Hey all,
Know that it is part of life dealing with people. I have four guys working directly under me and 6 others who float in and out depending on need.

Number one, lets keep the names out, came into work the other morning and started talking about his adventures from last night.
Somewhere around 3am he was at a car wash pressure washing his buddies loaner truck (another story). Decided to relieve himself while running the pressure wand. Well, one wand got out of control, not the personal one, so he let the other go. This led to a common experience of the very, very young. With high pressure wand now in both hands he turned it on himself for sanitary cleaning. I think these things kinda hurt.
With the cleaning started the pressure washer meter started its warning cry for more quarters.
He locked himself out of the truck. No change, no spare key.
Walked wet two blocks to a convenience store. They couldn’t open his truck either(?). Walked back, broke in through the vent window, and went home.

Why he told me this I have no clue. Yes, I told everyone, still am. Yes, he was upset that I did so. Hoping to be spared these future tales if he knows I will talk.

Number two came in this morning in a frenzy. Child services cleaned out his bank account. Payday was yesterday. He wants to know what I'm going to do about this. Wants advice on the papers he has from child services. The dude is soaked in sweat.

Two and Three are hanging wall brackets for TV's. It's been two hours, I think the first one is out of the box and all the parts are in the room.

Number one just called in sick, moments ago.

Number three, he just smiles, does his job and says Okey Dokey.
Waiting for the day he decides to go freaky like the others.

Number Four, he laughs at his own jokes(this is constant). Annoys number One, Two, and Three to no end. If Four could work and talk at the same time, he might be the best guy I have. He can't, and he likes his stories, repeatedly.Always asks me if I'm mad at him(?). Big on sucking-up. Four can latch onto an overseas flight and make the ride there and back with his suction prowess.

I know my world isn’t really bad.

I'm working 10-16 hours seven days trying to get the new facility completely setup. About another month or two and my hours should drop close to 50 a week. My wife’s been depressed (worrying about me she says). My sisters bed-ridden with cancer. My folks are living in a trailer in Vegas working part time without health insurance. They commute from Vegas to So-Cal in an older Chysler Stratus for my sister twice a week. And, I almost killed my dog with mole poison. Yes it was an accident, and he is fine and as happy as a lab should be. We got him to the vet within ten minutes after consumption. The poison looks like shelled peanuts, and he loves shelled peanuts.

I think am a functioning human at work. I don't yell. We work our way through issues with-in our job as they are identified. None of my people are aware of my personal issues, only my supervisor has direct knowledge of these.

And I have not peed myself since kindergarten.
Does this make me a condescending ass?

naw, just a little stressed

Sounds like you could use some time off. Working long hours seven days a week can get rough on you. I must say that you are not the only one who goes through this kind of stuff. I have around 100 guys working underneath me and not a day goes by that I don't get at least 2 or 3 stupid occurrences that I have to put up with. I wish I had a dollar for every letter that I have to write to parole officers, probation officers, social services, counselors, etc. It's a wonder that I don't drink...

A bottle of Jack and two extra days off! Then start screening new help!:D

Let me help you out here:

"Wanted. Four reliable workers with good attitudes and and work ethics to replace four who aren't reliable and have no work ethics."

Let me help you out here:

"Wanted. Four reliable workers with good attitudes and and work ethics to replace four who aren't reliable and have no work ethics."

Make sure you post a copy in the break room too.....

I took one of those 7 days-a-week jobs six years ago. I made it 2 1/2 years before my marriage and personal life started downhill. Went back to my original workplace for less money and 5 days a week, best move I ever made. Manage a shop with 9 guys, for the most part they're good. Don't burn yourself out, NO job is worth it.

Owning a business can be a tough check on the mind and body. I have been in business for almost a year now and have serious reservations about the decision to be a self proprietor. The 4 employees I have are all soap opera queens and though they are good people they are past middle aged and stuck in their ways. 2 are alcoholics and the other 2 just flat out have problems. Working as much as you do is having a dramatic affect on your life and time is the one thing we can't get back. No real good comments except I hope it is all worth it for you in the end. I know in the past year I have been able to create enormous debt, put my marriage in jeopardy, and not get to do what I finally figured out makes me happy and that is helping people whether it means fixing an oil leak or cutting up a tree blocking their shed door. As one vendor always says, "keep fighting the good fight." Oh, and remember you are living the American Dream!!!!

Ok, 4 yr. emp. stole 700 4 wks ago and took off,cops say its a civil matter, 1 yr. emp. busted rear wind. out off dump trk last week,did say he was sorry, The worst thing is the foul language in front of customers. Whaddau gonna do.

Ok, 4 yr. emp. stole 700 4 wks ago and took off,cops say its a civil matter, 1 yr. emp. busted rear wind. out off dump trk last week,did say he was sorry, The worst thing is the foul language in front of customers. Whaddau gonna do.

Set standards and enforce them.

Johnyac:Does this make me a condescending ass?

Only if you keep putting up with the drama. Lol. You need some responsible, mature, reliable drug free people, the kind that feel guilty for standing around getting paid doing nothing. The kind that show up early no matter what and are willing to stay late just to complete a task no questions asked. The kind who take pride in what they do and treat to the company's equipment good if not better than their own. When I worked in Industrial Fab those are the only types I'd recommend for hire. Once you get a crew like that on board quality goes up, production goes up, profit goes up, drama goes down and they ultimately get compensated for their hard work.

John,
Give your four employees M-16's and then you will have what I had to deal with only in a different country...

Now if you smoke and drink you best quit because those things will kill you... :D

Too bad there isnt some sort of pay scale like mechanics get. You get paid based on job and if your not working, you dont get paid.

tell them to keep their personal lives at home like you do and get to work. if they must tell people about their problems, that's what break time is for.

how about the same excuse's every year ........

day light savings time = everyone showing up late one hour ... becouse they forgot :rolleyes:
cinco de mayo = a sick day
court appt are all day affairs ....... altho I know night court exists !!
an ICE crack downs = a weeks vacation becouse they got deported .... even tho they're Legal :clonk:

Actively recruit veterans, especially young ones who just came back from the sand box. They'll work hard, are usually mission focused and probably won't want to talk to the clowns you've saddled them with :)

Actively recruit veterans, especially young ones who just came back from the sand box. They'll work hard, are usually mission focused and probably won't want to talk to the clowns you've saddled them with :)

You got that right! I hired a kid 2 years ago just back from Iraq. The Marine Corps instilled a WORK ethic in this guy. No skills when hired, but picked up everything we do pronto. Doesn't complain, and when he's caught up he looks for something to do. Wouldn't trade him for any 2 other guys I know.:thumbsup: