A few days ago I posted about an electrical issue with a pickup at my job. I work the night shift. Friday while I was off, during the day, our mechanic "helper" decided he would try to fix it himself. Its a mystery battery draw and I was approaching it carefully to make sure I got it right. He proceeded to pull the fuses and isolate a few possibilities and then totally disassemble the dash and console etc leaving all the parts laying in a pile and wires hanging all over. Leaving me a note more or less saying "he cant figure it out". No one asked him to do it. It is not his job to do it. He has never done this to another mechanic's job. I can reassemble it but you know its always easier when you are the one that took it apart. His "job duty" list is specific and only includes oil changes and things like battery swaps, plugging tires etc. Before you say he was just showing initiative, I want you to know his attitude is "F" this place and everyone here. He and I have had words and he has refused to speak to me for months. Which is fine with me. The MECHANICS share work and help each other out when needed but always with good communication and agreement. I really don't think I should continue on the job. The day mechanic is his friend and so is our "crew leader". Let them figure it out. Personally, I don't know why the day mechanic would watch him do it and not intervene.
- Thread starter redtom
- Start date
Janicholson
Well-known Member
If you are in good standing with your boss, let him know that you expect the perp to assist getting it back together. (while keeping a proper attitude) and that the issue is now compounded by what ever disassembly was done. If his job depended on it it would be even better (or he would disappear) Jim
Donald Lehman
Well-known Member
Sounds to me like they did it on purpose just to twist your tail. I wouldn't touch the job again.
If your ready to find a new job, refuse to fix it and be ready to walk. If not get busy, but, make sure and point out that it took ???? more hours to repair since helper man buggered it up. The boss is the BOSS so do what the BOSS wants. Or go find a new boss. jmo gobble
ditchwitch
Well-known Member
Just fix the folks car. If you cant tell someone , if you need help ask for it. Because you can spend more time pi$$in and moamin about it and making yourself miserable than it actually would take to find the draw and fix it. This is not said to mean or hatefull just kinda direct. Fix it then pat yourself on the back.
Your finding out why I quit working in a multi mechanic shop 25 years ago. I got tired of the BS between workers. I turned in my notice and was talked into staying an going into sales. I liked it and stayed another 15 years there.
I would just fix it and go about your business. I found just ignoring the fools usually worked best. Since he is in good with the crew leader and day shift mechanic your behind the eight ball politically anyway. Night shift guys usually get the short end of the stick anyway. Not enough face time with the boss man.
I would just fix it and go about your business. I found just ignoring the fools usually worked best. Since he is in good with the crew leader and day shift mechanic your behind the eight ball politically anyway. Night shift guys usually get the short end of the stick anyway. Not enough face time with the boss man.
Brian Jasper co. Ia
Well-known Member
He took it apart, he gets to put it back together. The only way I would get mixed up in it is if they canned the guy who took it apart. Even then it becomes straight time...
Back in the 1980's I worked for a Fortune 500 company. One day I was called in the office and was berated for using a sick day. My boss said to me..."This is how important you are to me and this company, put your hand in a bucket of water then pull it out. Is you hand imprint still in the water? Just like the water refills your imprint, you can be easily replaced."
30+ years later, I wish I had just stood up from that chair and kicked him in the face. I still regret not kicking his butt for that.
30+ years later, I wish I had just stood up from that chair and kicked him in the face. I still regret not kicking his butt for that.
redforlife
Well-known Member
Its hard to say whether the day helper took it upon himself, or if the day shift boss told him to tear into it thinking it would get done faster for the customer. I would just inquire about if its possible for the day helper to put back together what he took apart. Hopefully he will be made to. Otherwise, sounds like you may be stuck with the job. I would make it very clear to both day and night bosses, that if any project of yours is ever tampered with again by any employee without your approval, you will wash your hands of the project even if it means it will cost you your job. Bosses usually like to think they own you, and can walk over you in any way, but if you lay the law down to them they will usually respect you as long as you are not out of line and are a good employee.
Good advice on both sides of the coin so far. Depending on your personal situation, beyond what we know, and anything else about this job you, nor any of us know.......The end result will be your own choice.
If it was me, I'd repair it if for no other reason than as a big 'bird' to all of the other individuals involved. Then again, this is the very reason I work for myself.
That said, as an independent I'm still not immune from problems caused by others........The difference is, you'll get paid to do the job just because you do it. In my case, who do I expect to pay me? Is it the customer, who had the part rebuilt by a third party, because it's a specialized part? The fourth party that tested the pump and said it's OK? The same third party that rebuilt the part, yet claims it's not the problem (even though it's already been off and check again after the first rebuild, and a problem was found...and the problem is still the same now as before, just at a higher pressure)????????????
In the end, I'd be PO'd,if it was me, but my advice would have to be just do it, and be glad to get a pay check...............
If it was me, I'd repair it if for no other reason than as a big 'bird' to all of the other individuals involved. Then again, this is the very reason I work for myself.
That said, as an independent I'm still not immune from problems caused by others........The difference is, you'll get paid to do the job just because you do it. In my case, who do I expect to pay me? Is it the customer, who had the part rebuilt by a third party, because it's a specialized part? The fourth party that tested the pump and said it's OK? The same third party that rebuilt the part, yet claims it's not the problem (even though it's already been off and check again after the first rebuild, and a problem was found...and the problem is still the same now as before, just at a higher pressure)????????????
