I've been working for a new company for about 3 weeks now. It's manual labor so it is taxing and has danger potential.
Today I was operating a crane, I'm working by myself because we're shorthanded so no one urgently needed the crane. There's a heavy load attached to the crane and I guess I was being slow because one of the team leaders stopped me and started interrogating me. He kept saying “Are you switched on today?”.
His demeanor was pissed and aggressive so I was really taken back by it because my initial thoughts on this particular person was positive, he was actually one of my favorites at work. I replied with “yes?” and “why? What did I do?” to which he just said “it's just a question, what are you doing? Are you switched on?”.
He kept pushing the “switched on” part and I was really confused as to why he was getting in my face and wondered if I did something wrong or dangerous to warrant this interaction but he retorted that it's a valid question. I explained what I was doing and he just told me to “get on with it” and left.
It left a really sour taste and my perspective on this guy was changed. He just seemed like a straight up asshole in that moment, didn't explain anything just felt like he wanted to let off some steam and I was the target. I initially liked him so I went up to him 15 mins later to ask about it.
I asked him if he didn't like how I was working, and he told me he saw me mucking around. Which I felt like I wasn't, again maybe I was being a bit slow with the crane and seemed to be staring into space but I was thinking about how to handle the heavy load and was following my training on planning ahead. Which is ironic because the company goes on and on about safety.
Anyway he pretty much defended himself and told me he didn't do anything wrong and that he was “only doing his job”, he even told me if I have a problem with that then we can go speak with the manager. Which I suppose was a threat, or at least felt like one. I was really surprised because I felt like I was overthinking it but his response again was just a complete f you, I have power, you don't bs.
I told him he was really aggressive and that I felt like I wasn't “mucking around” and was infact planning ahead. He was very politically correct and just said some general, “I've been here a long time…” Kind of bs and essentially just told me he's more experienced and I should get fucked in a way that seemed polite. Again after that, I just left and was even more pissed than before.
Later he came up to me to “apologize” but said he was sorry if he “seemed” aggressive but told me he wasn't sorry for saying what he said. I pretty much just ended the conversation because I felt like there was no point and I was being treated like dirt at this point.
After lunch I went home early and told them I felt exhausted. Truthfully I probably could've kept working but I just felt depressed after that interaction. I felt like I was treated like shit and that I had no value at all. One moment they tell us to take it slowly and be safe, the next they're telling us to hurry the fuck up.
I feel like I should talk to the manager but I have a good feeling he will take the team leader's side as I've only been there a few weeks. Despite his “apology” he didn't really say sorry. He in a very nicely way just told me to get fucked. I know a lot of other workers here complain about safety just for them to throw it back in our faces. So I dont know if it's worth it, I doubt they're care.