This is a true story (with minor alterations for anonymity). Using throwaway because people might read Reddit.
I (36M) used to work at a firm fitting medical devices for clients. Have you ever worked with someone who is the most insecure, small minded, status seeking, racist, ass kissing, full of envy, bullying person in the world?
The manager there, lets call him Trash Human (TH) initially looked to be a pleasant guy. I try to see the good side of everyone, but my time working with TH leaves me no doubt that there are trashy people in the world.
A few incidents come to mind:
INCIDENT 1
TH has a guilty conscience. I got on the bad side of TH the second day of work when I asked a colleague, “Where is TH?” because I needed to ask him a few questions about work procedures and paperwork. Half an hour later, he comes in and went on and on about “How dare you question where I was…I have right to go where I want…blah blah blah.”
Frankly, I couldn't care less where you had been. I just wanted to ask you questions about how to do my work because I was new. BTW, I've noticed he always comes in an hour late, takes extensive smoke breaks and disappears for long periods of time. Guilty conscience much?
INCIDENT 2
TH goes on a power trip and has no empathy.
Now I am on the bad side of TH. The firm was not making enough money so they brought me in because my qualifications means that I can generate more revenue by covering another step of the process. This means that some people had to be made redundant.
One of the nicest colleague had to be let go. The way TH went about it was reprehensible. Even at someone’s most vulnerable point he had to go on a power trip.
TH approached colleague and told her she had to go. She burst into tears and asked for some time so she could copy photos of her family onto a USB. TH goes on a power trip, looks at me and goes, “She is trespassing, (looks at me), call the police.” He expects me to obey. I look at him and say, “Give her a few minutes to gather her things and I’ll escort her out.” He says in a whiny voice, “(her name), is trespassing, (my name), call the police.” I just stand there and don’t comply. All this time she was in tears.
Later, TH comes to my room and say, “when I give you an order I expect you to follow through.” Not one shred of empathy for someone who had lost her job. She had been there for years and is suffering recovering from injuries from a car accident.
INCIDENT(S) 3
TH is very insecure.
Straight up sexual harassment.
“Hey, (my name), have you ever had anal sex?” “Hey lets talk about your sexual history.” No thank you.
Almost every morning: “Hey, (my name), so you have small dick eh? Is it because you’re Asian?” I just reply, “are you really that insecure with yourself? Is this all you have to say every morning? Is this all you can think about?” And so on. I know he’s just trying to get on my nerves by wearing me down.
One day TH shows me a picture on his phone. TH appears to be kneeling while his face was surrounded by a bunch of dudes with their dicks out. Apparently it’s some kind of a prank/lost bet called a Soggy Sao or something? Why would he have that on his phone and show me that for no reason?
Another time TH’s house had no water because of a storm. TH comes up to me and describes a sexual act with his wife and how her crotch smelled “ripe” because they could not shower. Why would I want to know that? Isn’t that disrespectful of your wife?
INCIDENT 4
TH is full of envy. I went on a 2-week training with another professional outfit to get updated industry experience become coming back in-house.
When I returned I had a conversation with TH. He has this crazed look about the guy who trained me and “His LIFESTYLE!” Probably referring to house, holiday and car or something.
INCIDENT 5
TH is bad with money and needs to seek status. One day, he boasts about the interest rate on a personal loan he obtained for his boat. He says excitedly, “Hey (my name), guess what a great deal I got with the bank?”
Shows me pictures of “my boat.” Has to mention “my boat” in conversations. Brings up “my boat” to sound cool. Ok, I get it, you went into at least $40k in debt to finance “my boat” and “my jacked up SUV”
INCIDENT 6
TH is a bad father.
TH has money problems because of his personal loans and credit card debts. The firm was not doing well. One day TH and his wife brings his teenage son and his 5 year old daughter to work. His cousin who was working there had to give her 2 minute noodles so that the children could have lunch.
From day 1, I saw a framed picture in the lobby of his infant son who had died of SIDS. It says that a percentage of the moneys earned will be used to give to charity for SIDS research. Doubt they gave money to charity. On top of my usual work, I also briefly did the payroll and had access to the accounts. If donations were made it would have been through the company accounts for tax deduction purposes.
What kind of father exploits his dead infant child to generate sales? What kind of father gets into debt to buy a boat and SUV and neglects to feed his children lunch?
INCIDENT 7
TH is lazy and jealous.
TH has had years to obtain his professional qualifications. He relies on employees and their licences to do the medical fittings.
One day, TH says to me to my face: “Hey (my name), we should rip up your Degree to four pieces and share it with the other partners.” I have to admit, that really got to me for a while.
INCIDENT 8
TH thinks he’s a badass.
TH used to do security on a property owned by some kind of mob boss. One day a rival gang member drove up to the entrance and ask if mob boss owned the property and threatened to shoot him up. TH is very proud when he said to the gang member “Well you’re welcome to shoot at me because I’m a big target.” He was more obese at the time. Yes, very badass. Likes to repeat that story to me to show his badassery.
INCIDENT 9
TH had changed (?) Probably not.
The firm closes and everybody moves on. Years later, TH calls me out of the blue to ask if I do a certain kind of work. I say that it’s not a usual part of my practice.
TH mentions that when he talks to people he will say that “It’s not usual, but I was a partner in a (my profession) firm.” They were using my qualifications to open a (my profession) firm at the time to generate more revenue. Guess he likes to sound prestigious because he was a partner in a (my profession) firm despite never bothering to get further qualifications other than high school?
TH also just has to mention in passing that “he is a member of a church now.” Maybe he has changed. “Oh I also bought a (insert high end V8 muscle car).” Nope, haven’t changed.
/edit for paragraph spacing