I've gone back and forth on wanting to post here. Mostly because I know it will more than likely reveal who I am. However, I think it's fair to allow some truth to be told.
I was a part of the training team in Janurary and was hired on about a week before the trip to GA. My DVP touted the unique environment and how it was very much a start up atmosphere. Now, I've worked in healthcare for about 5 years and my most recent job was a start up in the tech industry. So I'm familiar with the easy going and playful atmosphere that comes with these types of companies.
When I arrived at training on the first day I noticed a few coolers full of beer, liquor on the table in the main room we were raining in and was briefed by Rob about the infamous "wheel of pain". He said that you didn't have to drink, but you could participate by drinking shots of water or something non alcoholic. I was a bit taken aback, but around lunch time is when the al Phil started flowing. I was just hired on and watched my DVP taking shot after shot, but didn't know how to disclose to him that I've been a recovering alcoholic for 6 years...i
The drinking progressed through the day And created environment that I was getting extremely uncomfortable in. I mentioned to one of my new coworkers that I didn't drink and I think they noticed quickly as to why. I was becoming very agitated and uncomfortable. To the point that I called my sponsor and showed up late to dinner to go to a local meeting.
The next morning was a new start and I made a direct effort to voice this to my DVP before we jumped on the bus to the office, but he was late and didnt show. He was obviously hung over. Finally I mustwred up the courage to tell him that I was in recovery. He seemed receptive, but within the next few minutes Rob addressed the group and reemphisizes that nobody was forced to drink and didn't have to participate. Needless to say, I was now crawling in my skin.
I get that people drink and people like to have a good time. I'm ok with being on environments where people drink, but I never thought that I'd have to tell my boss that I was in recovery in order to protect myself in the workplace. Ever. The way this was addressed was not only unprofessional, but nobody should have to feel guilty or signed out for being being in an environment like that.
Obviously, I chose to move on from Castle. I didn't feel it was the best environment for me. Seeing my boss vomiting in front of the restaurant we were walking in to and watching him be so inebriated that he couldn't talk or stand was a horrible sign. His half heated apology to me the nextornong as he then took more shots was all the answer I meeded.
I apologize for having to put this out here, but I feel it's important for Castle to understand that the "culture" they promoted severely risked my sobriety. We are in the business of helping people like me and to be in an environment that promoted the opposite is disturbing. I know I'm not the only person who feels this way and hope that others feel empowered to speak up as well.
I was a part of the training team in Janurary and was hired on about a week before the trip to GA. My DVP touted the unique environment and how it was very much a start up atmosphere. Now, I've worked in healthcare for about 5 years and my most recent job was a start up in the tech industry. So I'm familiar with the easy going and playful atmosphere that comes with these types of companies.
When I arrived at training on the first day I noticed a few coolers full of beer, liquor on the table in the main room we were raining in and was briefed by Rob about the infamous "wheel of pain". He said that you didn't have to drink, but you could participate by drinking shots of water or something non alcoholic. I was a bit taken aback, but around lunch time is when the al Phil started flowing. I was just hired on and watched my DVP taking shot after shot, but didn't know how to disclose to him that I've been a recovering alcoholic for 6 years...i
The drinking progressed through the day And created environment that I was getting extremely uncomfortable in. I mentioned to one of my new coworkers that I didn't drink and I think they noticed quickly as to why. I was becoming very agitated and uncomfortable. To the point that I called my sponsor and showed up late to dinner to go to a local meeting.
The next morning was a new start and I made a direct effort to voice this to my DVP before we jumped on the bus to the office, but he was late and didnt show. He was obviously hung over. Finally I mustwred up the courage to tell him that I was in recovery. He seemed receptive, but within the next few minutes Rob addressed the group and reemphisizes that nobody was forced to drink and didn't have to participate. Needless to say, I was now crawling in my skin.
I get that people drink and people like to have a good time. I'm ok with being on environments where people drink, but I never thought that I'd have to tell my boss that I was in recovery in order to protect myself in the workplace. Ever. The way this was addressed was not only unprofessional, but nobody should have to feel guilty or signed out for being being in an environment like that.
Obviously, I chose to move on from Castle. I didn't feel it was the best environment for me. Seeing my boss vomiting in front of the restaurant we were walking in to and watching him be so inebriated that he couldn't talk or stand was a horrible sign. His half heated apology to me the nextornong as he then took more shots was all the answer I meeded.
I apologize for having to put this out here, but I feel it's important for Castle to understand that the "culture" they promoted severely risked my sobriety. We are in the business of helping people like me and to be in an environment that promoted the opposite is disturbing. I know I'm not the only person who feels this way and hope that others feel empowered to speak up as well.