Engineered A Solution

(We have a worker who is constantly causing an issue wherever he works: making idiotic demands, threatening to take the company to court, going to HR over matters that were clearly stated in his contract, generally being poison that people were afraid to speak to him. He gets passed around each of the departments as he made working with him very difficult, but never crossing the line to getting fired.)

Me: “Look, [Worker], it’s simple. Just because you helped out an engineer a few times doesn’t mean that you can expect to be paid the same.”

Worker: “I looked up the rates online. They make [a value at least twice the reality]. Why shouldn’t I get the same?”

Me: “Because you’re not an engineer! You only helped!”

Worker: “I demand three weeks pay, at engineer rate.”

Me: “No. We all have to help out time to time; it’s stated in your contract.”

Worker: “If i don’t get it, I quit, then.”

HR: *quickly* “Okay, then, I’m sorry to hear that. I will raise the paperwork and put you on garden leave before the end of the week.”

Worker: “What?”

HR: “You said you quit. That’s what I heard. Did you hear that, [My Name]?”

Me: “Well, yes, I–”

Worker: “No, no, I have to put it in writing.”

HR: *calmly* “No, you don’t. Not in this country. Your resignation is accepted. Now, if you don’t mind, I do have another meeting to get to that it I’m already late for,. You can make another appointment if you need to later in the week.”

(Dumbfounded, the worker walked out and we never saw him again.)