A couple of nights ago I was working as normal in my room when someone entered my room to talk to me. I had this giant white paddle on my shoulder that I use to stir around chocolate to keep it for sticking and help move along the machines and stuff. Well as I'm walking over to the door to see what this guy wants, I swing the paddle down from shoulder to place it on these boxes. I'm a taller guy, 6'3 (191 cm), and when I dropped the paddle from my shoulder it accidentally hits the fire pipe right at where the nozzle is. Well the whole thing bursts and a shit ton of water comes pouring into the room. And because it's the fire nozzle, the alarm goes off and we have to evacuate the entire building. Not only that but two fire trucks rolled in, because it's mandatory to have them offically clear the zone stating that it's safe to return to work.
So after standing for an hour in the parking lot, all the employees get to return inside and we get a first hand look at the damage. All the product is ruined. We had to box it off, and dump it. And because the water in the pipe was mixed with some chemical to put out fires faster, we have to shut down not only my room, but the two adjacent rooms so that we can wash everything down. My union rep comes in, asks me what happens and tells me that I'm going to get written up, but overall not to worry too much. The guy that was in the doorway was a firsthand eye witness, and he vouches for me in the accidental nature of my screw up.
I'm immediately called in to the supervisor's office and Bill, a supervisor who I've known for a long time and we both respect each other, gets my statement and the statement of everyone else in the area. After everyone clears out of the office I say to Bill, "Hey man just tell me straight up, off the record, should I start looking for another job?". He sticks out one of his hands and slaps me on the shoulder with the other and says,"I know you're freaking out right now, but don't worry, you won't be fired, I promise". So I head home, extremely shaken, and a little relieved, but still feeling really lousy for screwing up so big.
Well last night, before my shift starts, Bill and a couple of union reps call me into his office.
Oh God, Bill's face looked absolutely miserable. He was a white as a sheet, and looked like he was going to throw up. They tell me that I ended up causing almost 100,000 dollars worth of damage. Not only that, I was suspended for the night and I have a meeting with the CEO and HR the following morning. On my way out of the office, Bill pulls me aside and said, "Forget what I told you before".
Even in my predicament I still felt for Bill there. He's a guy who stands by his word, real old fashioned, and now he has to be in the room while they fire the guy that he shook hands with and promised last night that he wouldn't get fired.
I'm smart with my money, and I've got enough saved up for six months, which is more than enough time for me to find a new job. My lifestyle is gonna take a hit, but I can deal with that. It's just really crummy that this is the way I'm going to be leaving the company. They've always treated me right, and I've always repaid them by doing my job well. Just sucks it has to end up like this.
On my way out some of the older employees were telling me stories of people who screwed up worse, and the continued to keep working. Or they got fired, but then called back at a later date. I'm not holding out for that though.
Man alive, I'm just scrolling through the ads on craigslist. The only thing worse than working is not working.
My meeting is in 6 hours. I'm kind of calm about it now. No not calm, more like resigned. There's nothing else I can do except wait for the axe to fall. Pretty shitty, May was three paycheck month too.
Man I was reading your other blog the other day and I'm so sorry. Try to stay strong and push through this. Sometimes we grow a lot when we go through emotionally draining times.
Man, that sucks. Everybody makes mistakes, so don't be too hard on yourself. If they don't feel they can get past a simple accident that's on them and not you. Don't let this define you. I know it's hard to imagine now, but one day you'll look back and laugh about this. Move on and best of luck!
Do they ever give people 5 days off or something there? If this is your first major incident maybe they'll do that? Its good that you understand Bill's situation, I did the same exact thing just the other day. Told an employee their mistake would be ok then found out the next day it wasn't. It was really embarrassing to have to go back and tell them they were in trouble.
I know this is terrible, but for some reason I found the story hilarious. The big white paddle for stirring chocolate hit a nozzle and flooded the whole factory and ruined all the chocolate xDDDD
I mean, obviously, shutting down production for a whole day is really bad for any factory, but that sounds like something out of a movie. I wish my screw-ups could be as epic as this. It'll make for a fun story to tell at social gatherings and whatnot. Unless you end up getting in serious trouble.
Then that will suck ass.
I'm crossing my fingers that all that will come of this is that you only get fired. I would imagine they would have some kind of insurance to cover the financial damage though. If they try to make you pay for it, you should probably just bury your money in a treasure chest. Also, I wouldn't put this particular company's phone number down as a reference for future employment, but I think that almost goes without saying.
Having read your previous blog about struggling with nightshift I'm not too surprised about this story. Mistakes are much more likely to happen when you're on lack of sleep. I'm sorry for your misfortune and best of luck finding a new job.
Wow what a joke I too read your blog the other day and was intrguied by it to then this happen. God dammit, live sucks sometimes.
HOWEVER, imo you fight this, unless in your contract it states that if you cause x amount of damage you will be fired surely they cannot fire you on the spot for it? It was a pure accident, not being stupid or neglect or whatever. Just a pure freak accident? If i was you id reject them firing you and seek some free legal advice to see if you can fight it. By the sounds of it your a good employee with no track record of any bullshit before and this 1 mistake, which might be a huge one but it was a sheer accident, who people can vouch for it was. I work in payroll/hr department into one at my office for about 500 employee's of the top 3 biggest tyre company in the UK and well we have people claim against us for wrongful dismissal for 10000000x worst than this. Aka a guy wrote of a van 3 times, we sacked him. Then he filled a claim he was disabled and we dismissed him for being disabled LOL. Anyway back to the point, i personally think you would have a case for wrongful dismissal if you challenged it and would seek legal advice (free of course).
GL though, hope you find a new job if you choose to do that.
On April 25 2014 23:38 Pandemona wrote: Wow what a joke I too read your blog the other day and was intrguied by it to then this happen. God dammit, live sucks sometimes.
HOWEVER, imo you fight this, unless in your contract it states that if you cause x amount of damage you will be fired surely they cannot fire you on the spot for it? It was a pure accident, not being stupid or neglect or whatever. Just a pure freak accident? If i was you id reject them firing you and seek some free legal advice to see if you can fight it. By the sounds of it your a good employee with no track record of any bullshit before and this 1 mistake, which might be a huge one but it was a sheer accident, who people can vouch for it was. I work in payroll/hr department into one at my office for about 500 employee's of the top 3 biggest tyre company in the UK and well we have people claim against us for wrongful dismissal for 10000000x worst than this. Aka a guy wrote of a van 3 times, we sacked him. Then he filled a claim he was disabled and we dismissed him for being disabled LOL. Anyway back to the point, i personally think you would have a case for wrongful dismissal if you challenged it and would seek legal advice (free of course).
GL though, hope you find a new job if you choose to do that.
I doubt you can claim wrongful dismissal for being tall. It just seems like 100k damage is a lot and they'd rather not take the risk of something similar happening (as unlikely as that would be), that or they need a scapegoat. Really sucks for both parties. Anyway, you seem to have a good attitude, hope you get a better job asap. Hopefully that manager can give you a good reference (omitting the incident) to make up for the broken promise.
They should have let you work out. You would have been more focused.
Joking aside, don't be too sad about it, it was a nights job and i came to the conclusion, that the extra money isn't worth it. It would have taken its toll over time. It sure did for me.
Wish you the best for your future! Keep us up, your blogs are a good read.
Yeah, but the HR person being there is a big sign. Hopefully they don't try to fuck him. Scapegoating with monetary consequences or shit like that... I got no clue of Canadian laws in that matter.
EPT
