by "AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
Published 05/17/2017 at 00:46
by "AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
Published 05/17/2017 at 00:46
No Tags
STARS: 8
Idiot kid gets a good job, then quits after a week, without even having the decency to give a little heads up—leaving the other employee to cover for all the work he was scheduled the next few weeks. I need to vent Oppo.
Most of you know I run a window washing company in the Seattle area. It’s about 95% residential, with a handful of businesses. You know what else is about 95%? The percentage of very wealthy homeowners who hire out to get clean windows. What I’m trying to say is I always have a lot of work year round. That said, from May to September is the “summer season”, with the remaining months making up the slow season.
For the past 4 years I’ve had two full time guys working 30-40 hours a week during the slow season and 40-50 a week during the summer season. In addition, I’ve taken on an additional two college kids every summer, also working full-time.
This year one of my year round guys moved to Asia, so I’ve been filling in for him to keep the schedule from backing up, and to keep my remaining year rounder from having to work solo all for months on end. It’s worked out pretty well, but with a new found desire to get back in school, I decided to look for another employee in addition to my two returning summer guys.
I found someone. We’ll call him Dick. Dick’s parents know me through yoga class, and seeing as his parents are both successful, incredibly hard working people I told them that “yes, I’d be happy to give Dick a try at the company.” Dick is a sophomore at WSU, and as soon as he came back home, I took him to a few easy homes for on the job training.
Everything went great, and he seemed like a nice kid. He was excited to work, and happy to get a job with good pay and a bit of excitement. So I had him fill out some paperwork and in no time at all he was a part of the team.
Fast forward to last Tuesday. I scheduled Dick (wow, poor fictional name choice) and my year round guy to work a super easy schedule. They went slow, as is expected for a new guy, but there were no problems. I actually got a call from a client telling me that she loved my new employee.
Wednesday through Friday went great as well. My year round guy thought that dick would be a good fit for the company, and said they got along well. Dick drove a modded wrangler, so he wasn’t cramping our “cool car style” either. Sunday night I called Dick to tell him I’ll bump up his pay after another week, to which he responded, “wait, I get raises?!” so yeah. He seemed pretty pumped to say the least.
Monday. Of course. It’s always a Monday. Dick and James (we’ll call year round employee James) were working together all day, with one small home and one large home on the schedule. They finish everything up slightly ahead of schedule and bring the work truck back to base. I chat with them for a few minutes, then send them home. Another easy day, and Dick is starting to get the swing of things.
Now allow me to add one quick piece of info. As of that Monday, I was booked three weeks in advance, for two guys working together. Okay, back to the story.
Monday night at around 9pm I get a call from Dick. Long story short, he says he doesn’t want the job because he’s afraid of heights. Now, let me mention once more that I know of Dick because I see his parents at yoga every week. The one thing they always mentioned about Dick? His love for free soloing. If you don’t know, free soloing is rock climbing, with no ropes, or gear of any kind. Most free soloists climb hundreds of feet high, my business sticks to homes three stories and below.
In addition to the info I had from his parents, I’d seem him handle a ladder and it was apparent that he was totally comfortable two stories up. Surprisingly so for week work if I’m being honest.
So I knew Dick was bullshitting me. But whatever. I tell him we can work around his fear of heights. I say that he can do the interiors of homes, and the lowers outside. He responds with “that wouldn’t be fair to you or the guy I’m working with.”
So I ask him to stay two weeks while while look for a new guy. His response? “no, sorry” and hangs up.
You know what’s not fair, Dick? Quitting the night before you’re scheduled to work a long day, and not even having the decency to give me a straight up answer as to why. So Tuesday—today—my year round guy had almost double the work he should have had. Ended up working 14 hours straight, manual labor, with two small driving brakes where I hope to God he managed to at least eat a bit. And you know what? I’m booked for weeks. All these people are expecting windows washed when I said they would be.
So I can reschedule the next three weeks, and potentially screw up the wonderful reputation I’ve worked hard to get. Not to mention lose clients who decide they can’t wait 4+ weeks to have their windows washed.
I can leave it as is, and have my year round guy work ridiculous hours until my part time summer guys come back to help out. I don’t want to do this, because it’s in no way fair to James, who is a fantastic employee, but also a student who needs more than 8 hours outside work every day.
So yeah. I’m pissed. I’m pissed that this kid lied to me about why he quit, I’m pissed that he couldn’t even act like a responsible young adult and put in two weeks notice, and I’m pissed that he makes me, a 22 year old, feel like an old person reprimanding the “lazy, good-for-nothing youths” when in reality he’s only a couple years younger than I am.
