The boss and the new guy. A week in my life.

Monday morning.
Boss; Hello new guy. Lets get you started and go to work.
Break time.
New guy tells boss about 2 court dates for 2nd degree theft the next week that were forgotten about at the time of boss hirering new guy. Boss takes this news stoically and silently but the water in tea kettle is starting to get to room temperature.
Tuesday morning.
New guy no show.
9 a.m; boss gets cell call from new guy. So sorry new guy says, my girl friends daughter was puking blood last night and we rushed her to E.R. and I forgot to call you this morning to tell you I would be late or not in at all. Once again boss takes news with an ounce of compassion and wishes new guy luck on G.F's daughters health but the water in the tea kettle is starting to simmer rapidly.
Wednesday morning.
Boss is half way into a 20 minute drive to work in town and trying to get there early so as to go over the days work before new guy and other employees get to work but gets call from new guy. New guy says so sorry, this car seems to run out of gas as soon as the low fuel light comes on unlike my old car that would go another 30 miles when light comes on. I will try to make it to work but dont know if I will or not as I am broke and have no money for gas. Boss asks new guy where he is and will take time to come pick up new guy. New guy sounds thankful but yet disappointed. Boss gets to new guys house and realizes it is only 5 FREAKING BLOCKS FROM WORK and that new guy could have walked to work and beat boss there. Boss dont say anything on 2 minute drive to work but, the tea kettle is starting to spurt little wisps of steam from it's spout.
Rest of Wednesday spent at shop working at getting things put in order for business to come once weather gets better. New guy often absent from these efforts for a half hour or so. Boss is concerned and goes on a safari around the premises for new guy. New guy seems to be spending much time in the chitter that is in the office. After third MIA buy new guy, boss goes in and bangs on chitter door and calmly requests new guys help with moving some really heavy chit out back instead of new guy moving tiny little chit in the chitter. The tea kettle is spewing a steady stream of steam from it's spout at this point.
Thursday morning.
Boss is sitting quietly in his basement trying to watch the weather and enjoying his first cup of coffee for the day. Boss hears cell phone ring from other room since boss hasnt even got his work pants on yet. Call from new guy. So sorry boss, I wont be in today because I was chitting blood real bad yesterday and I think I better go to the doc and have it checked out, thats why I was in the chitter so much yesterday and it is serious and I never go to the doc but this is bad and.... Boss cant hear what new guy is saying after about 30 seconds of phone conversation because the freaking tea kettle is so hot is is boiling the water and is jumping up and down on the stove so hard all boss can hear is clanging and hissing and an ill wind a coming.
This morning.
Boss is waiting for new guy. New guy shows up with unsigned docs excuse and gives it to boss. Boss says to new guy that this situation is really not going to turn out well for the both of them. New guy starts to weep a little and proclaims that he really need this job in the worst way. Boss is sympathetic but tries to explain that the relationship is off to a really bad start and that boss has spent enough time running men to know when things are not going to work out in the end. New guy upset and pleading but boss tries to explain that after being flim flamed and lied to by others over the years, boss has decided to nip what could be a troublesome work environment in the bud before it goes to far. Tea kettle has came down to the simmer point again and the new guy goes and life goes on.
Friday after work.
Part of Boss is feeling bad about cutting new guy loose. The most part of boss is glad it didnt go so far that boss felt like a human door mat just to help an unfortunate soul out of the hole they have dug for them self in life. Boss prays to the good Lord that he hasnt judged 1 man by others that have tried to scam him and hopes he has not kicked what could be a good man when he was truly in need.
Boss thinks he needs head examined because he remembers not thinking years ago and not thinking twice about putting the boots to some one who tried to F- him over and leave them bellering in pain.
Cold out. Boss start fire in stove and pet puppy dog.

 

Zacktly! unfortunately for this new guy I had made up my mind never to let myself be used and abused and fall for the sob stories ever again. New guy may very well have turned out to be a very good worker but my gut was giving me bad signals.

 

You're a better man than me Butcher . My story would have ended on the Tuesday morning no show. See ya!

