MetaChat - What a day.

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12 May 2008

What a day. I had to fire someone today.→[More:]It seemed pretty obvious--he'd pulled a no-show no-call after drinking on Monday. I pulled his ass out of the fire, gave him one more chance, said to him if it happens again I can't justify his being there.

post by: elizard at: 01:21 | 31 comments

and then...He swore up & down he'd be at work this morning. I needed him there--the clients are getting antsy, the work needs to be done. I started late--it was damp & cold, so I got to the site at 11--no call, no prep guy. I called him & let him know where he could pick up his toolbelt, and that he was done. He wouldn't talk to me in the pub this evening (I love living in a small community), and then left me a message to tell me that I'm so unfair he doesn't want to work for me any more. I'm sorry--was that 'you can't fire me, I quit'?!?!? Srsly?!?

Okay, I've been drinking and I'm pissed off. But it's been years since I had to fire someone, and I can't believe this guy has the cojones to call me at home and tell me I'm too unfair to work for. I can't even believe I gave him another chance. What the fucking fuck?!?

Um...thanks for letting me vent. Today sucked hard.

posted by elizard 12 May | 01:27

Sorry, babes. It does indeed suck, but try not to let it get to you too much... upon a more sober review of events, I bet he'll apologize - or at least get that repeated bailing on the job does usually mean losing the job = Not Your Fault. It sounds like maybe he's on a bit of binge.

posted by taz 12 May | 02:01

Am I going crazy or was this deleted and then restored? And my comment is gone now. I'm hoping this is the case otherwise I might need to get my head checked.

posted by puke & cry 12 May | 02:07

I made an indiscreet comment which one of the mods so kindly and swiftly rectified. Recomment if you'd like.

posted by elizard 12 May | 02:09

Actually I'm sure I'm not nuts because I still have the tab open with the previously deleted thread with the link to the guy that got fired and my deleted comment.

posted by puke & cry 12 May | 02:09

Yeah, let's not mention that again. I was out of bounds.

posted by elizard 12 May | 02:11

puke i did the magik. We need to have each other's back.

posted by arse_hat 12 May | 02:14

Have I mentioned that I love you, arsey? I think I did. Can mention it again?

posted by elizard 12 May | 02:15

And I still haven't heard from you on the Sexy McHotPants nick. Are you in or what?

posted by elizard 12 May | 02:17

This is just an announcement to let you all know that I no longer have your back; I got bored and switched. I now have your fronts and sides. Please be advised.

posted by taz 12 May | 02:19

I loves u all!

as often as i can

posted by arse_hat 12 May | 02:21

...and taz, this island is always on a bit of a binge. That's why I have to train someone else to do this basic basic job, and why I'm desperately searching for a crew who will actually show up and not smoke pot on the job (or at least, not to the point of impairment) and not decide to go to the beach because it's sunny, and blah blah blah. As a local said about Hopkins, we're a drinking community with a fishing problem.

on preview: arse_hat can always have my front ;)

posted by elizard 12 May | 02:22

So, um, is that a no on the nickname, arsey?

posted by elizard 12 May | 02:24

Not at all but I do need to sleep at some point in this life...

posted by arse_hat 12 May | 02:26

Heh. Okay, just asking 'cause it's in your wiki and all, and you know how the wiki hates to be wrong.

posted by elizard 12 May | 02:29

Wait, where in the wiki? linky, linky!

posted by taz 12 May | 02:31

Oh, and don't get me wrong--I have called in dead for a hangover more than once. But this is a well-paying jobsite, and I'd called yesterday to say how important it was that he be there. And he (previously) swore up and down that he'd be there. And he didn't even call.

