So. I run my own insurance agency but it's more of a side hustle. A few weeks ago I decided it would be smart to probably get something with more stable income rather than rely on my shaky commissions.
Got hired at a flag and banner factory. The offer was a decent one 42k for training with a raise to 50 after completion and healthcare so I accepted.
The commute was 30 minutes without traffic and 50 with but despite this I was on time every single day without issue.
But my problem started on day 1. I was told that since the position I was hired for was partially management I would be required to go and learn how each part of production was done. I would be expected to know how to operate each machine in case someone was sick or on vacation.
This seemed reasonable to me and I accepted those terms. My first day I was assigned to the oldest employee. Let's call him “chuck” . “Chuck” was aloof at first but after a 15 minute instruction I was operating a machine pretty much by myself. Chuck told me that he had worked here since 1985 and that this was “his” shop and that I had best understand that. It was kind of an “ok boomer” moment but I blew it off and tried to learn as much as possible. Throughout my week with chuck I noticed something: chuck had an issue with just about everyone. And had something negative to say about every employee in the shop. This was a clear red flag but I just decided to kill him with kindness and move on to the next station.
The next week while in another part of the factory a few employees (the ones able to speak English) expressed surprised that I had survived my week with chuck. I shrugged said I enjoyed it (I didn't) and tried to press on.
But I noticed something. Chuck made the rounds every day to complain about other employees to everyone he could. And chuck had made one thing clear: I wasn't liked or welcome.
So as my 2nd week grinds on I notice chuck checking up on me and glaring at me regularly. I try to go out of my way to be nice and tell him good morning but all I get is a scowl each time.
Then comes Wednesday: chuck storms into the area I'm working in and Begins ranting to me and the guy training me about “government crackpipes”. And the death of America. I tell him I don't keep up with that kind of news and don't feel like this is an appropriate conversation to be having and excuse myself trying not to fall into an obvious trap.
Later that day chuck begins complaining about his least favorite employee to me (coincidentally the only other English speaking employee under 40) and I tell him that once again I don't think that this line of discussion is particularly productive and excuse myself.
Well.. today chuck went to our boss and accused me of being hostile, unable to learn and “a bad fit” and said that I needed to be fired. And without a second thought I was pulled into the office and let go. No chance to prove what I had learned. No real chance of rebuttal and interestingly enough no chance to do the job I was hired for.
These same people frequently complained they couldn't find help and that the factory had dropped from 120 employees to about 25 and could not keep anyone.
I gotta say.. I'm floored. I've never seen a more toxic combination of OSHA violations, worker exploitation, ageism and glaringly obvious favoritism. I was willing to work. And I did work quite hard coming home with my khakis covered in ink and covered in bruises from moving 200lb sewing machine setups. I did everything they asked except suck up to chuck.
The boss even admitted he liked me and didn't want to see me go but that “you gotta do what you gotta do” and even said I could have another weeks pay next week to land on my feet.
What a crazy ride.