What a Monday.  Started off the morning with a safety meeting, also discussed some aspects of efficiency/organization that I thought we could work on.

So my painter starts in complaining that he busts his azz, and he can do everything from electrical to pool building (we don’t build pools) to painting, and his work is so above reproach, and he gives his all to this company, but when he’s in a bind and needs some help, we don’t care about him.  So guess what, now he doesn’t care about the company.  (He’s mad because he asked for a cash-advance, and didn’t get it.  Although he’s had plenty of favors along the way.)  Plus, he needs work and yet we don’t have any painting work for him.

So I told him he’s welcome to look for work elsewhere, and if he’s so do-it-all versatile, why didn’t he jump in and help finish the drywall on the two units that need it, so they would be ready to paint.  But no, instead he takes off without asking or telling anyone, and shows up the next day saying “I couldn’t find any painting to do so I went home”.

He jumps up takes a step toward me and says in a threatening manner “Don’t you dare take an attitude with me.”  So one of my workers, Robert, drops his pen, and leans forward.  This is a guy who is incredibly mild-mannered and quiet, but has turned his life around from a very violent past.  (Mexican gangs).  One of my best and most conscientous workers.

So now he starts in on him, “You f’in backstabbing Mexican, what are you gonna do?”, and so forth.  The Mexican guy stands up, and another guy, who knows how little it would take to trigger this guy’s violent past, stands between them, and we get them apart.

The painter storms off, and I follow him, to confront his behavior.  He starts in on me again, telling me how the Mexicans have me blinded, and I should be loyal to my own race, blah blah blah.  He notices Robert is watching him from a distance, and starts complaining See how he’s standing there staring at me, why don’t you do something about it, yada yada.  Then he picks up a razor-edge scraper, and takes a few steps toward Robert, saying You got something to say to me, come here right now.

OK, so at that point I tell Robert to walk away, which he does, and I tell the painter he just terminated his employment, pack his stuff and go, I’ll have his check before the day is over.

I filed a police report, just in case he comes back and tries to stir up more racial troubles. 

Kinda ruined my day, although I’m grateful that he showed his true colors – I didn’t have to make a decision on firing him, he made it for me.