Slacker Packer
(I work at a distributor’s warehouse as a pick/pack/ship foreman. Early in the morning, the boss is patrolling the floor and sees a packer just standing at his queue.)
Boss: “Everything okay? You don’t appear to have packed anything yet.”
Packer: “It’s fine.” *adds a book to the box* “I’m just taking a breather.”
Boss: “Fine, just make sure your queue doesn’t get backed up. These shipments need to go out today.”
(My boss walks off to take care of other matters and returns about an hour later. The packer is again just standing at his queue, which now has several more orders.)
Boss: “What are you doing? This is the same order you had when I was here last time.” *looks in the box* “You haven’t even added anything since I left. Get to work!”
(The packer begins to pack items. [Boss] goes to take care of other matters again and returns about another hour later. The packer is again just standing around. The queue is completely backed up. The same order is in front of him, partially packed.)
Boss: “Do you have a problem?”
Packer: “No.”
Boss: “I need workers, not slackers. Look, you have a choice. You can either do your job, or you can go home. At this point, I don’t care which.”
Packer: “Fine, I’m going home.”
(The packer leaves. [Boss] goes to his office and fills out a termination form for the packer. The next day, the packer comes into the warehouse and the boss stops him at the door.)
Boss: “What are you doing here?”
Packer: “I’m going to work.”
Boss: “No, you’re not. You quit yesterday.”
Packer: “No, I didn’t. You said I could go home.”
Boss: “You quit when you left the job site. Go home.”
(The boss shuts the door in his face and walks away. Later, an employee approaches the boss.)
Employee: “Do you know what’s wrong with [Packer]? He’s just standing by the door with his mouth gaping.”
Boss: “I’ll take care of it.” *to the packer* “You have five minutes to leave before I call security on you for trespassing.”
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Question of the Week
Have you ever met a customer who thought the world revolved around them?
