Day 344
My title for the company I work is Director of HR. About 9 months ago, I hire a transactional attorney. The second day he was with us, I took him to lunch to get to know him a little better.
Interesting: He told me that he wouldn't be micro managed and if his work was done at 4:30, he wouldn't stay until 5:00 for face time. That was what bugged him about his last job. His boss would walk the halls at 4:30 to see who was still in the office and who was gone.
I told him a couple things, first as a small company there is always something to do. He should leave at five but leaving early only means he isn't applying himself. I also asked if he needed to be micro managed because we hired him with the understanding that he would get the work done. Bottom line we don't have time to look over his shoulder. If he feels micro managed here, then it must be that someone feels he isn't getting the work done. In short, get the work done and no one questions the hours you spend here.
Well he was always late to work. Rolled in around 9:30 - 10:00. When he went to lunch his lunches were longer than an hour and most days, he left before 5:00. One time during staff meeting, I noticed he was on facebook???
So our CEO sat him down and had 3 conversations with him about performance and a measurable was that he is always late to work. By the 3rd conversation, the CEO finally said, if you are late again, I might just terminate your employment with us.
2 days later the CEO is walking into the office after a morning meeting. As he is walking in, (10:00 AM) he sees this attorney walking in at the same time. "looks like you're late again" He said. The Attorney looked at him, shrugged his shoulders and kept walking to the elevator. The CEO loses it and said, you have nothing to say? I have talked to you about a small thing over and over. Your tardiness problem really bleeds to an attitude problem. "I pay you too much to be talking about this without getting results, I think I will fire you today." Well I didn't know about this until the end of the day. The CEO and this Attorney's doors where closed. When the CEO left, he called me and told me to fire him. I walked into our General Counsels office and there was the other attorney. (White as a ghost) "Mark, I am glad you are here, "attorney" is worried he is getting fired today." I asked the attorney to come to my office so that we can talk.
I sat him down and terminated his employment. The panic the shock and the disbelief was evident on his face. "You are terminated for low performance levels. Starting with your inability to be to work on time."
He said, "I am always on time." I didn't respond because to get to his office he has to walk past mine. I am sure I had a look on my face, expressing, "Really?, you expect me to agree?" Since I didn't respond but looked at him he continued and said, "well I may be tardy once a week." Still not true. He was probably on time once a week.
I was amazed. I felt bad for this man. An attorney, married with children and full of opportunity, growth and stock with this company. He went from a transactional attorney making 20k per month to filing unemployment.
Why didn't he get it?
What's your point Thomas?
I had a quitter text me and say that tobacco use is all around him at work.
Funny but something as simple as being on time led to this cats termination.
People that dip tobacco today may have the world by the tail. I picture the same shock, surprise etc when a tobacco user is diagnose with lip, mouth, throat or lung cancer.
"I have cancer? Why me? I really wasn't that bad. My life was a 20k month life. Now with cancer, my future looks grim and I am on unemployment."
Sure many people will feel bad for you. You will feel like a victim. Its only human and natural. However, deep down we all know....This was a result of your actions.
Moral of the story:
Don't chew tobacco. If you do and shrug your shoulders when someone tells you to quit...Don't be a pre-madona dumb ass. Cancer doesn't respect anyone, anywhere. Tobacco deaths are across the board. No respect for any religion, creed, color or national origin.
That attorney is mad and a victim but I am sure he thinks, If I would have just been on time.....
Lets be the quitter that never caves and finds ourselves say, "If I only would have quit this shit when I posted day one on KTC."
If someone gets cancer, it is tragic, horrible and ugly. If someone knowingly gets cancer from tobacco use, it is tragic, horrible, ugly, preventable and dumb.
Love KTC and the Elite quitters here. Just like being to work on times takes a little focus, discipline and effort. It shows you care about your job. Quitting nicotine takes a little focus, discipline and effort but is shows you care about your life.
Post roll. Its as easy as being on time to work.