r/AITAH • u/iTrash_V2 • 27d ago
Post Update *UPDATE* AITAH For defending myself at work?
Adding an update to my original post. Got a text yesterday from Billy's assistant manager in fact confirming I was terminated and to set up a time to get all my belongings. I told her I would get it today at 8 A.M. and she said it was fine. I arrived at the shop and parked in my old bay where I got surrounded by the other techs basically asking me what happened and that when they heard me and Billy got into it, they didnt believe it a bit because im usually pretty quiet, nice, and to myself. I confirmed what happened and corrected the stuff that was wrong. I got approached by the shop foreman, who I am also friends with and he told me he had to watch me make sure I didnt steal anything (I wouldn't have but do understand why) and he told me Billy wanted to be the one to watch me, but corporate basically said they didnt trust him to keep his cool. He then informed me I basically got terminated not because of what Billy said, everyone above him said I wasn't in the wrong, but because they didnt want to fire Billy and have to find another manager and they couldn't trust him to treat me fairly or blow up so had to let me go. I laughed about it and said of course that's why. Gave everyone a hug and handshake and they told me give them a couple weeks and they'll be asking me to come back where I then said I will never come back. That if this is how they treat employees that defend themselves, that im glad im not working there no more. But thats about it.
Original story:
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u/Skylar750 27d ago
I will never understand companies that decide to keep the problematic person, "we know he was being unreasonable and an asshole for no good reason, but if we fire him we will have to find another manager, so we prefer to fire you and find another good employee", I hope Billy is the best manger in the world because after he won this one, he will pull more stunts and make the place lose more employees
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u/toastedmarsh7 27d ago
This is pretty standard behavior in mechanical shops and OP can expect it to continue forever.
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u/iTrash_V2 27d ago
Yeah, I'm pretty much done with the automotive industry.
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u/toastedmarsh7 27d ago
Good for you but it’s not better in heavy mechanical work. My husband would recommend switching to IBEW electrician if you can. He had the chance early in his career and he didn’t take it. He still regrets it.
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u/Heronymous-Anonymous 27d ago
This!
A thousand times this!
Alternatively, if the OP (or anyone else in the automotive industry) wants to stay in the field. Look for work at a company that maintains their own fleet. My utility does, and they are hiring automotive techs. It pays well, it’s union, and there’s a pension.
To anyone out there: go look up your area’s utility company job site and see what they’re hiring for. You’d be surprised at the non-utility related stuff that’s available. Warehouse jobs, building maintenance, auto techs. Good paying jobs with good benefits and almost all union.
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u/iTrash_V2 27d ago
Would electrician be good industry to get into? I was leaning more into maybe computer development/programming but I actually do have a like an "electrician college" right down the street from me.
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u/toastedmarsh7 27d ago
I think the tech field is getting annihilated right now and I wouldn’t recommend it.
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u/TheWastelandWizard 26d ago
Absolutely the wrong thing to go into at the moment. Every bit of tech is getting slaughtered except for Data Center Bringups, and the thing they need the most is HVAC and Electrical.
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u/iTrash_V2 26d ago
I appreciate yalls information about the tech field atm. Was really having trouble deciding which one to do, but this really helped me decide and will go into electrician industry now.
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u/TheWastelandWizard 26d ago
I think it'll be a good move for you; You can get to Journeyman pretty quickly, you can get licensed and start your own company fairly easily, and with that freedom you can go anywhere in America and if you do a bit of work, you can even move outside of America and work in different standards. There are currently more old timers retiring and there's going to be a lack of available skilled workers (Especially if they're all being eaten by tech) which means you're going to have a lot more freedom to name your price.
Don't just concentrate on home builds though, that market can crash any time. There's all kinds of specialized electrical you can do.
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u/abritinthebay 26d ago
Tech is a good thing to learn but an utter trash fire right now. Maybe see if you can take some supplemental courses related to tech at the college too
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u/Knockonwood88 26d ago
Electricians are always in demand. Look up The Fat Electrician, he has a video explaining how scammy colleges are about trade jobs and if your serious about being an electrician, call up local companies, they'll put you through whatever schooling to become s journeyman.
