Be careful who you trust, especially on the job.

I'm writing this for someone who isn't quite ready to explore this blog yet, but is working on it.

Yesterday, my Hubby Tony came home from work very tired and looking very run down.  I asked him how his day went and at first he replied with the standard "fine."  Then I looked deep into his eyes and asked again, "how did your day REALLY go"?  With a bit of hesitation, he finally opened up and once he got started, Tony poured like a waterfall!

He told me that the owner of the company (his name is Barry), has been riding Tony "like a pony" since he started and brow-beat him whenever Barry had the chance. Tony had worked for the company since last Fall and his background and skill in custom woodwork was recognized and applauded by his immediate supervisor, James.  ALL of the other departments loved the improvement and quality of the work that Tony gave them.  However, Barry criticized Tony constantly and never gave him credit for the great work that he did for the company.  Instead of appreciating the custom work that Tony gave them 40+ hours a week, instead Barry made "fun" of Tony's size and it was really starting to beat Tony down.  Barry didn't like Tony and no matter how well Tony did, it wasn't good enough for Barry.

Yesterday Tony's supervisor gave him instructions to cut a piece of wood to 5/16's of an inch and then add two strips of 3/16" laminate on each side (11/16" total).  He was specifically told by his supervisor, James, that the finished product was "not to exceed 3/4". Tony completed the product and presented it to James and then went on to his next project. 

A few minutes later, Barry came up to Tony screaming at the top of his lungs that the finished product was supposed to be 3/4" (12/16") EXACTLY and that Tony's work on the piece was "sub-par!"  Tony tried to explain that James had given him the exact measurements to work with and that Tony had followed those instructions to a tee, but that didn't matter to Barry. He continued to yell and scream at Tony in front of his coworkers, making sure that he accused Tony of substandard work even though the difference was only 1/16th of an inch. 

This broke Tony's heart as he takes pride in his work and even though he knew that he had not only followed James's directions, but that the finished piece of work was something he was proud of. When Tony tried to bring James onto the scene to verify what had happened, James pretended that he didn't know what Tony was talking about, as he averted eye contact and shuffled his feet.  Tony then realized that, much like that horrible character "Hilly Holbrook" from "The Help" lied and made up the story of "Aibileen" stealing from her, Barry had set Tony up to come up with an excuse to fire him.

Sure enough, when poor Tony got up at 5:00AM this morning, fought forty miles of traffic, and dragged himself into a shop where he knew he was no longer wanted, James was waiting for him and informed him that because of the "goof up" that Tony had made yesterday, they were "letting him go."  Again, James could not look Tony in his eyes, for he would had seen the hurt of betrayal, but Tony stood tall (he's 6' 2"... 6' 3" if he doesn't slouch) and like "Aibileen", he packed up his tools and walked out the door, never letting them see his pain. 

Tony was treated worse than a rabid dog, but they were not finished yet. The final indignity is that they didn't even make the effort to have Tony's separation papers and final paycheck ready. He is being forced to drive the forty miles back to those assholes three days from now.  My poor Tony came home seven hours early today feeling like he'd been run over by a truck, and though he'd done nothing wrong, he felt ashamed to face me. I told him not to worry and that we'd find a way to get by.  I told him I was proud of him and that he was a wonderful "Aibileen", even better, I told him to become "Minnie" and give them what they truly deserve.  I told him that this Friday, when we both drive back out to that shop, he can hold his head up high, look Barry AND James in the face, and hollow "EAT MY SHIT!!!"  And mean it!