We Had To Let Harry Go, Redux

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Harry always did his job.  In fact, Harry - at the age of 69 - did more work than any two men half his age.  He was honest (to a fault, it turned out), and never dropped a dime on anyone.  In short, he was a stand up guy.

Thing is, Harry also noticed that the company was discarding dead instruments that had precious metals in them.  Being the sort of guy who hates waste, he started scavenging out the metal, and saving it.  He was a tinkerer and an artist, and thought he'd maybe do some sort of project with it.

One of the other employees caught wind of this, and also started collecting the metal.  And selling it, to the tune of thousands of dollars.  This guy also realized how easy it was to make a good instrument go bad, and started doing so, so there'd be more metal to scavenge.  Harry wasn't aware this was happening.

Eventually, the other guy fucked up.  A receipt for the sale of some metal - with his name on it - fell out of his pocket in the bathroom, where it was later found by a manager.  Cue huge investigation, cops getting involved, and all manner of hysterical screeching.

Harry gets called into the conference room, alongside two detectives, the plant manager, and myself.  He is asked about the metal...And states flatly that he's been collecting it for 4 years.  Everyone was a little stunned, but the questioning continued.  No, he didn't think he'd done anything wrong.  Yes, he still had the metal, and would return it.  No, he would not comment on the actions of others.  Harry knew he was in trouble, but he had a spine, so he sat upright and told the truth, no matter the cost.

Then the other guy gets called in.  Tries to say it was all Harry's idea, and that Harry has been selling the metal, too.  Obvious bullshit, as Harry still has the metal.

After days of arguing, the decision is made:  No criminal charges, and both employees get fired.  Never mind that the situations were not equivalent.  Harry harvested metals from scrap that was being discarded, and the other guy was actively damaging equipment to get more to sell. 

The other guy is young, and will land somewhere.  Harry was going to retire in 5 months.  42 years in the trades, and it ends like this.  Because a company works hard for it's valued garbage, and black is black and white is white, and there's precisely no room between them.  Especially not when you're talking about an old man who worked his ass off.  Because he's an old man, and there are loads of young men who'll take that job for less pay.

So, yeah, we had to let Harry go.  The soul of the company - and the entire management team - just got stained a little more, but rules are rules and even garbage is more sacrosanct than hard work, loyalty, and integrity.  There was nothing else to be done.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

Harry always did his job.  In fact, Harry - at the age of 69 - did more work than any two men half his age.  He was honest (to a fault, it turned out), and never dropped a dime on anyone.  In short, he was a stand up guy.

Thing is, Harry also noticed that the company was discarding dead instruments that had precious metals in them.  Being the sort of guy who hates waste, he started scavenging out the metal, and saving it.  He was a tinkerer and an artist, and thought he'd maybe do some sort of project with it.

One of the other employees caught wind of this, and also started collecting the metal.  And selling it, to the tune of thousands of dollars.  This guy also realized how easy it was to make a good instrument go bad, and started doing so, so there'd be more metal to scavenge.  Harry wasn't aware this was happening.

Eventually, the other guy fucked up.  A receipt for the sale of some metal - with his name on it - fell out of his pocket in the bathroom, where it was later found by a manager.  Cue huge investigation, cops getting involved, and all manner of hysterical screeching.

Harry gets called into the conference room, alongside two detectives, the plant manager, and myself.  He is asked about the metal...And states flatly that he's been collecting it for 4 years.  Everyone was a little stunned, but the questioning continued.  No, he didn't think he'd done anything wrong.  Yes, he still had the metal, and would return it.  No, he would not comment on the actions of others.  Harry knew he was in trouble, but he had a spine, so he sat upright and told the truth, no matter the cost.

Then the other guy gets called in.  Tries to say it was all Harry's idea, and that Harry has been selling the metal, too.  Obvious bullshit, as Harry still has the metal.

After days of arguing, the decision is made:  No criminal charges, and both employees get fired.  Never mind that the situations were not equivalent.  Harry harvested metals from scrap that was being discarded, and the other guy was actively damaging equipment to get more to sell. 

The other guy is young, and will land somewhere.  Harry was going to retire in 5 months.  42 years in the trades, and it ends like this.  Because a company works hard for it's valued garbage, and black is black and white is white, and there's precisely no room between them.  Especially not when you're talking about an old man who worked his ass off.  Because he's an old man, and there are loads of young men who'll take that job for less pay.

So, yeah, we had to let Harry go.  The soul of the company - and the entire management team - just got stained a little more, but rules are rules and even garbage is more sacrosanct than hard work, loyalty, and integrity.  There was nothing else to be done.

This perspective needs to be thrown in peoples' faces repeatedly until they realize how utterly FUCKED UP it is.

[Richter]

Eventually, in final irony, all the managers will get replaced by computers.  The exact formulas and ways to extract the most work our of most people will be refined down, the contingencies for the various shades of deviant will be divined, and it will all be run by a box with a booming masculine voice.  Like Santa Claus's concert promoter younger brother.

