That was the first offensive thing my boss said to me today. It was not the last. We were building a lawn irrigation system for a large house with a small yard in downtown Chicago. Everything was going well except for the steady string of abuse from the boss.
The job was about a half hour from completion and testing, but we needed to go help a second crew finish another job afterward. For some reason the boss thought berating us was somehow going to speed up the process. It had the opposite effect on me. The verbal assault sapped all motivation and morale. I told a co-worker I was reaching my limit but continued with my work. When moments later he began again I stopped completely...
I was using every ounce of energy I had to calm myself and just keep going. He demanded to know what I was doing. I told him I was thinking of walking. The tirade he unleashed was epic. I made up my mind. I stood up and left the hole I'd been working in and all the parts and tools. I walked straight to my lunch box and thermos, removed my company hoodie, t-shirt, and hat amidst the onslaught of vitriol and started walking down a chilly Chicago sidestreet in my thermal undershirt. I was 45 miles away from my car and 65 miles from home, but I felt much better.
Luckily the first of thw Chicago friends I tried calling wasn't busy and happily picked me up and drove me to the train station. The train was late and behind schedule but got me within five miles of my car. My efforts to get someone I knew to pick me up at the station failed, but I got lucky again and after thumbing two rides the clock in my vehicle said it was only three hours since leaving the job site.
The guys I work with called me several times along the way asking what happened and wondering where I was. I didn't feel like talking about it and told them I was fine. As I was picking my daughter up the office manager called to tell me I needed to turn in my remaining uniforms. I told him maybe he should just have the boss call me after he's cooled down.
I'm conflicted at this moment. I don't know if I should try to straighten this out or what. I know if I go to work tomorrow I'll have a job, probably with a pay cut. I can probably get back to where I was after a week or two. I also know the boss is going to say I have "an attitude problem" which at this point may very well be true. I won't know until after I talk with him whether he's going to change HIS attitude. I've worked for this guy off an on in several different capacities for over 15 years.
I know he has absolutely no respect for any of his employees and cares about no one but himself, but he HAS always given me a job whenever I've been in a pinch. He knows I'm the hardest worker he's ever had. There are many things I do better than anyone else who works for him. He knows I'm conscientious and meticulous. He knows I've covered his ass on countless occasions. I'm always the first to arrive every morning. I suppose I'll find out soon enough if any of that matters to him.