'I wasn't playing games': Oil rig worker calls their boss's bluff and quits when they're denied the chance to go home and visit their family

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    Font - Posted by u/NOCnurse58 2 hours ago Fired if I don't work that day, made it my last day. M OC A few years back I worked on a relief crew on a drilling rig. The rig ran 24 hours a day with three shifts. Crews worked 6 days and then 2 days off. My crew would replace a working crew so they could have their 2 days off so we worked mornings 2 days, then afternoons and then nights.
  • 02
    Font - It was common to find someone to take a shift if you wanted an extra day off but the replacement had to have the same abilities. A crew had a driller, Derrickhand, motorman, chainhand, and floorhand. People started as floorhand and as they learned they would work their way up with more responsibility and more pay. Sometimes when someone changed companies they might take a lower position. so it was common to have someone with derrickhand capabilities working motor or chain.
  • 03
    Font - In September my wife asked about the chances of getting off for Christmas. I checked the calendar and my days off fell on December 24 and 25. Done deal! I have it scheduled off. Then I decided to sweeten the pot. I found a guy who would work December 22 and 23 for me. Also found one who would work the 26 and 27.I took this to my driller who agreed they could work for me. With my 6 days off I could drive 400 miles to visit family. Things looked pretty sweet, too sweet.
  • 04
    Font - The other guys on my crew were in the same position so they all tried to find replacements and two were successful. Unfortunately, the driller only had 3 other guys on the rig who could work for him and none of them wanted to help. He got mad and said since he couldn't get the time off none of us could have it off. I reminded him that he had already approved my time and he said that was canceled and if I didn't work on Dec 23 then I was a run off MF (fired). I told him fine, I will work t
  • 05
    Font - At work, nothing much was said for the next few weeks. Outside of work I was networking and found another job I could start the first week of January. All was set. At the end of my shift on the 23rd I emptied my work locker and said my goodbyes. The driller barely acknowledged me. Went home and drove to see family the next day. Spent a relaxing week there and then came back to start my new job.
  • 06
    Font - About the end of January I went to a friend's birthday party. There I saw one of my old crew. He asked me when I was going to go back to work. The driller thought I was just sulking around and would come crawling back soon. He never hired a replacement and they had been working short handed for over a month. I said he better hire somebody. I wasn't playing games and when I said I quit I meant it.
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    Font - Second Talon - 2 hr. ago A couple of days I get, but a month? Hadn't gotten the hint after a month? Not the sharpest bit in the box, was he? (I know, drillheads that size aren't bits in a box, going for humor here) Vote Reply Share Vote ●●● Embarrassed-Dot-1794 1 hr. ago Op really drilled that lesson home Reply Share
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    Font - Coolbeanschilly. 2 hr. ago This is what happens when management treat skilled employees like garbage, they lose them. Vote Reply Share Nasapigs 38 min. ago Their ego doesn't care ✩ Vote Reply Share
  • 09
    Font - MentallyInsane8 · 1 hr. ago . So you couldnt be off for 6 days, but aparently one month is ok? Nice ↑ Vote ↓ Reply Share
  • 10
    Font - PN_Guin 1 hr. ago "I am not asking for days off, I am notifying you I won't be working on these days. The only thing up for discussion is wether I will return afterwards." The guy sounds like a real AH. Well done. ↑ Vote Reply Share
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    Rectangle - Red_Cathy 2 hr. ago Lol, well played, but he thought you'd come crawling back after than, what a massive ego on that guy. Vote Reply Share
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    Font - blair84 1 hr. ago 3 month notice? . Vote Reply Share Whole-Neighborhood 47 min. ago Depending on where you live and what you do, a 3 month notice can be normal. Or OP simply let them know that his last day would be in 3 months so he wouldn't have to start a new job before Christmas. Vote Reply Share
  • 13
    Font - Dear-Ad9314 - 31 min. ago 3 months notice is plenty - and good for you. Good workers are hard to find in your industry, I'm glad you took the opportunity to make it work for you ↑ Vote Reply Share

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