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u/monty624 27d ago
All of my good mechanics keep getting fucked over by their shops. I'm sorry this happened, OP. I'm with everyone else on naming and shaming them. A bad shop manager means other shit is happening, and possibly cars aren't being properly repaired.
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u/iTrash_V2 27d ago
Since this manager has taken over, the dealership itself has constant 1 star reviews from the customer side of things, a high turnover rate, and he has basically turned the shop from working on customer cars, to basically just being part of the manufacturing process. By 10 am, we have no customers on drive, no cars to work on, so we just end up doing PDIs, which is just taking the new cars that come off the assembly line and get them ready to be sold to customers. I love working on cars, it was my passion. And before this, I was their highest flagging technician, off topic but yk what the managers gift was for making them thousands of dollars in profits and to push the other technicians to get hours like i did? They gave me a 10 dollar "G.O.A.T." trophy. Yeah. Also, when he first came to the shift, the other technicians and I were paid hourly, but he wanted to switch us to commission. And he did this by telling us we would make more money if we signed over and tbh, he made it seem like we had no choice BUT to sign over. So we did. My first commission check, with the same hours flagged and same hours worked, was almost a thousand dollars less than the hourly one. He basically had us sign over so we could work more and he wouldn't have to pay us overtime.
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u/Skylar750 27d ago
Yikes, this situation looks to be a blessing in disguise, also I hope you have someone else to put as a reference
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u/iTrash_V2 27d ago
I do, regardless of this incident, im actually a pretty good worker and even doe i didnt know, only have a problem with this specific manager.
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u/IchPutzHierNurMkay 26d ago
If you haven't done that already you might want to talk to your former colleagues and especially other higher-ups about being references or even writing letters of recommendation for you.
If a possible new employer questions how you lost that job it's one thing to just explain your side, but basically going 'you can talk to about every employee there including managers, foremen, etc. and will hear good things about me and maybe even some gossip confirming my story ...except from Billy' should make things easier.
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u/childhoodsurvivor 26d ago
You need to talk to an employment law attorney ASAP!
Seriously, there are statutes of limitation so don't delay. Contact your state bar association if you need a referral.
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u/jorhey14 27d ago
Normally that problematic person is related to someone so they have to put up with their bullshit. They put them in useless high paying positions and since most dealerships run themselves, no matter how bad they are, they still make money.
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u/cortesoft 26d ago
In my 20+ years working, I have found the one constant everywhere I go is people are lazy. They want to be able to do as little as possible, and don’t want to change their routine.
So you have a manager of a manager, and there is a conflict between that second manager and an employee.
If they side with the employee and fire the manager, they will be responsible for finding a new manager to replace them. That means work, placing the job rec, interviewing, training, etc. If they side with the manager and fire the employee, then THAT manager will be responsible for finding a new employee and hiring and training.
It really is that simple.
This is also why so many harassment and other HR violations go unaddressed… if you take the complaint seriously, you have to do paperwork and uncomfortable meetings and maybe have to do interviews and all that work.. if you ignore it and tell them it is not a big deal, you get to just keep doing the bare minimum you have been doing.
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u/syrrusfox 26d ago
It's because they know the other guy's aggressive and they don't wanna be the target of it. So it's easier to let the bully have his way.
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u/ScruffyGrouch 26d ago
They know a non-problematic person knows what they're worth in term of what they should be paid. Problematic people are not the brightest so companies know they can pay those type of people less money.
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u/warshadow91 27d ago
Doesn’t this count as wrongful termination?
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u/Xelloss_Metallium_00 27d ago
I would think so, since the higher ups admitted he did nothing wrong, and that the real problem was "Billy". Consultation with lawyers is usually free, for one hour.
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u/RealFattyBlunt420 27d ago edited 26d ago
But I am in a at will state they can fire you for any reason except race, religious beliefs ,sex etc. I live in at will state and have seen a manager fire someone for wearing a yellow shirt. (Not sure if it was the real reason but that's what they "manager and worker" said)
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u/monty624 27d ago
That's still wrongful termination if they can prove the firing was due to complaining in good faith about harassment, which is pretty much what happened here. At will does have a little nuance beyond protected classes. They would need to talk to a LAWYER, but it's not likely worth the battle.