 

I went to hiring all subs around 2004ish.
They still don't show but not like hires . Subs have skin in the game .Life's better.
I hear HR guys at other companies really complaining.
With the Obacare and entitlements NO ONE under 30 wants to work. NO ONE.
The last straw was hiring a mechanic that was fresh out of Ohio Diesel Tech and top of his class. First day I had him come in on a Saturday . Told him this truck and that loader need a full lube and check.
15 minutes later comes out of ship to where I was working and said I'm done what next . I said hold on and got on a creeper under the truck. Didn't grease half the fittings .
Pizza'd off I told him I wasn't looking for half a mechanic. Go home.
I found a couple older guys the last couple years that are retired and appreciate the extra cash and Look forward to a side job now and then.
If it's a big repair that takes more than a day there's a couple young go getters down the road that can wrench a gas monkey into submission and cheap too if ya bring yer check book that day.
I'm glad I hold the line on doughnut employees . It's made me a better mechanic myself in that I'm not as hesitant about diving into something I've never done. It just makes for more stress when it's go time and 7 days a week for 8-9 months.

 

I was very unsettled by the thought of retirement when I finally made the decision

But this is one reason I am definitely not regretting it

I was a large division supervisor for a state agency that had a 1 year (yes, one whole year) probationary period for all new employees

Technically I could let a new person go at any time during that year with no recourse and with minimal documentation

The reality was that the human resources department was so scared chitless of comebacks and discrimination lawsuits that firing someone, even under probation, was a horribly painful process that took months and consumed sooooo much of our time that most supervisors just said "screw it" and let the slugs slide into permanent status

They just waited for the person to move on to another division and cease to be their problem

Political Correctness

Gonna be the death of us all

Work ethic?

Bwahahahahaha

Michael

 

Got a friend that's director of his dept at county level. Says the same thing. They just move them to toilet scrubber till they quit.
Sad that many low life's know how to work the system.

 

Aside from the actual problem Butcher, your literary skills are really awesome. You should be writing books..............and by the way, glad you solved your problem........................

 

always go with the gut, if you were feeling the other way around, that maybe he was genuinely having a hard life, you would of gave him the chance. I have been in both situations and you did what needed done.

 

Tough call and great write up as usual. I think if someone has a legit issue, they would pull you aside and give you an honest explanation. Hiding behind the shadow of excuses is probably masking bigger problems that you don't need. Sounds like he was a liability. You go with your gut. If something smells rotten ...

 

I sympathize with you. I ran a 50 bed extended care facility for dementia patients. Staffing was the largest headache possible. I was so glad to be away from being a supervisor. I was even dragged into court over one worker who lied so bad. She didn't win that lawsuit. I kept excellent records.

 

You have a great talent for telling/writing stories.

A peron's first week is usually their best, if they can't impress you during that time it ain't gonna get better.

 

This is one of the reasons I do not try to climb the ladder at the company I work for. I managed a crew of people and hired at one time. I have people ask me at my present job, "are you going for that manager job " NO !!! I make a good living and close to, if not more than some of the managers because I work hard and do my best. I will add though it is not all because I don't want the headaches, I believe I am much more of an asset to the company doing what I do and it is where my passion is.

 

Tough call Butcher but you probably did the right thing in this situation. Too many entitled people out there these days, and "No", the world doesn't revolve around them.
We just let a Vet go. I liked the guy, he was capable but disruptive to our work environment. He's welcome to come back when he get's his chit wired tight, but until then.....
Our core group of fabricators are 45 yrs./ older, the younger guys have a lot to learn.
Anybody need a job in Co. as a welder/ fabricator?? We're hiring, need 6 positions filled at a minimum.

 

Oh my lord

Man, if I had done that I probably would have been a patient in my own facility

Major kudos for surviving that

Yup, if it isn't written down it didn't happen

My IT department was ticked off at me until the day I walked out because I had 12 years worth of e-mails and saved every one of them

Got my rear end out of hot water on more than one occasion

I kept redundant copies of all my notes, meetings, etc on 3 servers; JUST IN CASE

Me, paranoid?

Nah

Well maybe a little....

 

Butcher your boss did the right thing! As BS said, it sure isn't easy to fire someone.
The mere fact that he is concerned if he did the right thing shows his compassion.
Sounds like the employee has been down that road before and it is probably not the last time for him either.

 

We routinely have people walk off the job mid shift without even telling anyone. Poof. Gone. Don't even have to fire them.