Wow. Sorry Oppo, I did not expect to get that much down. But damn, it feels good. I’m going to go make a drink. Cheers
"Bman76 (no it doesn't need a WS6 hood) M. Arch" (bman76)
05/17/2017 at 00:55, STARS: 1
I feel you on this one, we had a guy quit on Monday and we’re incredibly busy. Luckily we’ve got new interns starting next week and my other coworker comes back from maternity leave.
"BJohnson11" (brettjohnson01)
05/17/2017 at 00:59, STARS: 0
Classic Dick move. Jokes aside, that sounds awful. Enjoy your drink, maybe even have another.
"Shoop" (shoopdawoop993)
05/17/2017 at 01:02, STARS: 0
So uh, what brand equipment do you use for your handles, rubber, squeegees etc? Do you use pure water?
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
05/17/2017 at 01:03, STARS: 2
Really curious to hear from his parents.
In a few days I’ll be enjoying many drinks, but for now I’m taking it easy. Early mornings and whatnot
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
05/17/2017 at 01:07, STARS: 0
If you’re genuinely curious I can look up all my purchases. I buy everything through a particular window washing supply vendor online, about half of the gear is ettore (ettor?).
No pure water, just dawn dish soap of all things and TSP. The new thing around here has been companies spraying down windows with a “pure water formula” without squeegeeing afterwards. I’ve gotten calls to clean up after them a few times now haha
"Shoop" (shoopdawoop993)
05/17/2017 at 01:13, STARS: 1
I’m closely associated with a certain squeegee brand (the green one) which is why I asked. Ettore being the wrong answer :(
I don’t know what the hell pure water “formula” is, considering pure water is, by definition, not a formula.
Having used it I can say it works great for maintenance cleans, and ok for first timers, and can reduce the time and increase safety by 10x each.
I should stop before I really nerd out about carbon fiber poles etc.
Good luck this summer.
"My bird IS the word" (mybirdistheword)
05/17/2017 at 01:24, STARS: 2
I feel you a bit. Living at home still, my otherwise hardworking younger sister is graduating highschool, looking for a summer job. I get her one at the place I am currently working, and have been for three years. pays better than similar cashier work she will be doing other places.
Sister throws a fit. hates her job. want’s to go cashier at michael’s (craft store) doing the same thing for less money. hasn’t even worked a week.
Suffice to say I am pretty pissed.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
05/17/2017 at 01:28, STARS: 0
Green one... You don’t mean Unger do you? I certainly have a few pieces of kit from them. Poles, blades, specialty gear, etc.
Yeah I’m 99% sure the company doing that was using dish water filled up at a different location. Their truck had decals along sides with “nitrogen infused!” “300 times the cleaning power!” “100 year old industry secrets!”” spray the dirt away!“
Super strong, lightweight carbon fiber Poles (and ladders) please
"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
05/17/2017 at 01:29, STARS: 0
Oh man, I used to run a landscaping company when I was your age, and this rings oh so true. That was nearly a generation ago, so it’s not the youth of today. I ended up recruiting my dad to take over, because I gave up on getting employees (they all sucked, even though I paid damn near triple minimum wage). Dad gets his motorcycle and MG fund out of the deal, plus pays for his three month trip to Florida each winter, and he works part time, 5 months of the year. Kids are dumb.
"Sam" (samwellington)
05/17/2017 at 01:34, STARS: 0
We had a guy quit at our restaurant because he didn’t want to work his way through the ranks from dishwasher to kitchen. I worked with him for his training shifts, and he just really didn’t care about working there much. Just wanted to flirt with his girlfriend and the her friends. He came in for 2 shifts, then just ditched his third. This meant I had to come in and work a double 10AM-11PM on an very busy Friday. I was not happy.
Now we’ve had a lot of the more unreliable staff quit properly, so we should be able to find some decent people. It’s a pretty good place to work, really, so most people realise they are lucky to have gotten a job there. I only got one because I had a friend who’s worked there for several years vouch for me. That’s a quick way to get to the top of the application list here, as it’s a very friendly environment. It’s very hard to be in a bad mood there. I just don’t understand some people, though I was one of those several years ago and ditched a job out of nowhere after like 6 months.
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
05/17/2017 at 01:35, STARS: 7
It’s crazy. I almost think everyone should work at an awful minimum wage soul destroying job for a few months just to see how bad it can really be. Having a 40 hour paycheck give you $200 back after taxes is good for putting things in perspective.
Hopefully things work out for your sister job-wise. Or at least she learns from the ordeal!