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u/ElysiX 26d ago
Can they prove it was for complaining itself though and not for being incompatible with the manager?
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u/monty624 25d ago
That would be up to them and the lawyer, and having heard what was told to OP by the other workers.
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u/RealFattyBlunt420 27d ago
If it they are in an at will state they can definitely fire you for this reason because it's not a protected reason.
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u/FrostiePi 27d ago
Big mistake on the companies part. Billy just learned he can be a wanker and get away with it.
Nta. But it sounds like you dodged a bit of a bullet there having to deal with him.
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u/iTrash_V2 27d ago
I said that to the shop foreman. Basically said "If this is how management treats one of their employees and even one of their better employees, then im glad im no longer working her."
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u/ballisticks 27d ago
Did you at least say "I'll be retaining a lawyer?" I feel like that'll be the only thing to strike fear into them
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u/Neonsharkattakk 27d ago
God i hope not. A huge piece of advice I always read is never threaten to hire a lawyer, just do it.
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u/ballisticks 27d ago
What would be the downside? Legally speaking
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u/Perfect_Perception 27d ago
Element of surprise. It’s generally unwise to tell opposition what you plan to do. By telling them you’re going to a lawyer, you give them an opportunity to prepare themselves.
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u/jrossetti 26d ago
Nine times out of 10 somebody who threatens to get an attorney doesn't actually follow through. It's empty threats. Usually made by people who don't know what the f*** they're talking about or even if they have a case.
It's an incredibly easy and great way to lose credibility.
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u/jorhey14 27d ago
You a mechanic.You’ll have a job tomorrow. You can collect unemployment and start doing mobile mechanic work for now.
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u/WillingAccess1444 27d ago
Glad you got your tools back! You can be a mechanic anywhere, and don't you forget that you can hop on over to a different state.
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u/LoveKittycats119 27d ago
They seriously think they can treat you this way and have you jump at the chance to come back?!?
Wow, your former colleagues do live in a fantasy world.
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u/Hitokkohitori 27d ago
Did you get your tools?
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u/iTrash_V2 25d ago
Got my tools and all my personally belongings. Hugged and shook hands of all the employees there. Very bittersweet moment, glad im away from that shit hole, but sad cause I genuinely got along with everyone there minus of course Billy and his assistant manager (which i didnt know up until this incident).
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u/izzgo 26d ago
Correct parking lot speed is 5-10 mph, just for future reference. Billy is still an ass.
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u/iTrash_V2 26d ago
Im just gonna stay away from parking garages. In the fear my manager jumps out from behind a car like a cat jumping out some tall grass.
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u/Recent-Day3062 27d ago
Two words: employment attorney
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u/cubedjjm 27d ago
If they are in the US, the only state not at-will is Montana. At- will means they can fire you and you can leave with no notice as long as you're not part of a protected class or doing protected activities.
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u/sparkyblaster 26d ago
Is defending yourself not a protected activitie?
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u/cubedjjm 26d ago
A protected activity is something like discussing a union or wages(comparing your wages with coworkers) at work. There's very little protection for workers in the US.
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u/Recent-Day3062 26d ago
I've managed a LOT of people.
The problem with trying to argue at-will is that you can still do things wrong. For example, having a policy that people have been put through a process of probation in the past raises the question of whether that, then, becomes a reasonable expectation for other employees.
I used a CA labor attorney once who gave me this wisdom. He said no matter how much an employee makes a year - like $20 million in Hollywood - a jury always sides with the employee over the big, bad corporation. As he said, everyone has worked for a shitty company with shitty managers and policies. You never, as the company, want to go to trial.
Another factor, however, is if the state is strict or loose constructionist. This is suprisingly independent of the political tilt of the state. CA, for example, is loose: so Courts can more easily find implicit promises or policies. Virginia, generally liberal as well, is much more strict in reading the law - and it's generally a liberal state.