I don't think I should link. But I'm shameless like that.

posted by elizard 12 May | 02:34

He's a turdbucket on its side, and that does no one any good. If he can't keep from falling over and spilling is own foul contents, he must be disposed of as quickly as possible.
Set him on fire.
It'll learn 'im.

posted by ethylene 12 May | 02:40

apparently, I'm a doofus... I searched the wiki, capital "A" and everything, since the wiki is very insistent on the capital letters thing, and I didn't find the Arse_hat page. I fail Wiki.

But Sexy McHotPants it is. Waiting for an arsey-in-hot-pants photo to go with the name.

on preview: heheh. And this guy thinks you're mean? You should have had ethylene fire him. :)

posted by taz 12 May | 02:44

ethylene, that is fabulous, and I also love you. Have I mentioned that I've been drinking? Yeah, but it still holds true. (And guess what??! I'll be in bed with glasses of water and vitamin C and ready to go in the morning.)

On preview: yes, yes I should. And ethylene is always welcome to visit, especially if she volunteers to fire any horizontal turdbuckets who may be giving me trouble.

posted by elizard 12 May | 02:46

i am all for making stupid people cry, and i would be fine with kicking him after i knock him down.

How does this work with you leaving? Are you losing your place or will you return to your island?

posted by ethylene 12 May | 02:55

waaww... hugs. you had to do it, it was not a personal decision whatsoever..

posted by By the Grace of God 12 May | 06:01

You did everything reasonable; this is his issue. Don't worry about it in the slightest.

"A drinking community with a fishing problem" -- they say that in East Coast fishing towns, too! Winters are long and there's not much to do in port.

posted by Miko 12 May | 09:04

Firing people who deserve it is awesome, I think I should make a career of it.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 12 May | 10:26

The thing is, he's got a history of doing this, which is why my uncle (the contractor on this job) wanted to fire him last Tuesday. I asked to keep him on. I even know what party he was at Saturday night. I know this because I decided not to go because we had to work the next day. It's also not the first time he's shat on my trust (as arse_hat so eloquently put it). But it'll be the last. *shakes head*

Gah. Thanks for the support and the venting space, bunnies.

posted by elizard 12 May | 10:37

How does this work with you leaving? Are you losing your place or will you return to your island?

I'm giving up the cabin because it's too damned expensive, even when work is steady. I'll be sharing space with a friend for part of June if there's work and then heading down to Alabama. I can store my stuff there for less than it would cost me to keep my own place here, which allows her to live on her own for the summer, and then I have a place to stay when I get back in Nov/Dec.

And while I'm venting, I really want to put a bid in for a job that I was offered, but I can't find anyone who can definitely work for the period that they'd need us and I can't do it alone in the time they want it done. Looks like I'll have to turn it down. Gah. Also, I got a lecture from a friend of mine who's also a painter, telling me that I'm not charging enough, which will cause problems for everyone if I don't raise my rates.

As I said, what a day.

posted by elizard 12 May | 10:54

elizard, I don't know if I would have the guts to fire someone. You were certainly justified and you did the right thing. Look on the bright side, the rest of your week should be cake compared. Sorry you have to turn another job down.

posted by LoriFLA 12 May | 11:03

I can't fire anyone, even the most ridiculously incompetent, drugfucked fools, and it sucks. I'd fire 6 of my staff right now if I could.

posted by goo 12 May | 11:18

Sounds like he was embarrassed, and lashed out in an effort to relieve his own discomfort. I wouldn't take it personally.

Well, in an ideal world, I wouldn't take it personally. In the real world, I'd react exactly as you're reacting, but I'd try to remind myself not to take it personally. :-)

posted by occhiblu 12 May | 11:19

Actually it would make me feel better if someone acted like a dickhead when I'd fired him. I'd feel so vindicated.

posted by Orange Swan 12 May | 14:13

Sounds like he was embarrassed, and lashed out in an effort to relieve his own discomfort.

Nah, he's just one of those people who truly believe that none of the crappy things that happen to them are ever their fault. My uncle's delighted that I took care of it, though, and is going to back me completely.

posted by elizard 12 May | 21:10

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