"Panther Brown Tdi Volvo Shooting Brake Manual Miata RWD Wagon Stole HondaBro's Accord." (ningaboss)
05/17/2017 at 01:36, STARS: 2
Parents with connections.
Gets an easy job with good pay.
Quits immediately.
Starts complaining about finding a job.
What is going on here?
Employer now stuck with giving extra hours to keep in schedule.
Ends in damaged relationship with parents.
We invented giving notice for a reason.
"Sam" (samwellington)
05/17/2017 at 01:36, STARS: 0
I had a good friend vouch for me at my current job, so I feel very pressured to be reliable and do well. Sounds like your sister is a lacking foresight. Though I will say that cashier at Michaels will most likely be way less work to go with the lower pay. Those places never seem to be crowded.
"Alfalfa" (alfalfa-romeo)
05/17/2017 at 01:37, STARS: 1
Boss at my last job amazed me by telling me how many kids wouldn’t even show up for a scheduled interview. Then the ones who would accept a job offer and not show up the first day. Then the next group who would pull a no-show after their first day, which at least seems to have a teensy bit of rationale (oh I have to do actual work? Nevermind).
"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion)
05/17/2017 at 01:43, STARS: 0
Looking back on a few of my least favorite jobs, I now feel for some of the old bosses I used to hate.
Is this a generational thing or...? Like, I’m the laziest person you’ll ever meet, but I’ve still got a good work ethic and sense of responsibility.
"TheRealBicycleBuck" (therealbicyclebuck)
05/17/2017 at 01:52, STARS: 0
This is nothing new. My first employer after I graduated told me I got the job because I was the only one who wore a suit to the interview. Every other applicant was just as qualified as I. If they didn’t care enough to wear something better than jeans and a polo, he didn’t feel they would care enough to do a good job.
"Svend" (svend)
05/17/2017 at 02:50, STARS: 0
I work in a super market on nights filling shelves. It can be hard work and awkward on the body (pulling and twisting muscles) but over the years we’ve had people apply for vacancies because they have to make a certain number of applications each fortnight or risk losing some of their benefits (social security). So they apply, we get them in and they either never come back, or do a few nights (dragging their feet and taking way too long even when heavily coached on what to do and partnered with another colleague) and then leave.
I recall two, one did half an hour on the shop floor and walked out the front door, the other came into the store at 9:30pm to sign some paperwork and get his uniform for a 10pm work start. At 10:05pm he came down stairs and walked out the front door.
Re: window cleaning. In the U.K. your not allowed to use ladders to wash windows unless there is someone at the bottom at all times, the area at the bottom is coned off and risk assessed.
Most use carbon fibre poles with filtered water so they can work alone from the ground.
"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
05/17/2017 at 02:54, STARS: 4
I went to a school that DEMANDED you get a co-op/internship as part of your education requirements. We had a decent washout rate from that alone.
Now in my 10th year in my field at the age of 27, I find myself hiring. I go to a decent sized university’s engineering/sciences career fair. Most of these asswipes don’t even have a resume, and some have the balls to come up to me and go “Well, why should I work for you? Sell your company to me!”. I would gladly do so, and I did so, for the three students with some above and beyond research work and references and an internship or two. You? Mr. tweed vest and goodwill hat and no resume? You need to be selling your ass off to anyone who will take you. I have no time for you here. Have fun. Hope it only takes a few doors hitting you to wake you up.
"pip bip - choose Corrour" (hhgttg69)
05/17/2017 at 05:17, STARS: 0
at least you got a week
my boss hired a kid, he lasted 3 days
2nd kid only lasted a day, reckons doing spare parts was too hard.
"RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars" (rallydarkstrike)
05/17/2017 at 05:30, STARS: 1
I hope you mention to his parents that he quit and the reason he told you he quit...
"Scott" (merl3noir)
05/17/2017 at 06:59, STARS: 1
I’ve been going through some what the same shit. Only additional problem is the kid is my step son, so I have to play the role of boss and step father. In my case he claims to already have a job... he’s and author. It’s just he’s been working on his novel since he was 12. Last year he set himself a deadline of finishing it by Passover. Then it became start actually writing by pass over. I’ve tried to explain to him, until your getting paid and able to support your self that’s not a job, that’s a hobby.
We’ve given him a number of warnings, he tends to show up, when he feels like it. The problem is, he has the keys so in a few cases I’m paying a crew of contractors to stand around waiting for him to show up and unlock the place. I’ve had one of the contractors comment to me about his work habits.