What will the PEOPLE do then?  Well, they'll have to do something.  They'll have to get good at something REAL, not jsut be good at herding other people.

The machines though will fit this sort of thinking perfectly though.  No exceptions, no deals, no second chances.  Just perfectly administered policy.   It will be perfect replacement for the folks who cast the vote against Harry.  Hell, it might even be a nice touch to process down and plastinate them to make the casings for ManagerBots one through fifteen.  The rest that understand that rules serve the people, not the other way around?  Well, those are the ones who are actually worth letting walk and work with people more.  They'd be the sort who would go a bit ludite on the ManagerBot's gyros, so it bumped into Barbara in a suggestive way,and got the whole line recalled for built in sexual harassment.  Those are the kind who still know the value of ethics, or critical thinking.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

The stories in this thread are so very Oh, America.

[trippinprincezz13]

It really is just so sad - especially when the two situations are incomparable. I suppose it's safe to assume they didn't even bother asking for proof as to whether he actually did still have all/most of the metal on him. No room for fair and no time for "innocent until proven guilty", not when there's countless someone elses to just fill the slot. The younger guy perfectly fits the "if I'm going down, I'm taking as many as I can with me" attitude that seems so prevalent.

Reminds me of the way Dunkin Donuts (and I would assume many other restaurants) order their employees to ensure any leftover food at the end of the day is properly disposed of in the dumpsters - lest some grubby homeless person gets their hands on a day-old donut. It's garbage FFS (or "garbage" in the case of "old" food).

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Reminds me of the way Dunkin Donuts (and I would assume many other restaurants) order their employees to ensure any leftover food at the end of the day is properly disposed of in the dumpsters - lest some grubby homeless person gets their hands on a day-old donut. It's garbage FFS (or "garbage" in the case of "old" food).

If that's not an indictment on America - especially on the heads of those who consider this a "Christian nation", then I don't know what the fuck is.

[Anna Mae Bollocks]

Reminds me of the way Dunkin Donuts (and I would assume many other restaurants) order their employees to ensure any leftover food at the end of the day is properly disposed of in the dumpsters - lest some grubby homeless person gets their hands on a day-old donut. It's garbage FFS (or "garbage" in the case of "old" food).

If that's not an indictment on America - especially on the heads of those who consider this a "Christian nation", then I don't know what the fuck is.

THOSE PEOPLE call fast food places and order things before closing with the INTENT that the food goes in the dumpster so they can TAKE IT after everybody leaves.

THIS FRAUD makes BIDNESS LOSE MONEY and WE ALL PAY.

If you see somebody ordering a pizza at 10:45, REPORT IT.

                     /

[trippinprincezz13]

It really is disgusting and disheartening. One of my friends used to work at DD's when they were younger and told me about that. They, and maybe one or two other employees, used to at least try to put all the old donuts/bagels in a separate bag outside of the dumpster in case anyone came by looking for food. The fact that that had to be done is still awful.

It really speaks to the materialism and selfishness of a culture when even discarded items that are no longer wanted by a person or company are still MINE, god forbid anyone else use them to their benefit. Hazardous materials and personal info aside, as there really aren't any positive benefits to pilfering and "redistributing" that sort of thing.

I mean, up to the point where he started purposely damaging equipment and subsequently pointed the blame at Harry, was there really anything "wrong" with what the kid was doing? Sure it might not have been as "noble" (?) or "upstanding" selling it for money as opposed to hoping to do some crafting, but was there actually something wrong with taking what was being discarded by the company and selling this "garbage" for scrap metal money? Other than the fact it inspired him to be greedy, but that seems more of a character flaw

[LMNO]

:puts on corporate hat:

"As an employee of the company, the proper course of action would be to alert his supervisor to the possibilty of recovering and re-using said materials, or at the very least, propose a cost-saving program where the equipment could be sold or for salvage, thereby decreasing the financial impact to the company as a result of equipment failure."


This hat hurts my head.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

:puts on corporate hat:

"As an employee of the company, the proper course of action would be to alert his supervisor to the possibilty of recovering and re-using said materials, or at the very least, propose a cost-saving program where the equipment could be sold or for salvage, thereby decreasing the financial impact to the company as a result of equipment failure."


This hat hurts my head.

Funny, that's precisely what my boss said.

With his bare face hanging out.

[trippinprincezz13]

 

:puts on corporate hat:

"As an employee of the company, the proper course of action would be to alert his supervisor to the possibilty of recovering and re-using said materials, or at the very least, propose a cost-saving program where the equipment could be sold or for salvage, thereby decreasing the financial impact to the company as a result of equipment failure."


This hat hurts my head.

  I can give that a "fair enough", since the Company's interests are in increasing profits, decreasing spending, etc. (though whose fault is it they weren't doing that to start).

