Long story short, I work for myself as a carpenter/property manager. Last year before winter a landscaper came to the property I managed and I befriended him. Early this year he reached out to me to see if I would be interested in helping him for the season. At this point I was really stressed about finding my own jobs plus some personal life things, I decided to take the job for the sake of not needing to worry about any of the “business” aspects of the work I do.
The first month was pretty great to be honest, I love the work and I even got my friend a job who has always had difficulty with employers. BUT there have been random “red flags”. I always thought he was just a little out there, but as soon as my friend started he started acting weird immediately, he insinuated that my friend put a PILL IN HIS COFFEE on his first day (I've been best friends with this guy since childhood and he would never do that. Also what?), there have been times my friend and I would be talking and laughing and he'd get weird then ask if we were talking about him, he has insinuated that he pays me too much (I make significantly less than normal but settled for consistency). The list could go in but I didn't really think too hard about it.
So this is why I'm here. Last week all of those “quirky” things quickly became red flags, my ex wife went to the ER during the weekend and I texted my boss that I needed Monday off to figure what was going on with my son's care (keep in mind I never have called out, I stay late, I'm on time). My friend couldn't go in because I'm his ride. On Tuesday when we went in this dude was hounding me about my ex wife's situation. He didn't believe it at all and I'd set boundaries to not yell him the full story because I DON'T HAVE TO. He then made a comment about how fast he did the day my friend and I were off work, after the fourth time of him bringing it up I said “well at that point do you even need helpers?” And he said no and proceeded to go in about how he can find people who want to work. At the end of the day after asking me invasive questions about my ex wife he then told me that he felt like my friend and I were conspiring against him. I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY WE WOULD DO THAT.
So I already have work lined up, I have a great reputation with what I do and I don't need this job, I just wanted it and I feel like this guy doesn't realize that. I have a few people I've done work with who have called me back. I want to just leave especially after the comment of finding people who want to work (That's a solid no when people say that). But I'm afraid if I quit he will fire my friend and I don't want to then have my friend stuck with no job last minute. I've reached out to people to see if I can get him some work but nothing concrete.
Thank you for letting me vent.