Need advice regarding work rights

[69bronzeT5]

Hi everyone. Need some advice please. I work full time Monday- Friday as a parts driver for a Honda dealership. Or shall I say worked. I got fired today for a reason completley out of my control. I'll explain some back history. Since I've started I've had issues with my manager (parts manager) because apperentley I'm too slow with deliveries. The parts department is extremely busy and there are usually a lot of deliveries. I deliver all of the lower mainland of B.C (usually put on 400km's a day). My manager has these set delivery times which are completley unrealistic. I work very quick and take my job seriously. In the 2 months I've worked there, I have only taken ONE lunch break because of how busy I am. These delivery time frames he has set are not do-able most days unless I do 160Km/h, drive people off the road and am driving my Magnum However, I stick to the speed limit (I usually go a little over), drive safe and drive a 6000lbs Nissan delivery van. Numerous people I've talked to have said these delivery time frames are not possible either. I also go drop off to drop off and do no extra stops. I even wrote down exactly what time I left each place. The reason I got fired is in exact wording "they are going a different way with the parts driving and doing something more efficent". I'm really not sure what to do. I worked my ass off, did the best job humanly possible and yet this guy says it's not good enough. I've even had daily customers tell me I deserve a raise and I'm the best parts driver they've had. I've left a message for the general manager of the dealership to call me. I'm not sure what else I can do. Any ideas?

[nvrbdn]

tough call cody, but if the man actually answers you, mabey you can have a rerun of your actual delivery day set up with him riding along to show him what you do and he can time it. (if you love the job that is). at least make sure the manager/owner knows you took your job seriously and worked/drove safely as it will at least help if you move on and need a good word from him for your next job.

[stripedelete]

tough call cody, but if the man actually answers you, mabey you can have a rerun of your actual delivery day set up with him riding along to show him what you do and he can time it. (if you love the job that is). at least make sure the manager/owner knows you took your job seriously and worked/drove safely as it will at least help if you move on and need a good word from him for your next job.

+1 good advice 

[Tilar]

I'm not sure how it is in Canada but in the USA, the reason he gave you for letting you go is not something you have control over. Basically since he said "they are going a different way with the parts driving and doing something more efficient" to me it sounds like they are eliminating the job.  In other words it's not your fault and if Canada has rules that are similar to the US rules, the dealership will have a hard time denying you unemployment compensation.

The main problem with unemployment is your 2 months service time. In the USA you have to have 6 months employment to be able to file, BUT you can also use time from a previous employer to make up your 6 months work history.

tough call cody, but if the man actually answers you, mabey you can have a rerun of your actual delivery day set up with him riding along to show him what you do and he can time it. (if you love the job that is). at least make sure the manager/owner knows you took your job seriously and worked/drove safely as it will at least help if you move on and need a good word from him for your next job.

Definitley would be worth a try unless they are really doing something different for deliveries.

[69bronzeT5]

I just found a Craigslist listing for the job.....posted on October 3rd.

[69bronzeT5]

I just have a hard time swallowing the pill. I can understand letting me go if I was being slow and taking extra stops and not doing my job properly however the fact I worked my ass off and did my job as best as I humanly could and still being fired doesn't sit right with me.

[Chryco Psycho]

This has been my life experience , welcome to canaduh , you work your ass off do the best job possible & there not only no appreciation they fire you for it or tell you to "get off your ass & earn the paycheck " [My last job ]
use the best people you have a references & get a job with some one better to work for if you can actually find a decent boss . After 70+ jobs I have had about 4 good people to work for

[rt green]

well, you'll be pissed for awhile. in the working world you will have your ups and downs. chalk it up as experience. but don't let it get you down. you'll get something you like. just keep trying. try a bodyshop or a machine shop. you know, something you can learn a trade from. you probably didn't plan on delivering parts the rest of your life anyways. maybe you made some connections from the delivery job. if you did, maybe you could use them.if not for a job, maybe a reference.  my 2 cents.  Bruce

[Orange_Crush]

You got fired, dude.  For whatever reason...good or bad...you got fired. 

No one likes getting shitcanned, but I would say that the vast majority of members on this board have experienced it.  Go get yourself an education and aim a little higher than a parts delivery guy.  You seem to have a brain in your head, put it to good use.

Acknowledge...and move on. 

[RallyeMike]

What are you going to do about it? Convince them to rehire you? Then you are stuck in the same crappy situation. Just move on.

[Old Moparz]

It's very simple, get used to working for a-holes or you'll be disappointed during most of your life.  

It won't change unless you get lucky & actually end up someplace where management knows what they are doing & know when they have a decent employee that they should treat decently. When I was in college I had a delivery job that ran 200 miles a day. Typical stereotype of the average business owner, he was a tight-wad, expected everyone that worked there to be thankful he paid minimum wage & never have an idea that may make things run more efficiently.

Also, there were two customers who would complain no matter what time I arrived & made it worse. I reversed my route to shut them up & they bitched that I was too early & that they weren't ready for the delivery. In turn they'd constantly gripe to the salesman, who in turn complained to the boss that I was goofing off somewhere. I was mad as hell after getting an earful about how I took too long so I had each customer write down the time I arrived when they signed the ticket.

I showed the boss the times on the sheets & again he bitched & said that they should be more uniform time frames between stops. I asked how that was possible since some places were 5 miles apart & some 50 miles?    He didn't answer me because he knew he was the boss.

Use the a-hole you worked for as an incentive to do better for yourself.  

[TK73]

File your unemployment (or Canada's equivalent), chalk this up to experience... Move the F on.

