Fired By Airflex

One of the inspectors I was training, Ron, wasn’t picking it up fast enough to suit John, who felt entitled to belittle him every time he walked by the CMM on his way to his office. He was constantly complaining that the work wasn’t getting done as fast as he’d hoped, based on the sales pitch he’d bought into. I was constantly defending Ron, who, in truth, was a bit afraid of the machine. But he was making progress.

One day, John didn’t just harass Ron. He lit into me, screaming how disappointed he was and how inept both Ron and I were. His volume and crudeness got the attention of others in nearby departments. I followed him into his office and closed the door. He glared at me and told me I’d never get his job. I said “what?” He said “You heard me.”

I said, “Don’t flatter yourself. I don’t want your lousy job. If I did, I’d already have it.” I told him that constructive criticism is always welcome, privately, not in public to intentionally humiliate your subordinates. Then I said, “I won’t even let my own father speak to me the way you just did. I certainly won’t tolerate it from you.” Then I walked out of his office and went back to work.

Needless to say, the company got rid of me within a month. They eliminated my job and laid me off, saying they didn’t need my services anymore. Then, they tried to scuttle my unemployment by claiming that I was fired for incompetence. But after a hearing and investigation, Ohio Unemployment Services awarded me full compensation.

Note: It’s also worth mentioning that I had been at Airflex for nine and a half years. At ten years, my ‘pension’ would have been vested. They got rid of me six months before I was vested, and I wasn’t the only one. That’s right… no pension.

To be Continued

–LE