Tales From The Depot

"THE TRUTH WILL OUT"...eventually!

There are two things that I learnt from my great mate Crewy, when I worked for the logistics company, TNT, and these same two things have stood me in good stead for all aspects of life whenever I've been confronted with trouble, or if I've ever been wrongly accused of something, or if certain people cause me grief in their vain attempts to cover their own backsides at my expense:

1. If you always tell the truth, then although they may not like what they hear, they can't have a go at you, and...
2. They are going to need you for a favour, long before you need them for one!

Never were these sentiments more relevant than when I worked the nightshift in a satellite branch of the main Bristol TNT depot between 2004 and 2008, where I was employed in a two-man team for an independent contract, working under a supervisor called 'Clarence' (a nickname given by Crewy ~ private joke). As the contract grew so did the workload, yet I found myself regularly doing the lion shares of the work as Clarence began going AWOL for periods at a time, which was apparently undetected by the 'powers-that-be'...or so I thought!

It turns out that my supervisor's absense was taken up by 'entertaining' his 'bit-on-the-side' on company time in the middle of the night, despite always portraying the image of being a happily married man to all and sundry. This manifested itself in such forms as disappearing for an hour after our last delivery, or by arriving late for the shift, or by leaving early at the end of the shift for me to finish up on my own.
One Wednesday night when I arrived at the start of my shift, I found him on site already, along with his 'girlfriend', and I knew then that if this was going to become a regular occurence, then at sometime soon he was going to get caught out. But for the time being I just kept my head down, ignored it all and just got on with my work. The real problems began though with his reported timekeeping. Due to the increase in workload we were allowed overtime which was fine for me as I was genuinely working the hours I claimed. Unfortunately, Clarence decided to duplicate my hours on his timesheets despite the fact that he wasn't actually working them! For some reason it became my responsibility to hand in our timesheets on a weekly basis at the main depot, and on one such day whilst I was submitting them I was suddenly summoned to the office of the 'Big Boss'. He asked me if I wanted to share anything with him, which I politely declined, although I sensed that he was on to something.

This went on for a few months, until the Big Boss pulled me in again and this time he laid his cards on the table. He knew Clarence was falsely claiming overtime, as well as other possible misdemeanours, and unless I came clean then he made it quite clear that my job was on the line too.
Now the last thing I wanted to do was 'grass' my supervisor up, so the only thing I said was that it may prove worthwhile to turn up at the satellite depot early on a Wednesday night before the shift was supposed to start, although I didn't elaborate why.
Now that you have the back-story, this is where my tale really begins...

After this meeting with the Big Boss, I decided to take a few nights off so that I was out of the firing line, and away from any potential troubles or consequences. On the Thursday morning I woke up around 6am to find I had a missed call from my mate, Crewy. I called him straight back and he was laughing his socks off wanting to know what was going on with regards to my supervisor. Obviously I had no idea, but I was soon to find out! I took it upon myself to pop into the depot as it was only a ten minute walk away, and when I arrived I found the Big Boss & his assistant finishing off the days work with Clarence nowhere to be found. I helped the Big Boss out for an hour or so, and then he led me into a private office to give me a full account of what had transpired...I guess you could say a 'blow-by-blow' account of the nights events! Lol.
Apparantly, the Big Boss and his assistant had arrived unannounced early the night before onsite at the depot, to find Clarence with his 'girlfriend' in what I suppose you could say was an uncompromising position! After hastily zipping himself up, Clarence was summoned in the office where he was given his cards! This instant dismissal was later down-graded to a forced resignation, but the result was the same...he received his marching orders and I received his old job!
My mate Crewy stepped in to help me out on a permanent basis, and for a while it was bliss!
A new satellite depot manager was installed, and she proved a sight for sore eyes every morning, as well earning my eternal gratitude, as she gave me some additional hours working in the office after my nightshift every morning, which allowed me to save like mad for my New Zealand dream to become to reality, as well as being able to finally meet my great kiwi friend in person, The TWL...thanks as always Lucy, for making this all possible!

After about a year though, our peace was spoiled by the addition of another contract under our roof, which caused all sorts of logistical and operational problems, favouritism and preferential treatment towards this other contract at our expense and hardship, and no end of grief for Crewy and me! But sticking to his rules and principles previously outlined, we survived despite countless accusations, rumours and attempts to land us both in trouble. We always stuck to our guns, we always stuck together, and we always told the truth, which caused quite a few red faces from some of our accusers...not that they ever apologised for wrongly dropping us in it in the first place! And sure enough, after receiving said grief, the very same people then had the gall to turn round and ask us for continual favours because they knew that we were the most reliable workers to fulfill any request! You're so tempted to tell them where to go, but in the end you keep your own council, bite your tongue and try to keep your head down as best you can.
But like I say...'they're gonna need you, long before you need 'em!'

Incidentally, the photo attached with this blog shows my mate Crewy, but I must stress that although the unsuspecting victim of his antics shows an uncanny resemblance...it isn't me!

And finally..
I haven't disclosed Clarence's real name as I felt I should be respectful in trying to preserve a certain sense of dignity, as there is a rather sad footnote to this tale...
Although Clarence soon found alternative employment after this incident, he did lose his marriage and his home, and then about a year later I was informed that he tragically died of a brain tumour.
Not a day goes by that I don't feel a sense a guilt, as possibly my part in his dismissal may have led to the stress which caused this tumour...I know it sounds crazy, but that's just the way I feel and the way that I am.
I guess I just can't help caring too much about other people, even if they've previously tried to shaft me!!!

Next weeks blog will be a slight departure from the usual theme...all will be revealed in a very personal posting next Tuesday, called 'A Man Of Contradictions'.

Steve M