'[Boss] started screaming like a petulant child': Tech worker poached by rival dealer, worker gives boss the opportunity to match the offer, boss loses it

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  • 01
    "Fire me for doing the right thing and giving 2 weeks notice? Game on!" BE wnscar.com mazda CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED
  • 02
    Fire me for doing the right thing and giving 2 weeks notice? Game on! I have a work related rant I want to get off my chest but 1. Cant find the right sub and 2. I think my boss is regularly on Reddit so I'll just tell this story. Back story: A long time ago I was a tech in a dealer far away...
  • 03
    One of my tech friends had recently left to go to another dealer (very common in the industry if you aren't aware) and had convinced the owner of that dealer to try to get me to come to work there as well. I had already turned down 2 or 3 offers from the other dealer and finally after a face to face with the owner i had made a wage demand I knew they would not meet. As expected he didn't meet my demands and I simply left it at "If you're willing to pay me I'll come work for you" and we parted wa
  • 04
    Meanwhile I was due to go to manufacturer provided technical training. While training is technically "free" there is a cost to the dealer since the tech has to still be paid even though I wasn't "working" as well as transportation and lodging/meals.
  • 05
    Before I left my boss asked me what was going on with the other dealer since he wasnt going to send me to training if i was leaving. I had not left it a secret that i was being courted by another dealer. I told him the full story including my asking wage to which we both agreed they would never pay. I flat out told my boss that if they made that offer I would give him the opportunity to match it but if he didn't i would leave. Let's just say it would have been a significant raise to above the go
  • 06
    While at training the owner of the other dealer called. He offered me more $$ than I asked for. I finished the training (recirculating ball steering systems which are pretty much extint now by the way) and went home Friday afternoon. Monday morning I walked into my bosses office. As we agreed I told him about the offer and gave him the opportunity to meet it or even come close. Instead, he freaked out, started screaming like a petulent child, and fired me.
  • 07
    Now, before I had left for training, I had taken apart a cylinder head from a double overhead cam engine (which were still fairly new... to this manufacturer at least) and had neatly arranged all the parts atop my tool box. Now I just got fired... I had to get my toolbox out of the shop... And it was covered in neatly arranged over the engine parts. I nearest trash can and raked all that ... into it.
  • 08
    The poor that ended up with that job called me several times..." Hey man where is part?" 'If it aint in the trash can I can't help you bro'. Apparently before my boss realized what i had done the cleaning crew had emptied all the trash cans into the dumpster.
  • 09
    Edit: I didnt expect this level of response. Let me clarify. I was happy where I was making X. A dealer I really didn't want to work for was trying to hire me and I really wasnt interested so I told them i wanted X+10. Dont get hung up on the number, this is just an example. My boss was aware of the potential offer. That dealer offered me X+15 instead. This was money I really couldn't afford to turn down at that point. When given the chance to give me a raise enough to make it worth my while to
  • 10
    I was and not thinking about the customer or their engine at that point. I had to clean off and move my toolbox. The trash can was the closest thing I saw. The trash got emptied overnight so that car and it's torn apart engine was ignored for at least a day. Obviously none of the other techs wanted to take over that job.
  • 11
    As far as the customer or the other tech, the customer had to drive the loaner car for a while longer. Thier car was a bottom of the barrel budget POS so they were likely driving something nicer than what they were making a payment on and fuel was dirt cheap back then. If I remember correctly i didn't get paid for that job at all, so the other tech got paid the full flat rate for the job. Im sure he didnt look too hard for the missing parts and just ordered new replacements at the dealer's expen
  • 12
    ode2skol 14 hr. ago Unfortunately, it will not be the boss diving in the dumpster. 143 Reply Share ...
  • 13
    Chuck0423 14 hr. ago Customer got screwed over more than the ex boss 123 Reply Share
  • 14
    Remarkable-Junket655 OP 14 hr. ago Yes and no. It was warranty so the customer was in a loaner car. The dealer had to cover the cost for anything warranty didn't cover. 143 Reply Share
  • 15
    Background_Newt3594. 13 hr. ago So did you call your new employer and tell them that you were immediately available? That's the kind of thing I'd go and leave a review on Indeed and any other job sites, warning everyone never to give notice when quitting. Reply Share 63
  • 16
    Remarkable-Junket655 OP 13 hr. ago Yes, and they had a flat bed come get my tool box within the hour. 103 Reply Share
  • 17
    Stankinlankin924817. 4 hr. ago As a fellow dealer tech, you are a god walking amongst men for that stunt. Watched a guy do almost the same thing at my shop a couple weeks ago. Righteous!
  • 18
    jensmith20055002. 34 min. ago That's hilarious! Our company escorted you off the property the day you gave your two week notice, BUT if you didn't give two weeks notice, they tried to hold your paycheck, so everyone quit on their last day with "2 weeks notice." Like how dumb do you have to be if the last 3 people that quit were escorted out?
  • 19
    It's not exactly rocket science to see the pattern. Even the competitors hiring new this rule. You were more than honorable and truthful keeping the boss up to date on all developments. And seriously who turns down that huge of a raise?

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