[Budnicks]

I worked for automotive dealerships & a large dealership group F.A.A. & H.G. Automotive for 20+ years as a Facilities Manager & Construction Coordinator Consultant until 1996... I think parts dept managers were probably some of the best guys working & to deal with at the dealerships, that I was exposed to, they are in a high pressure position, have to meet a bottom line for, outside wholesale/jobber/cost sales, shop service, & interior car sales flooring parts, they get pulled from all directions... The unemployment thing really sucks, file if your due the benefits I guess,  but I would go out & look for work right away, don't just sit around & expect someone else {or the govt.} to support you on the systems back, unless you can't get any work, then you have to do what you can to survive... The problem is they have the right to fire, lay you off or get rid of you especially if it's a non-union shop {you didn't say either way} & you were only there for 2 months, did they warn you previously about being slow ? or give you delivery expectations that you agreed to ?, most dealerships probably have a longer probation period than 2 months, for new hires anyway, in my experiences, at least the 1's I have worked with, 125 on the West cost, California, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona...  I worked construction mainly in 1 aspect or another for many years, I had to do the unemployment deal almost every winter, before I started my own company, I didn't really care for it at all... If you have a special skill set, how about starting your own business & then you are the 1 who has the power & be in charge or  for making the bottom line to keep the doors open, you will find some long lost respect for business owners & managers issues, when it comes to employees & the bottom line... I have never met an employee that didn't think they were under paid, or an owner that didn't complain about labor costs...  Good luck, don't get too down on yourself, or do anything you may regret latter...  Happy job hunting aim high...

[69bronzeT5]

did they warn you previously about being slow?

Yes. However, as I said there was nothing I could do. I worked my ass off, gave 110% percent, always got all the deliveries done. However, most days it was just too busy to stick to the manager's delivery time frame. His time frames were very unrealistic.

[maxwellwedge]

You got fired, dude.  For whatever reason...good or bad...you got fired. 

No one likes getting shitcanned, but I would say that the vast majority of members on this board have experienced it.  Go get yourself an education and aim a little higher than a parts delivery guy.  You seem to have a brain in your head, put it to good use.

Acknowledge...and move on. 

+1

These days - more than ever

[Budnicks]

did they warn you previously about being slow?

Yes. However, as I said there was nothing I could do. I worked my ass off, gave 110% percent, always got all the deliveries done. However, most days it was just too busy to stick to the manager's delivery time frame. His time frames were very unrealistic.

I'm sure traffic conditions could make deliveries hard to get done on a specific schedule, I delivered Ice, for Union Ice Delivery Co. while  going to school for some extra $$$'s when I was younger, it was tough to deal with S.F. Bay area bumper to bumper traffic issues & get all my deliveries done on a unrealistic schedule, it had a short shelf life as you could imagine... Just take it in as a learning experience & try to get another job, some were else or even a different job at the same dealership, there are tons of different kind of jobs to be done at dealerships, as I'm sure your aware of... The owners or GM may look at it as, your willing to work at anything, Maybe worth a try...

[TK73]

You got fired, dude.  For whatever reason...good or bad...you got fired. 

No one likes getting shitcanned, but I would say that the vast majority of members on this board have experienced it.  Go get yourself an education and aim a little higher than a parts delivery guy.  You seem to have a brain in your head, put it to good use.

Acknowledge...and move on. 

+1

These days - more than ever

There ya go, get papers.  I had my share of crappy, minimum-wage, dirty jobs with bosses who thought I should devote my life to the company.  SUCKED.
Got University papers and now get respect in a good paying professional career.

[nvrbdn]

my boy just got a delivery job at napa and loves it. plus they are teaching him the counter so there is a possibility of advancement. alot of the part stores do delivery, so if you enjoy that type of job, your field can be large. you already know the area.

[Darkman]

Here in Aus, it is basically 3 strikes and you're out. However, if you are fired based on a reason such as "down sizing", "going in a different direction" etc, and they replace you with someone else immediately (or even advertise for the role), then you have grounds to lodge for unfair dismissal. Either way no-one is a real winner, if you are successful in getting your job back, then it will be made as difficult as possible for you the employee and you will probably leave shortly afterwards anyway, or the company loses out.

I would take this opportunity and look for something else, and as was said talk to the places you delivered to and built up a relationship with. You never know, they may have something better for you or atleast know of somebody who does.

Don't delay though, the longer you leave it, the harder it will be!

[Vainglory, Esq.]

This might be useful: http://mises.org/daily/2666

[Chryco Psycho]

I have to agree with getting an education , there is no day that goes by I do not regret it , I would have run up huge student loans to do it , but you have a lot of time to pay it back , what do you do at 50 ? go to school for 4 years , I would be past 60 before I got the loans paid back !! Far easier to do it now while you are young !

[BigBlackDodge]

"going in a different direction"

fired you.............and hired a relative needing a job.


BBD

[Dino]

One more vote for going back to school.

I was a body man for over 15 years, quit and got into health care.  Now at 37 I'm a certified orthotic fitter and am going back to school to get a master's in orthotics and prosthetics.  I still love the trade I learned but it's much more fun on the weekend than doing it 5 days a week for a meager paycheck. 

Get a degree, go make some dough and have fun! 

[Orange_Crush]

Now at 37 I'm a certified orthotic fitter and am going back to school to get a master's in orthotics and prosthetics. 

OH SHIT!!!  Its the Ice Truck Killer!!!  (Obscure "Dexter" reference).

[Dino]

Now at 37 I'm a certified orthotic fitter and am going back to school to get a master's in orthotics and prosthetics. 

OH SHIT!!!  Its the Ice Truck Killer!!!  (Obscure "Dexter" reference).

Not to worry, I'm an ice cream killer but it doesn't get any worse than that!  Great show btw.