Last April my department manager retired. My supervisor, who was also in charge of the Programmer and the 3 engineers, stepped up into the corner office. All three engineers submitted resumes and interviewed to move up into the vacated Fabrication Engineering Supervisor spot. They hired someone from the outside. There were a few ruffled feathers.
Needless to say, I expected a little push back when in the first week of December I asked the 3 engineers for some money for the usual annual Christmas Gift Card for our supervisor. I thought I’d start by asking for a smaller amount than in previous years, but after, “Sure thing, let me know.” I got a, “Well, if everyone else gives…” and a, “No #$%*@ing way am I giving any money for him.” I abandoned the whole thing.
On Tuesday the 22nd, we are all gathered in the conference room for our monthly Tool Box communications meeting and at the end, our new outside hired supervisor hands out Christmas cards to the four of us. Inside is a $25 gift card to Home Depot. A couple of us looked inside and knew we were in trouble, while the other two just knew instinctively that we were going to look bad because we had nothing to reciprocate with. When the meeting broke up, there were a few mumbled thanks as we made our way out the door.
On his way by my cubicle Mr. No #$%*@ing Way tossed a twenty on my keyboard.
Because his wife is expecting their first child, the new guy got a gift card to CRUMBSNATCHERS-R-US from us.
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