I will say this, once he shows up, he’s generally pretty hard working, and other than often needing to remind him to take care of tools and not to break everything he mostly is a hard worker.
A couple weeks ago I actually fired him. After several warning, and letting him know that it was his last warning I told him, I expect him at work by 9a.m unless instructed other wise the night before. The next day, 10 am comes and goes and he’s just getting into the shower. My partner had to run over to the job sight and let our contractors in at 9am. So I told him he was fired from the job, and as his step father, I consider his job to be finding another job, and I want to see several job applications each day.
By 11am my partner had given him his job back... as a gift to him. Last week, my partner complained about how he was showing up late again, and that the contractors where complaining about him. At this point I’ve mostly wiped my hands of him. We have a lock box for the keys at the job sight so our GC can let everyone in.
"Scott" (merl3noir)
05/17/2017 at 07:17, STARS: 4
Way back in the 90's a manager I worked with then was having trouble hiring people. Lots of no shows, people showing up drunk or smelling of alcohol. One person brought a friend to the interview, and wanted the friend to help her through the interview. Another was brought in by his mother, who was practically pushing him in the door. He was in his mid 30's.
I figured some of it was people trying to meet requirements to keep unemployment or other benefits coming in. They wanted to be able to say they applied, but where not offered the job. But they needed to be sure to blow the interview enough to not get offered a job, which means the other people doing the same thing, need to be even worse to make sure they are less likely to get hired.
If that’s true, it only explained some of the cases. So the rest just had to be THAT BAD. Around that same time I remember being offered a job by a customer. No interview, I had only met him 5 min earlier. I asked him why he offered a job so quickly and his answer was, your sober, your here on time, and you can speak English. Your already well ahead of everyone else that I see.
"nerd_racing" (nerd189)
05/17/2017 at 07:17, STARS: 1
I agree with you 100%. Worked at a wal-mart in college. Made me appreciate my current job so much more. 7+ years and going strong here.
"Scott" (merl3noir)
05/17/2017 at 07:22, STARS: 0
A blog I follow on management, suggested that Millennials require a different approach to managing them. They want to see how they contribute to something bigger, and need to see how they fit in, and how they are making things better. Not sure how true it is, but I can say, some of this, just always has been, some of it is generational, but even past generation, went through the same thing,.
"TorqueToYield" (torquetoyield)
05/17/2017 at 07:36, STARS: 3
“parents are both successful, incredibly hard working people”
There’s your problem.
I’ve been working at least part time since I was 14. My parents didn’t buy me anything except food and clothes and school supplies. If I wanted video games, I worked and spent my money on them. Toys? A Bike? Computer parts? All my money. A car? HAHAHA. I worked years to save up for a $500 piece of shit beater that I drove for 2 years in high school.
I couldn’t afford a car/insurance/gas/parking throughout college so I didn’t have one. I could only afford a car once I got my first ‘real’ salaried job out of college.
My brother and I spent an entire summer selling lemonade on the street when I was about 8 to be able to buy an NES.
Don’t hire rich kids.
"DipodomysDeserti" (dipodomysdeserti)
05/17/2017 at 07:40, STARS: 0
It’s not a generational thing, it’s an American thing. I had a forty year-old man do this to me. He was also a tradesman making good money. In the eight years of managing our business I’ve found Americans (from ages 18-50) to be some of the most fickle workers around.
"Manny05x" (Manny05x)
05/17/2017 at 07:41, STARS: 0
Is this generation they want all the perks but none of the hard work.
"Invinciblejets" (invinciblejets13b)
05/17/2017 at 08:12, STARS: 0
What surprised me is that you are only 22. I’m 22 and Run a kitchen and don’t see much changing anytime soon...
That’s messed up of that kid tho... what could have possibly of happened where he couldn’t even put in 2 weeks or tell you the truth. You said he had well off parents. Sounds like they have bailed him out of any situation and babied him through it so he doesn’t understand the results of his actions and just thinks about himself.
"haveacarortwoorthree2" (haveacarortwoorthree2)
05/17/2017 at 09:01, STARS: 1
I’m glad you said you were only 22, because I see crap like this and feel like an old man. My own HS-age son is a very good athlete and complains about going to practice. I tell him that when I was his age, I had essentially a full-time after-school job because if I wanted a car, I had to buy it. If I wanted to drive the car, I had to pay for gas and insurance. If I wanted to go out on a date, I had to pay for it (back in those days, the guys always paid. lol). My firm gets a hundred resumes for one job, and people show up without doing any research on the firm. Of course, when the candidate shows up knowing my background, the number of kids I have, the cars I drive, etc., then I get a little concerned for other reasons! Good luck.
