Chief Quit Today

#1 · July 6, 2010, 6:48 pm

Quote from Kris Morgan on July 6, 2010, 6:48 pm
He came in and turned his stuff in. Short version, last week his friends wife was killed in an accident around noon. He was contracting to another company for us, so he packed up and came in to be with his friend around 2:30. No problem there at all. Then he called in the next day around 3 a.m. and left a voice mail. Still no problem. He had spoken with the other surveyor in the office about the accident indicating that it was a dear friend. Still no problem. However, he didn't say whether he needed the next day off, so I had the schedule ready for him to go back to the field. Problem 1. He called in at 7 a.m. saying he needed the time to be with his friend and take him to view the body. Okay, but now I'm in a bit of a bind, and it was early so my tone was probably less than understanding. Anyway, he didn't come in that day and I said that I would see him after the holiday (the crews don't work on Fridays).

So the holiday weekend rocked right along and he showed up at 7 a.m. this morning. I was going to ask how his friend was and see what we could do. Well, didn't get the chance and he quit. He said, among other things, and he was very professional about it, that it was a family company, but not his family and felt like we weren't understanding.

Okay, I get that. However, being on the business side, if he had asked for last week off, I would have given it to him and adjusted the schedule accordingly as I revamped the business model for him, after an accident on his own time, where he couldn't be in the field for 8 weeks or so. He was right, it's a small family company, and we TRY to take care of our own.

Probably could have all been avoided had I been a little more understanding or even used a better tone, this is my fault. However, everyone who schedules crews knows what it's like in the morning figuring out if everyone is there and lining them out to do the job, so it's a little hairy in the morning.

It's a shame really, he's a great chief/SIT who has awesome potential to be a GREAT surveyor. Hopefully, he will land somewhere that will mentor and guide him to chip the diamond out of the rough.

Good luck to him and my prayers are with his friends family.

He came in and turned his stuff in. Short version, last week his friends wife was killed in an accident around noon. He was contracting to another company for us, so he packed up and came in to be with his friend around 2:30. No problem there at all. Then he called in the next day around 3 a.m. and left a voice mail. Still no problem. He had spoken with the other surveyor in the office about the accident indicating that it was a dear friend. Still no problem. However, he didn't say whether he needed the next day off, so I had the schedule ready for him to go back to the field. Problem 1. He called in at 7 a.m. saying he needed the time to be with his friend and take him to view the body. Okay, but now I'm in a bit of a bind, and it was early so my tone was probably less than understanding. Anyway, he didn't come in that day and I said that I would see him after the holiday (the crews don't work on Fridays).

So the holiday weekend rocked right along and he showed up at 7 a.m. this morning. I was going to ask how his friend was and see what we could do. Well, didn't get the chance and he quit. He said, among other things, and he was very professional about it, that it was a family company, but not his family and felt like we weren't understanding.

Okay, I get that. However, being on the business side, if he had asked for last week off, I would have given it to him and adjusted the schedule accordingly as I revamped the business model for him, after an accident on his own time, where he couldn't be in the field for 8 weeks or so. He was right, it's a small family company, and we TRY to take care of our own.

Probably could have all been avoided had I been a little more understanding or even used a better tone, this is my fault. However, everyone who schedules crews knows what it's like in the morning figuring out if everyone is there and lining them out to do the job, so it's a little hairy in the morning.

It's a shame really, he's a great chief/SIT who has awesome potential to be a GREAT surveyor. Hopefully, he will land somewhere that will mentor and guide him to chip the diamond out of the rough.

Good luck to him and my prayers are with his friends family.

#2 · July 6, 2010, 6:55 pm

Is it possible that he'll reconsider? Would you take him back?

#3 · July 6, 2010, 7:01 pm

Some friends can be closer than family. He was probably providing a lot of support to that friend and that can be exhausting, especially when you are closely involved. Maybe like you he was just upset and did not even consider a week off, It was you that scheduled him without calling and asking what his needs were. Don't slam the door if he is what you say he is. Give him a week, then call him and offer him his job back. Both of you are in the process of showing the world just what you really are, not what you want others to think. One time just a day before we were going to leave San Diego for the Western Pacific, one of our Gunners Mates lost his father who was living in Texas, He asked for leave to be with the family and then hop a ride to the Naval air Station at Pearl Harbor and re-board the Helena. The XO would not allow it, caused much bitterness and the Navy lost a red headed Lifer called Pruitt. Emotions run deep,
keep that in mind.
jud

#4 · July 6, 2010, 7:07 pm

Kris,

I DON'T see this as your problem of being understanding. I see this as a problem with communication. You thought one thing, he thought another, but there was no discussion (or very little) about the situation. And in that regard, since he needed the time, he should have approached the situation and made sure things were clear, instead of ASSUMING.

Basically, I'm saying don't beat yourself up over it. He sounds like a fine fellow to do what he did for a friend. Maybe the solution can be solved and everything can go back to how it was. If he's as fine a fellow as you say, I'd say not to reprimand or anything, just fine tune your communication issues. That seems to be a problem with so many people and issues today... Person #1 assumes that Person #2 thru Person #16 knows what they are thinking... When that couldn't be farther from the truth. It takes speaking up.

I hope everything works out for the best.

#5 · July 6, 2010, 7:14 pm

I dunno

Like I said, this is the short version. We'll see where the day takes us. He will come to my house this evening to get his stuff out of the other work truck, so who knows.

Kris

#6 · July 6, 2010, 7:27 pm

He was contracting through another company to us.

That is what you said so would not the other company be on the hook and not one of their employee's directly to you?

Maybe I'm missing a part.

Deral

#7 · July 6, 2010, 7:30 pm

"He was contracting to another company for us" is what was said there Mr. Paulk. (I think you might be a little over excited about the CA trip Deral! hahaha)

If he comes back, take him back... Employee's that leave and return make for some of the best employees!