I've posted in the past about some tension with some coworkers. I'm sure some of it is my fault. I've got a quick temper and the stress at work really brings it out in me. But we're just like any group of average guys who work together all day, we get mad at each other and by the end of the day we get over it and we're laughing about it. We've found the best way to get over an argument is after cooling off for a little while to start joking about it. It works. You'll always hear laughter in our shop.
I've worked very hard to get along with the tire guys and it's taken a lot of time and effort but it has paid off....with all but one. That *one* has become a real problem.
Jerry is one of the tire/oil change techs. He's a 21-year old kid who started with us last year. I say kid because that's exactly what he is to me, a kid. For his first few months we got along great. Jerry came in with a great attitude, worked hard, and showed up early for work every day. The the "real" Jerry started to come out once he was established in the job and started gunning for promotion to work in the office as a service writer (which is NEVER going to happen). Pushy, know-it-all, insubordinate, backstabbing, instigator Jerry replaced "new guy" Jerry and he even stopped coming in on time.
Yesterday it started coming to a showdown with me and Jerry. I pulled in a Mazda for a brake inspection, plus it had an oil change. I was going to do the oil change myself and put one of the tire guy's numbers on it so they'd get paid for the oil change. That didn't work for Jerry. I picked up my air gun to take the tires off and he ran over and raised the vehicle on up to do the oil change right then. I told him to let it back down, I was doing a brake inspection. "No, I'm gonna do the oil change". I went over to the lift controls and started lowering the vehicle back down....with Jerry still under it. Well I did tell him to get his ass out of the way. Jerry came over and got all up in my face "don't you ever let a car down while I'm under it!" I said "don't you ever come over and take over one I'm working on, boy! you can do your damn oil change when I'm done!"
The manager came over and got between us, with Jerry still yelling. I'd had it. I told him and the other tire guys watching us, "Life as you know it is about to fu*king change! You guys aren't running this shop anymore." Jerry went and pouted the rest of the day and Wayne and I had another talk. I told him again that I was tired of the tire guys running the shop, that he and they need to remember who turns the labor that pays everyone. (I alone generate well over a hundred grand a year in labor, that pays me and at least two other tire guys basically). I also told Wayne that if Jerry ever gets up in my face like that again I'm gonna whup his ass since Wayne refuses to do anything about him.
Today, Jerry started it all over again. First he shows up an hour late, and of course nothing is said because the tire guys show up when they feel like it. Meanwhile I'd been there since 7am doing their work until they showed up.
This morning it was something so stupid it's unbelievable. Since we've got a mix of black and white guys in the shop, which means different tastes in music, we came up with a way to share the radio and make everyone happy. Up till noon the shop radio (which I personally spent almost $300 on and no one else contributed even one penny) is tuned to "John Boy and Billy" (morning show) and then the rock & roll station. After 12 they can have it, which seems pretty fair because they actually have control of it for the longer part of the day. So this morning I turned it to the country music station. Which got some laughs going because the two black tire guys started trying to sing along. Then I started laughing and singing with them and they got to laughing and we were all having a good time. But it was country and I was happy so Jerry wasn't. He kept on and on and on, bitching about how he hated country and didn't want to hear it. I said "no problem Jerry, after 12 it's yours" and then I added "you know, I didn't care much for rap and r&b but I gave it a chance and learned to like some of it so we could all get along".
With that, he just exploded. Got in my face again yelling at me "don't even fuc*ing talk to me!". Then when the assistant manager tried to step in Jerry pushed him away and started yelling that after close we were going to settle it in the parking lot. And for the rest of the day he was non-stop talking about kicking my ass after work.
I told the assistant manager "that's it Will, I'm tired of being threatened and you guys do nothing about it. Call Chris Battle over here right now!" (Chris is our company's general manager, oversees all the stores) Jerry heard that and said "no we're gonna settle it today, you and me". I told him "no, we're gonna see who's still here come Monday morning".
I just went back to work. Laughed and joked with the other guys and we had a blast. Jerry pouted all day and kept talking about kicking my ass. Once closing time came around, I clocked out and headed to my car. Jerry came walking up behind me. "Hey man, what's up? Come on! You wanna talk some sh*t now?" The other guys were watching. I turned around and looked him right in the eye. "I'm not gonna fight you Jerry. You're not worth my job".
And walked away.
"PUSSY!"
Without even looking back, I told him "I've been called worse by better". And got in my car and drove away.
Sorry y'all, I just had to vent about it. Buncha stupid immature bullsh*t. The sooner that boy's gone, the better!
I hate to say it but I'm afraid that when they do fire him he's gonna get violent.
Mike.