The Work Chronicles: The Old Man Controversy

What does everyone have in common and like to complain about? Their Jobs. So just like everyone else in America  they are working a shitty job and not making enough money. I'm no different I work way to hard and don't get paid enough. This is the Work Chronicles.

This Chronicle is about the old man at work. I say Old man even do this guy is 56 because he is just one of those guys that just looks old. The first convo I had with this guy back in 2021. Was me pricing up ribs the week before 4th of July. Going crazy to impress the boss and prepare for the buy 1 get 2 free sale. Just me and the old man in the cutting room and he ask " this your first job?" 

I answer" no its not I've had a couple Jr camp counselor  at 13, Volunteer at the zoo ages 14-18 first paying job summer janitor at 15 did that till 19. Didn't really work much in 2020 with all the Covid-19 stuff. But around Christmas time was installing furniture here and there[ but resume wise I was doing that 7 months *wink*]. So yeah I've work before." 

Not knowing what else to say and keep the conversation going I asked what about you any other jobs or always been at Jewel? His initial response I couldn't remember what he said. But what really stuck with me in that talk was him going. " Yeah I'm just waiting it out at this point I got a son who I got to work for till he goes to college, I got a younger wife who works at Jewel to not this one, but the chance I get to retire I'm going on her insurance collecting my pension. I can't wait to retire it will be soon" 

I think to my self man I'm just beginning at jewel and this guy is ending it's the circle of life thats great, good for this old man and if you ever seen this guy you would understand my next question. "So when is the retirement? " I ask. I think to my self oh this guy got maybe 6 months 8 months. The old man responds" I don't know 10 maybe 12 years" 

My utter shock and disbelief that this guy was like 50 at the time when I was thinking he was 65 man he looked and still does. terrible. But over the years we've had our ups and downs with the old man like any person at a shitty job and their coworkers.

But that leads me to not and late june early july. The leadership of the department is in scrambles we have a guy injured for 2 months now understaffed busy summer season everyones over worked and upset rightfully so. A good job is a subjective thing. But when your worst is nothing close to anything acceptable  it leaves you open with a big mark. When you have moments upon moments of short comings it doesn't look good. When you come up short again. 

I understand a few things in life if a guy can only throw a 85 mile an hour fastball you can't expect him to throw one at 99. But maybe he makes up for the lack of speed with a good curve or a good sinker, makes up for the short comings some way some how. If they don't and slowing down production and constantly need help they are the problem. But the old man... his better days are way behind him at this point. But back to my subjective what a good job is. He did a poor job and threw a fit that no one should of called him out because the union guy says a good job is subjective. But what he did was not good at all a rack of meat shouldn't take 8 hours to do. So he decided to call off and just used all his vacation days all in a row. Which was 3 -4 weeks.  Which we are still not sure if thats allowed. Like you can't just call off and say put my vacation day down so I still get paid and not marked down as a call off. But no how much it sucks walking into work already knowing half the team ain't there and you'll be going crazy to make up for him not being there. Even when he ran out of days just constantly called off when he is out of days. He's upset and mad that he has to work but that's life.

Maybe I don't know this is an indirect letter  saying good bye to a guy who sure was old and not the greatest any more. Even do hell never see this.It's the ending of an era and brings a little sadness to the eye. He claims he was once great maybe he was, he sure bragged about it alot "back in his day talk".  Over the last couple years I've seen him on the decline and there were a lot of cracks and holes in the department and in his game and for years he had some one to always help him out but at some point its holding us back to much payroll and not enough effort or making up the cost some where else. One trick pony show and the show has gone stale.  He's caused more problems then solved them. Which has lead to constant write ups and suspensions down to the last one as the crazy summer of 2025 comes to and end and so does he. So here is to all our crazy co workers who want to kill the clock. But man its hard to kill the clock when you're still in the 3rd quarter of this game and still have 5 more games to play.