Workplace Drama: Royce is Quitting?!

Wow. What a day it was yesterday. 

I was working, doing my thing when Roland came up to me and said, “I put in my notice. I quit. Sunday is my last day. You need to watch that man (referring to Kim). You need to watch him. You’re a good man. I like you. He’s going to kill somebody someday. I can’t take it. I’m out of here.”

I talked to him at the end of the shift. It would seem that my letter has put pressure on our fragile eco system, and exposed some problems. Joe and the other manager currently in town got in trouble for not staying on top of things (this was not my intention. I did not even think I could get them in trouble). Apparently there have been a lot of talks between Roland and Joe and the other manager (let’s call him Steve). Roland adamantly said, “That man (referring to myself) did nothing but what was asked of him.” Wow, I did not realize that my e-mail would cause such a ruckus.

What is frustrating about all of this is that nobody is talking to me about my e-mail. If I bypassed the chain of command, somebody tell me who I should have contacted. But when my actual manager says, “Write an e-mail, and address it to myself, Joe and Steve,” then what am I to do? Not send the e-mail? I suppose I should have just not mentioned anything to him in the first place? “All is well here. Nothing to report.” It seems this is what I was supposed to do. But nobody will say that (nobody can say that) and so the controversy swirls. And nobody can tell me “what the chain of command” is, because Joe won’t officially take the role of manager. We have no managers: just guys that come in from out of town with no particular title, but a lot of seniority. When they’re in town, they’re the “go-to” person. But I’m still going to copy Gary on things, because these guys come and go.

…anyways. With all of this going on, Joe apparently feels more pressure to be more managerial. In his world, that means kicking more people at the bottom. Kim is currently at the bottom, and I have seen Joe talking to him several times from across the yard. Joe leaning forwards, shoulders hunched and eyebrows furrowed like a bully calling someone’s momma a whore. Kim tight lipped and pale, hands drooping at his side. Taking it. But seething with self-loathing and frustrating inside. 

It’s not that Kim doesn’t deserve some intervention. But bullying him is doing nothing good for him. 

Yesterday morning, Kim forgot the lights on on his truck. He was almost crying this morning, (his inner child coming to the surface, and fairly screaming for pity and help) as he frantically tried to get the battery working before Joe found him. But find him he did, and laid into him. That made Kim go crazy, and he went into one of his rages. He jumped in his very large work truck, and went thundering across the yard, slammed on the brakes and (in Royce’s words…I was not there) slammed it in reverse so fast the tires were skidding. When Royce gestured for him to slow the fridge down, Kim just gave him a dirty look. 

And that was the last straw. Royce handed in his notice, and came passionately to me, telling me to watch my back. Literally. 

“That man is going to kill somebody someday!”

Damn. I hope it’s not me.

Also, I really hope that they find a way to fire Kim, and keep Royce on.

Surprising things happened yesterday. I spent the entire day waiting for our main client to call for product: but people were not communicating, so I kept just finding odd jobs to do. People have started noticing that I am handy, and can get a wide range of things done. And so Steve and another employee asked me to do projects, which I did very well: things that have sat undone for years. This plant is actually starting to change. Really, change. It is no longer a place with messes and broken things and dirty trucks everywhere. It is looking much better. This has a lot to do with my energy and influence.

Out of nowhere, Joe appeared with a credit card. “Go to the store and buy the lights for the truck, and anything else on your list.” 

I had sent an e-mail to the managers about parts for our truck. I had been trying to get some basic parts for over a month, but we are in a finances crunch, and (as mentioned before) the leadership dynamics make it complicated and confusing to make the most basic purchase. I looked at the credit card like someone had casually handed me the crown jewels of England and said, “Go put these on for a few minutes.”

I took the card and bought the parts. My truck looked like a red Ferrari: wow, two real lights, of the right colour even! Imagine the luxury!

I cannot say that this was entirely a good experience. It was a very upsetting day. My world was being thrown into disarray. My guts felt all upside down. “I’m not being promoted,” I thought glumly to myself, “my workplace is being demoted.” I was bitterly disappointed about the thought of going to work without Royce, my only real friend in the place, and the only local that really cared about quality, and put in an honest day’s work. My internal compass felt out of whack. Where do I fit now? I feel lost, and destabilized. I know that I am moving up, but moving where?

Later that night, I got a text from Steve. “Would you like to spend some time running the plant tomorrow?” When I was hired, I was told I would be trained on running the plant: but after some early training, they have completely shelved that idea. I have been bugging them for almost a month to complete my training, since I am almost ready to run it on my own: but they have shown no interest, and I gave up.

Now it’s just handed to me. Well, if Royce quits, they need another tech. Kim is certainly not going back into that seat.

It’s a crazy world I find myself in. A crazy world I have made for myself? I guess that my letter started this whole landslide.

I seem to be coming out on top. That should be a good thing, I guess. Should I be happy?

Damn, I wish that Royce wouldn’t quit.

I really don’t want to work with Kim. Really, really don’t. He’s a great guy when things are going well. But he goes blind when his issues arise and he gets mad. He’s going to kill someone one day. That is not hyperbole. The man is dangerous.

And will they just suddenly decide that I should now be thrust into a position of leadership, give me no support, and set me up to fail? Well, on the bright side I am very competent. And I already know a lot about what goes on here. And I have alliances with a lot of people: I can call Joe or Steve or Gary, and they will all be pleasant on the phone and help me. I can do it.

It’s almost time for work now. In I go. What will I find waiting for me?

I will be up to the challenge. I am competent, and my God is mighty to save.

God, please may Royce not quit. And may Kim get fired. But please, may he find peace for his issues. That is what I really wish for him.

Bless this day. 

Amen.