Reading Rob's story about pranks pulled on co-workers reminded me of some things a group of us did to a co-worker when I first hired in at G.M. many years ago.Looking back we probably crossed the line on some of the things we did to this individual....but there was a long score to settle with him,we were young and about half nuts,and at the time,truly hated this guy.At this point in my life,looking back,I regret and am ashamed of my participation in some of the events I am about to tell about,but,at the time had no regrets at all.
I hired in at General Motors just a few days shy of my 21st birthday in 1976.At the time I was hired, aprox. 1800 other people were also hired as G.M. was adding a 2nd shift at the time.Most of the new hires were young people.....my age and younger.
Most of the people who were working there before I was hired were old "gray beards",people with 20 plus years of senority as GM had did no hiring at this plant for years prior to our group getting hired.Most of these were great guys who did what they could to help the new hires learn the ropes and survive in a work environment few of us had ever experienced before.A few didn't like us much,and one in paticular hated us at first sight and did everything he could to make life miserable for us,get us fired (which he managed to do for some)or cause us to quit.His name was Alex.
At the time I hired in the first 90 days were critical.You had to work 90 days before you got union protection and GM used this time to "weed out" undesirables and trouble makers.You had to keep your nose clean,show up every day and do your job without complaint.Some foremen made it extra rough on you to see how you would react.I knew a foreman once who would brag that if he needed one person,he would hire two-then very quickly fire one to scare the survivor into working harder.Thats the way it was for your first 90 days.
I hired in to the body shop, in a area called the "jungle" named so because all the spot welders hanging down looked like jungle vines.Myself and 2 others were assigned to 3 of the biggest.It was hot, dirty,brutaly hard work wrestling those big welders and the 2 that were assigned there with me both quit before lunch....on the first day.I had a wife and new baby depending on me at home and I was determined to do the job or die trying....no way I was going to quit.
After a couple of days the older workers who worked near me kinda took me under their wing,I guess they felt sorry for me or maybe I gained a little respect from them for not backing down from the big spot welder.I soon became friends with most of them....except Alex who seemed to hate me and every other new hire.The older workers had no use for him either,and warned us to watch what we said around him...for he would run to the foreman and repeat it and add to it.
You might think it was no big deal that this old A-hole of a man didn
I hired in at General Motors just a few days shy of my 21st birthday in 1976.At the time I was hired, aprox. 1800 other people were also hired as G.M. was adding a 2nd shift at the time.Most of the new hires were young people.....my age and younger.
Most of the people who were working there before I was hired were old "gray beards",people with 20 plus years of senority as GM had did no hiring at this plant for years prior to our group getting hired.Most of these were great guys who did what they could to help the new hires learn the ropes and survive in a work environment few of us had ever experienced before.A few didn't like us much,and one in paticular hated us at first sight and did everything he could to make life miserable for us,get us fired (which he managed to do for some)or cause us to quit.His name was Alex.
At the time I hired in the first 90 days were critical.You had to work 90 days before you got union protection and GM used this time to "weed out" undesirables and trouble makers.You had to keep your nose clean,show up every day and do your job without complaint.Some foremen made it extra rough on you to see how you would react.I knew a foreman once who would brag that if he needed one person,he would hire two-then very quickly fire one to scare the survivor into working harder.Thats the way it was for your first 90 days.
I hired in to the body shop, in a area called the "jungle" named so because all the spot welders hanging down looked like jungle vines.Myself and 2 others were assigned to 3 of the biggest.It was hot, dirty,brutaly hard work wrestling those big welders and the 2 that were assigned there with me both quit before lunch....on the first day.I had a wife and new baby depending on me at home and I was determined to do the job or die trying....no way I was going to quit.
After a couple of days the older workers who worked near me kinda took me under their wing,I guess they felt sorry for me or maybe I gained a little respect from them for not backing down from the big spot welder.I soon became friends with most of them....except Alex who seemed to hate me and every other new hire.The older workers had no use for him either,and warned us to watch what we said around him...for he would run to the foreman and repeat it and add to it.
You might think it was no big deal that this old A-hole of a man didn
I have always wondered what makes people like Alex treat folks in such a hateful manner. I am fixin to read part 2. Please have a great day! Kelley (Texas)