Register Fires, Disciplines 26 More for Alleged Drug Use

A spokeswoman for the Orange County Register said Wednesday that an additional 26 employees at the newspaper have been fired or disciplined as the result of an internal investigation of alleged drug abuse in the workplace.

The newspaper had originally stated in a press release Tuesday that only about 50 employees had been fired or disciplined. But Peggy Castellano, Register vice president of human resources, said Wednesday that the number increased to 76 after their statement was released to the media.

“We apologize for the discrepancy,” Castellano said. “There was no effort to mislead. The interviewing process has been going on this week as well. We have been working around the clock and were still getting names and interviewing employees well into Tuesday night.”

Castellano said employees were questioned about their alleged involvement with drugs and alcohol. A majority of those found to have violated the company’s ban on drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace will be terminated, she said. Employees not terminated, she continued, will be suspended for two weeks and will face random drug tests throughout the next year.

The investigation, which she said began in mid-August, was coordinated for the Register by Confidential Management Services, a private consulting firm based in San Dimas.

Santa Ana police were not involved in the investigation except for giving some technical advice last summer. None of the employees have been arrested and no criminal charges are pending.

“We don’t think there’s anything here that (police) would want to be involved with,” Castellano said. “We aren’t recommending that they be involved and they have not shown any interest. But if they do, we will cooperate with them.”

Castellano said the newspaper doesn’t expect to terminate or discipline any more of the Register’s 2,800 workers beyond the 76 already announced. The newspaper did not release the names of any employees or say what department they worked in.

“It’s a real sensitive matter for us,” she said. “It’s unfortunate that it had to happen at all.”