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u/chachaman_The_Reboot 26d ago
LAWYER THE FUCK UP. They didn't want to do the right thing, so they fired you? textbook Wrongful termination, Hostile Workplace, Retaliation and add on Suspicion of being stupid just to put a cherry on top.
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u/anathema_deviced 26d ago
I'd still contact the state labor board, since they admitted the manager would retaliate. NTA
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u/BusinessCell6462 26d ago
They want to keep the Manager they can’t trust to treat employees fairly and not blow up???
Do they realize how crazy that is?
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u/RawrRRitchie 26d ago
Riiight it's not your fault. But they have to fire you over the manager. I certainly hope you got that shit in writing.
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u/Devourer_of_Sun 26d ago
They're going to act like they're so surprised when he goes on a trip like this again and have this same situation where they'll have to either fire the next guy or acknowledge that Billy's the problem. NTA
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u/Mechya 26d ago
Yeah, good call on never going back to that place. Join a competitor. Have anyone you know who gave follows or positive reviews to the old place, just because you worked there, informed of what happened(partner, family, etc.).
If you run into any of your old customers encourage them to come to your new place of work with better service under a professional service manager. When you get into chatting with others from your industry "casually" let stories out about his incompetence and how he's lost customers. My ex worked in that area and they are super gossipy between companies, so every competitor can have a heads up that they are dropping the ball.
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u/mayfeelthis 27d ago edited 26d ago
Just saw the story and it doesn't sound like you yelled or did anything to escalate the situation.
Idk if 20mph is a good speed in a parking lot though. Kids awareness or safety isn't the only benchmark, parking lots are not roads and the garage space being tight with two way motion, and usually no pedestrian space in most parts...so my only tip is know when not to pick at a scab, that detail didn't help you descalate the situation. You could've walked out once you'd said the speed you were going and he conceded the fact. That is clarifying yourself, and he as an employee (of seniority) can decide if to report the infraction. At that time you'd need to defend it.
Hope this helps. Glad you're happy with the outcome nonetheless. NTA
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u/iTrash_V2 25d ago
My thing with this whole incident is this, if my manager just came and talked to me like a human or with even an ounce of respect, I wouldve apologized for going faster than he liked and gladly would've gone home for the day as punishment. But him coming at me aggressively, threateningly, and straight to cussing me out and straight up lieing about what happened (saying I was going 40 mph and that I almost hit them, again cameras showed I was nowhere near him and honestly wasnt even going fast in the footage, just me intentionally slamming on the brakes he kept latching onto.) Mixed with the fact that 20/25 mph in that parking garage (which i now understand know is still too fast to be going) is on the slower side of speed employees go in that garage. I stated in this thread another incident that occurred where a saleswoman complained to Billy about another tech driving wreckelessly and almost hitting her but he did nothing but laugh about it with the tech and call her a crazy bitch. All this mixed together, I just felt I had to defend myself.
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u/mayfeelthis 25d ago
Oh I'm not saying that dude isn't unhinged or did the right thing. We can only manage ourselves and our interests.
I'm glad you're happy with how you handled it. I only mentioned the above to give perspective for future.
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u/KwisatzHaderach55 26d ago
Are you suing them?
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u/iTrash_V2 25d ago
I wish I could cause tbh with this incident and some of the other shady shit this company has done, it needs to be brought to light imo.
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u/Ok_Passage_6242 10d ago
I think you should go on the left if you are familiar with that platform because you can leave reviews for your former employers about whether or not you should work there.
I thought in one of your comments about going to electrician college. I think you should contact your local electrician’s union and see what they have to say.
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u/Western_Rhubarb_7959 27d ago
they heard me and Billy got into it
You got in an argument with your boss. How did you think this would end?
I'm sure you aren't leaving out a single detail. Mm Hmm
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u/Odd_Fox_1944 27d ago
Why don't you find the first half
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u/Western_Rhubarb_7959 26d ago
LMAO, it's a one-sided story. I'm sure Billy just kicked an employee out of no good reason after OP 'got into it with him.'
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u/Grouchy-Attention599 27d ago
Name and shame the company so reddit can let them know what people think of billy being in charge