Sorry to say, but I once had to fire a man because I
didn't wear a suit. He was a Specialist who was on a new refinery site to help start-up a very special piece of equipment.
Twice previously, I had talked to him about the fact that I hadn't seen him out on site inspecting and preparing the kit he was there to commission and his reply on both occasions was "I am a Supervisor, not a worker."
I explained that I was paying for a "Worker" not a "Supervisor" so after another week of not seeing him on site I had his plane ticket in the back-pocket of my jeans when I went to talk to him.
After he finished the "I'm a Supervisor ..." statement with "... and my Manager will back me." I'm afraid that I lost it. :whistle:
I handed him his plane ticket and said "When you see Doctor Winkler in Frankfurt, give him my regards and tell him I want him here to talk about your replacement by next Monday at the latest."
His initial response was "
You know Doctor Winkler?" (his manager) and after my nod he carried on with "Who are you?"
I must admit that my flabber was gasted!
I pointed out that I was the man that hired him and I was the man that was firing him, and his immediate response was
"Why don't you wear a suit?"
I made damn sure afterwards that everyone realised "The man in jeans and a tee-shirt is in charge; and he's even in charge of the man in the office who wears a suit!" :thumb:
But in all honesty it was my own failure!