Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge Playin Hookey today...

I go into work today, and of course, we have the same work load as usual, move 9 frikkin planes to the concourse, and put seats in the interior mod....no problem, right? WRONG...there's not 1, but 2 managers trying to run the show, running around with their cell phones, barking out commands, etc...I start assigning my mechanics to their usual tasks, some finish up 3rd shift work, some taxi airplanes, etc...well manager #1 tells me to pull one in the hangar, manager #2 tells me to go pressurize it...which starts fight #1...moments later, I tell one of my guys to place heat lamps on the windshield of a 737, he went off, said manager #1 told him to do something else, which starts fight #2 with management...Im like...ya know what? Im really not feeling well, and called my Union steward, told him what was going on, and that there was a million things at home I could be doing while they fight over who's in charge...he's like, "Ya know Mark, you really sound bad, you should get outta here before you make everyone else sick"....So I told management that I was'nt feeling well, and bolted.....screw 'em....It's 62 degrees, Im going riding!!!

What you need is a paint brush and an empty paint can (with a lid of course). When I was in the army, a guy spent 2 years wandering around Nellingen Kazerne with a can and brush. Everyone assumed that he had been sent out to paint something and left him alone. On top of that, since he had both hands full, he didn't even have to bother saluting officers.

Good for you Mark. Enjoy.

I took off last friday and did nothing but hang out with the kids. It felt great - I usually don't do that kind of thing - I'm the guy that normally doesn't use his sick days and has to squeeze in his vacation at the last minute.

Exactly what's wrong with this country. Companies want to treat their employees like children and end up worse off. My wife is a teacher and this attitude is even invading the public school system with specialists and administrators who haven't set foot in a classroom in twenty years telling the teachers (who are there every single day) how to do their jobs. It never works.

I am subjected to Economically Imposed Hooky . Have worked about 5 days since November . The construction industry in the South has gone kaput . Get to ride a lot , and play here , but accessory $$ is diminishing . Mark , I'll go up and paint the Frikkin Plane , I have a brush and a cell phone , and lots of time .

There's a couple beneficial ways to look at it Mark
1. Your mental health is a important as your physical health. If you can afford to take a day away from work and get your head in order, then taking the day off is a good thing. The only thing I'd recommend is avoiding the 'fights'. It enables those asshats to shift the outcome of their unproductive day from their idiotic management styles to you - the guy they'll label as 'the uncooperative dude'. So, just go with the flow and get sick. The reported reason should be ANYTHING other than THEM.

2. The second approach is just roll with it. Do what the jerks want and take your money. Doing so takes the spotlight off of you and puts it where it belongs - on them. Of course that doesn't apply if you're getting piece work, but, if you're paid by the hour, then every hour pays the same. Just do what you do to the best you can under the circumstances and your conscience is clear and payday comes around just the same. It may sound contrary to what you were taught about committment and loyalty, but it isn't as long as you're holding up your end of the bargain. You can't fight them, all you can do is let them expose themselves. Someone, somewhere, someday will see them for what they are.

In either case, avoid the arguing and fighting. It only hurts you.

I hope tomorrow is a better day.

I'd agree with you in spirit, but unfortunately, I just don't give a rat's patoot anymore. The highly educated 20-somethings who have taken over management where I work know everything.... after all, they've read books and attended seminars and meetings and learned how to think "outside the box" and have been 6 Sigma'd and CQI'd...

I just take their money and smile....

Back into work this morning, all the guys glad I did what I decided to do by going home and making a statement. As soon as I left, One manager was sent off to the flight line on the other side, and told to "back off"...My original mananger welcomed me back this morning and asked me if I was feeling better, I told him "sure looks like it" and we both laughed...

ahhh.... a happy ending!!

Yep! I guess THAT was my problem all those years...I could never bring myself to be "that strategic" with those bozo managers.

I guess if I'd had feigned "feeling poorly" instead o' confronting them head-on all those times, then maybe they would have gotten the very same message without me forcing 'em into a corner, huh?!

BUT, at least the good part about my "tact" was that eventually those managers knew better than to screw with ME and would eventually leave me alone to do my job!

You see, as an example of this, often when I was in the supervisors' office with a fellow supervisor and one of the managers would walk in with a problem that they SHOULD have known how to fix but of course didn't(no experience), they'd look at me, I'd look back at them with "my look", and usually they'd go to the other poor supervisor for help...and of course, half the time would get the wrong answer from him. THAT certainly saved me a heck of a lot of uselessly spent time at work alright!

(ahh...how I miss those days of yore!...Yep! enjoy your "productive years", Mark!)