You Just Fired The Wrong Guy
In the UK there is a system for preserving ancient and important buildings. If a building has historical importance it is known as a “Listed building” and the rules about how it’s developed/maintained/improved are VERY strict.
I need to be vague about the work involved otherwise it’s too easy to identify the parties involved.
My friend David is skilled in a very niche area of construction. He repairs and renovates buildings using a very old construction method that hasn’t been common for several centuries.
All his work is on conservation projects and “listed buildings.” Work was required on a Grade 1 listed property. The overall building work was being done by the main contractor, ACC Ltd.
One part of the work is VERY specialized. The contractor’s managers didn’t know anyone who did it so the architect gave them a list of qualified people.
The contractors chose my friend because he had the earliest availability. Five days into the work, the owner of ACC Ltd., the main contractor company, arrived on site.
This is when things started to go downhill very fast.
He was throwing his weight around and being a “noisy idiot” (David’s words). David was just doing his job and ignored him. Noisy idiot told one of his carpenters to get him a coffee.
The carpenter disappeared. Noisy idiot continued wandering and “gobbing off” about delays “costing him a fortune.” 15 minutes after the carpenter had disappeared, the Noisy Idiot asked my friend a question.
Noisy Idiot : “Where is that bloody carpenter with my coffee?” David: “Don’t know.” Noisy Idiot: “Go and find out.” David: “I’m only here for this job (pointing to the walls), I don’t work for ACC Ltd.” Noisy Idiot: “I don’t care if you’re an employee or a subcontractor, you still work for me.
Now go and find my bloody coffee.”
David: “Firstly, I don’t appreciate being talked to like that and secondly, my contract with you is to do these walls, nothing more. I’m definitely not a gopher.” Noisy Idiot: “Oh, you don’t appreciate being talked to like that, do you?
Which subcontractor do you work for?” David: “None. I’m self-employed. It’s just me.”
Noisy Idiot : “A bloody day laborer? And you’ve got the nerve to talk to like that? Do you know who I am?” David: “Yep.” Noisy Idiot: “Well you’re bloody fired.
Get off the bloody site NOW!” David: “Okay, put it in writing.” Noisy Idiot : “Oh please. Just get off the bloody site.” David pulled his phone out and started recording.
David: “Okay, I’ll go. I just want proof you told me to go.” Noisy Idiot grabbed David’s hand holding the phone and screamed into the phone.
Noisy Idiot: “GET OFF THE SITE YOU BLOODY IDIOT. YOU’RE FIRED. IF YOU’RE STILL HERE IN 10 MINUTES I’LL HAVE YOU THROWN OUT.” David: “Cool, no problem.” He picked up all his kit and walked away.
As he was leaving, the site manager passed him (ironically, with a coffee for the boss) and with a smile said. Site Manager: “You leaving early Dave?
Bloody part-timers (he was joking).” David: “No, your boss just fired me. Our contract is ended. Sorry mate.” Site Manager: “Noooo. Noo, no. Let me sort this out.
Wait, please. Please, wait.” David left.
The Site Manager was losing his mind because he knew something that Noisy Idiot didn’t. Only seven people in the UK are qualified to do the work.
They all have a waiting list and David had been the only one available. By the time he was home he had 12 missed calls.
That was Thursday. Two working days missed so far. He said he’ll go back but only if he gets paid for the extra days and has a genuine apology in person from the boss.
I met my friend when he was getting a call from the Site Manager saying the boss apologizes but is “out of the country” so can’t apologize face to face.
The idiot boss really got what he deserved. David also told me he phoned the other specialists to warn them but they’d all been phoned on Friday begging them to do the job.
Nobody took the work. They’re all booked solid.