"Shoop" (shoopdawoop993)
05/17/2017 at 09:14, STARS: 0
:)
That’s funny. I guess there’s snake oil in every buisness.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/17/2017 at 09:22, STARS: 0
That is a seriously Dick move.
I’d offer to help you super temporarily, as you’re in my area and I could use a change of pace for a little while, but between my coordination and tech worker physique, it’s more likely I’d get winded doing any of it and fall to my death off a ladder than actually help much.
If I knew someone on the Seattle side that needed work, I’d try to facilitate an interview, but all the unemployed people I know that are good/reliable workers live in Kitsap county.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/17/2017 at 09:25, STARS: 0
I always hate when customers offer me FTE jobs. It happens way too often and either is against something I (or they) signed (usually non-binding on my part) or their work is far too simple, uninteresting, or low-paying for me to possibly consider it.
"Snuze: Needs another Swede" (markg)
05/17/2017 at 09:51, STARS: 0
I just quit my job yesterday. Two weeks ago I got a verbal offer from an organization where I’ve been trying to get my foot in the door for 4 years, but I just got the official offer yesterday. I was annoyed that they drug the hiring process out so long because I have commitments scheduled for this job with international clients from June 5th through November and I wanted to give this company as much time to find a replacement for me.
Overseas travel with no notice sucks, trust me, they’ve done it to me on numerous occasions. I once was told on a Tuesday night that I would need to be on a plane for Japan on Friday morning, and had not done any of the requisite security paperwork to get on the clients site up to that point, and that normally takes 2 weeks to process. Fun times.
But I wanted to be professional and not screw them over, so as soon as my mind was made up and I accepted the offer I let them know.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
05/17/2017 at 10:00, STARS: 0
Ugh. What a Dick.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
05/17/2017 at 10:05, STARS: 0
I really hope his parents are pissed at him. Too many parents let their kids get away with anything when they’re kids, which leads to shit like this when they get older, and often the parents still don’t give them any flak for it.
"Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
05/17/2017 at 11:07, STARS: 0
Actually rather sage advice here. I have noticed that kids that got a lot given to them often have a harder time with real work than those that had to work.
My wife is an odd exception. They gave her a car and covered things (including all her expenses through college, car insurance, and so-forth), but they also insisted that she work from her last summer in high school all the way through college. She never was unemployed at even one point along the way and she’s on her third job now.
I had to work for everything because my parents couldn’t have given me much even if they wanted to. This included working my way through college and graduating debt-free. I’m probably excessively dedicated to my jobs, to the point that I don’t leave until a company is in serious trouble and I feel I’m no longer needed. Most of my former employers no longer exist, including some large national organizations that were dissolved...
"Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
05/17/2017 at 11:27, STARS: 0
My business has remained pretty small because I can’t find good, consistent help. For every one person I find that sticks around a while (over a year) there are a ton more that I don’t even bother with a second interview if there’s a first to begin with. Part of the problem is college town. But a big problem is parents’ not teaching their kids any basic values or instilling any work ethic.
"Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
05/17/2017 at 11:31, STARS: 0
I’ve found for the most part I have to treat younger people (I’m 30) with kid gloves. They need a lot of praise and have trouble handling any criticism. It tends to be kids that come from middle class and up families. They have no concept of work ethic. But I have also had some that are really great so it’s obviously not across the board
"Funktheduck" (funktheduck)
05/17/2017 at 11:42, STARS: 0
Oh man. I wish I could run into someone like that. Usually, I get the terrible resumes with spotty job history or a new job listed every couple months. Yes, I’d love to hire you, person who has only host/server/cashier experience and a different place of employment every 2-3 months.
"davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com" (davesaddiction)
05/17/2017 at 11:56, STARS: 1
Yup. If I was his dad, I’d be telling him that he would be working at least two more weeks, end of discussion.
"CaptDale - is secretly British" (captdale)
05/17/2017 at 13:07, STARS: 0
I don’t even understand this. Sure I am 25 and would love to have some of the freedoms my colleagues have with their own set schedule, but I have bills to pay and thus work 6 days a week almost 10 hours a day. And it is what it is. Holiday time is hard to take and such cause it is just three of us and we are always busy. I just can’t even imagine blowing off appointments and getting hired and then not even showing up. That makes no fucking sense to me at all.
I am sorry you are having to put up with that. Sounds super shitty.
"NJAnon" (NJAnon)
05/19/2017 at 00:50, STARS: 0
college kids are still kids. You’ll get someone even better than him OP.