory drug tests every two years when my medical certification has to be renewed, and random un-announced tests here and there. The procedure has always been to empty my pockets. These tests, BTW, have always been at occupational health clinics and have been performed in multiple states (they’d pull me in while on the road to a nearby site). Whether you like it or not is one thing, but it’s certainly routine.

I have only had one workers’ comp claim when I broke a finger at work. I don’t recall if they took a urine sample or not, but it’s pretty standard procedure to do so.

Again, liking it is one thing, but I don’t think you were singled out or treated in a terribly different way from most anybody else.

 

Funnily, I work very close to where your friend drove.

 

So are you in county Cork, or were you thinking of my brother inlaws thoughts about London.
The city routes in Ireland are far less organised and often fairly hectic, particularly in Dublin. That was why Mike stuck with his run out to the villages, where it was up to the drivers to sort things out. He saw an inspector less than once a year.

 

But your friend never actually drove buses in London!

 

That is true. It is just his observations when he visits us in London. Particularly the disrespectful way that people treat the drivers in central London and blame them when the bus is delayed in traffic.
Where abouts in Ireland are you from, Jane is from Fermoy, where she has 9 brothers and 4 sisters, so we are one of Aer Lingus best customers. LOL
Our daughter has just moved to Wexford, so now it is destination Dublin airport.
As for me, being native to London, I love travelling up and down the west coast where Jane's grandparents used to live.