Disengage to Deescalate
The best and in this case best way to deescalate would be to disengage. Once you suspected he was driving drunk, you should have asked him to pull over and gotten out of the car. Then I would follow the rest of the recommendations in this order;
1.) Call your supervisor and explain that reason you got out of the car was concern for your safety. No employer will think bad of you for trying to be safe.
2.) Tell your supervisor you are going to call the HR department right after you get off the phone.
3.) Ask your supervisor how he would like you to proceed.
4.) File a complaint for your safety and ask them to contact the local police and have the driver checked for DUI.
5.)
6.) Follow up both calls with an e-mail sticking only to facts and not opinions or emotional rants. (Not that you would rant)
7.) Call your supervisor back explain what was discussed with HR and ask how he would like you to proceed.
8.) Document your supervisor's response with a confirmatory e-mail.
9.) Thank both your supervisor and HR for helping to keep you safe in such a distressful situation.
I have worked around alcoholics and even supervised a functional alcoholic. You will not win in either situation. The best way to prevent escalation is to disengage as soon as you safely and legally can.
The best and in this case best way to deescalate would be to disengage. Once you suspected he was driving drunk, you should have asked him to pull over and gotten out of the car. Then I would follow the rest of the recommendations in this order;
1.) Call your supervisor and explain that reason you got out of the car was concern for your safety. No employer will think bad of you for trying to be safe.
2.) Tell your supervisor you are going to call the HR department right after you get off the phone.
3.) Ask your supervisor how he would like you to proceed.
4.) File a complaint for your safety and ask them to contact the local police and have the driver checked for DUI.
5.)
6.) Follow up both calls with an e-mail sticking only to facts and not opinions or emotional rants. (Not that you would rant)
7.) Call your supervisor back explain what was discussed with HR and ask how he would like you to proceed.
8.) Document your supervisor's response with a confirmatory e-mail.
9.) Thank both your supervisor and HR for helping to keep you safe in such a distressful situation.
I have worked around alcoholics and even supervised a functional alcoholic. You will not win in either situation. The best way to prevent escalation is to disengage as soon as you safely and legally can.