In the end, I'd be PO'd,if it was me, but my advice would have to be just do it, and be glad to get a pay check...............
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
With the guy being a friend of both your boss and the day shift supervisor, this is a no-win situation. Sooner or later this jerk will be fired, but in the meantime his buddies will cover for him. If you don't clean up his mess, you'll be the bad guy. If you do, the jerk and his buddies will do this to you time and time again.
Gambles
Well-known Member
You've got to sit down with your boss, discuss this, and probably do exactly what your boss wants you to do. In the near term, there is no way you can win. If you get it all back together and it works, it's what was expected of you. If there is a problem when everything is back together, it will be assumed that it's your fault. In the long term, the guy is digging his own grave.
However, if you had a choice and if this was my situation and because it's a lose/lose no matter what you'd do, I wouldn't touch that project and I'd let him or one of his friends put it back together.
However, if you had a choice and if this was my situation and because it's a lose/lose no matter what you'd do, I wouldn't touch that project and I'd let him or one of his friends put it back together.
I deal with all types of personalities at my shop. The engine builder there hasn't spoken to me in almost a year. I had to do a startup of a fresh 8v92 Detroit yesterday. He had told one of the kids who works for my team last week that if I messed with the tuneup, I owned the engine. Problem is, he doesn't know how to tune them. He's a machinist by trade, while I went to school for Detroit 2 strokes back in the 80's. He was conveniently sick yesterday, after the shop manager heard about what he said last week, and said "well, he can do it himself, then." For the record, he made a decent attempt, but it was still off. I ended up tuning it myself anyway.
As far as your situation, I would prioritize all of your assigned work, and leave that one last. Leave him a note that you couldn't get to it, so he ends up with it at some point.
As far as your situation, I would prioritize all of your assigned work, and leave that one last. Leave him a note that you couldn't get to it, so he ends up with it at some point.
jim buford
Member
If you are not a Christian I wouldn't touch the job but if you are then pray about it and ask God to direct your paths. Either way He directs you will feel better and maybe be a witness as well.
The Dukester
Well-known Member
Keerecktimundo. Tell the boss your side of the situation and then do as he directs you to......all in a day's (night's in your case) work........( I retired after 35 years as a maintenance mechanic, lead mechanic and maintenance leadman....offered foreman's job many times, but I loved the challenges of the machines, not the people around them or management).
Fix it, but tell the boss that the job got three times more expensive than it needed to be because the oil guy wanted to try his hand at electronics. It wouldn't be right to charge the customer for that senseless time loss.
Problems tend to get taken care of when they equate to a loss of real money.
Problems tend to get taken care of when they equate to a loss of real money.
^^^ What he said. ^^^ If you are instructed to fix it, take before and after pictures. Advise your supe that due to the negligent care(use those words) by the helper, this job has gone from X hours to 3X hours when he disassembled the car, and couldn't put it back together. You should not be on the hook for the extra hours put in due to someone else's negligence on the job.
Cheesehead Fred
Member
I had the privilege of hearing the water bucket story several times over the years. The absolute best was my boss telling one of my coworkers this story in front of his boss. My coworker told my boss he had the story all wrong. It is actual a big bucket, but it is only half full of water. If everyone in the buck puts their hand in the bucket, the water over flows, and the overflow is company profit. So if everyone contributes by putting a hand in, the company makes good profit. If a few decide to pull their hand out, or only put the tips of their fingers in, profit is hard to come by. Sometimes others have to put both hands in the bucket to get water to overflow (profit). Someone quits, and most won't notice, but somewhere, somehow at least one other person has to put 2 hands in the bucket, at least until another new person can be hired and trained to the point where his work will be a real contribution, that is, another hand in the bucket. It takes a good supervisor and a good team to put enough hands in the bucket.
I just kept working and listening. Unfortunately, my boss and his boss walked away without saying much.
I walked away too, a couple months later, took my tools with me and went to work for someone who better understood teamwork.
I just kept working and listening. Unfortunately, my boss and his boss walked away without saying much.
I walked away too, a couple months later, took my tools with me and went to work for someone who better understood teamwork.
jimg.allentown
Well-known Member
I worked in shops for a good many years. One thing that I fortunately never had to do too often was to "clean up" someone else's mess.
Now, having read through this thread, I see some interesting suggestions. So, here is my take on it.
First, I would expect to be paid straight time, since this "operation" will not be in the flat rate book.
Second, I would make it known what the full circumstances are to the boss.
As to the bucket of water. I would tell that boss a few things of my own. Starting with asking him a question. Why is he wasting time trying to insult me or minimize my importance to the company if I really am so unimportant? Also I would remind him of what I told a couple of bosses in the past: You are only my boss for as long as I permit it.
Now, having read through this thread, I see some interesting suggestions. So, here is my take on it.
First, I would expect to be paid straight time, since this "operation" will not be in the flat rate book.
Second, I would make it known what the full circumstances are to the boss.
As to the bucket of water. I would tell that boss a few things of my own. Starting with asking him a question. Why is he wasting time trying to insult me or minimize my importance to the company if I really am so unimportant? Also I would remind him of what I told a couple of bosses in the past: You are only my boss for as long as I permit it.
ObsoElitist
Member
One of my first jobs as a mechanic was to clean up a few messes like that. Avoid it if possible, but do what they pay you for.]
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