Still, in my mind that warrants a slap on the wrist, "You know, Billy, you really should have brought this to the Company's attention and/or waited until it was off of company property before removing it. Maybe we would have given you a $50 giftcard for your waste-minimizing efforts".

i.e., Perhaps a stern warning since his actions weren't benefiting the company, but firing? (Of course in this case, doesn't apply to younger guy due to intentional destruction of equipment)

But then....I probably wouldn't make a good corporate guy.

[Cardinal Pizza Deliverance.]

It really is disgusting and disheartening. One of my friends used to work at DD's when they were younger and told me about that. They, and maybe one or two other employees, used to at least try to put all the old donuts/bagels in a separate bag outside of the dumpster in case anyone came by looking for food. The fact that that had to be done is still awful.

It really speaks to the materialism and selfishness of a culture when even discarded items that are no longer wanted by a person or company are still MINE, god forbid anyone else use them to their benefit. Hazardous materials and personal info aside, as there really aren't any positive benefits to pilfering and "redistributing" that sort of thing.

I mean, up to the point where he started purposely damaging equipment and subsequently pointed the blame at Harry, was there really anything "wrong" with what the kid was doing? Sure it might not have been as "noble" (?) or "upstanding" selling it for money as opposed to hoping to do some crafting, but was there actually something wrong with taking what was being discarded by the company and selling this "garbage" for scrap metal money? Other than the fact it inspired him to be greedy, but that seems more of a character flaw

This sorta thing happens at my store. Everything has to go into the locked-and-sealed trash compactor, from a chute inside the store. If someone 'accidentally' leaves something on the back dock, for the homeless community living down by the lake, there is HELL TO PAY, FOR FIRING SHALL FOLLOW. Some of the stuff we can donate, sure, but the vast majority goes into the trash.

And almost all of the shit that is donated just goes to some churchy guys who divvy up the good stuff among themselves and just pass out the few loaves of plain stale bread to those in need. It's sick. But you know, the homeless don't need blueberry muffins or orange-cranberry scones.

Reminds me of the way Dunkin Donuts (and I would assume many other restaurants) order their employees to ensure any leftover food at the end of the day is properly disposed of in the dumpsters - lest some grubby homeless person gets their hands on a day-old donut. It's garbage FFS (or "garbage" in the case of "old" food).

If that's not an indictment on America - especially on the heads of those who consider this a "Christian nation", then I don't know what the fuck is.

THOSE PEOPLE call fast food places and order things before closing with the INTENT that the food goes in the dumpster so they can TAKE IT after everybody leaves.

THIS FRAUD makes BIDNESS LOSE MONEY and WE ALL PAY.

If you see somebody ordering a pizza at 10:45, REPORT IT.

                     /

We used to discount our stuff at the end of the day and sell it for half-price, until people started intentionally making too much food that would need to be discounted.

We used to give away stuff at the end of the day to the needy, until people started pretending to be needy to get stuff and then they turned around and sold it for crazy prices online or to other people waiting in line.

Now we get customers wanting us to discount stuff anyway, because it isn't fresh and damnit, they want fresh at 10:10 when we closed at 10, but they've been walking around the store waiting for it to close so they could come and demand FRESH so we'd have to give them what we already have for free.

Now we get customers who want Philly Cheesesteaks and fried chicken and steamed clams - but only if they can pay with their EBT cards. And why can't they? Hot food is the same as cold, only hot! WE'RE the problem, making their lives so much more wretched because they can only get cold hot wings and not hot hot wings. It should all be free, damn it. It's us, the workers, making everything difficult, because we expect to get paid. (I'm not exaggerating or anything, I have been told this by a customer.)

There's all kinds of weird shit going on out there, on both sides of the sliding doors.

[LMNO]

Sadly, CPD has a point.  There are asshole bosses who throw away food, and there are asshole consumers who will take advantage and exploit any generosity they can find.  Either way, those who truly need help are screwed.

[P3nT4gR4m]

Sadly, CPD has a point.  There are asshole bosses who throw away food, and there are asshole consumers who will take advantage and exploit any generosity they can find.  Either way, those who truly need help are screwed.

So true. Also, in fairness, leaving food lying about outside is likely to attract more than just homeless people. Disease laden vermin and food outlets is not a good mix.

On the surface, it's simple. There's hungry people, there's spare food. In practice there's way too many humans involved for anything even remotely sensible to happen.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

I've worked in restaurants and stores where excess food at the end of the day was donated to a homeless shelter. Sure, it requires a tiny bit of expense (putting food into covered hot pans and paying an employee to drive it to the shelter) but for roughly $8, the restaurant got to feed twenty or so people every day who otherwise would have gone hungry.

My friend runs a bakery, and he does the same thing with leftover baked goods at the end of the day.

The Frantz bakery here in Portland takes its day-olds to the community college lounge for struggling students to take home.

There are plenty of ways to alleviate waste without creating a disease risk or social problem.