i got made at work today. as i've said in other posts in the past, i work in a warehouse, where most of the guys i work with also carry, or are at least sympathetic to carrying. most of the cubicle zombies, i'm told, are not so sympathetic. as such, i was warned not to mention that i carry a gun, own a gun, or talk about guns in their presence, unless it was in reference to hunting. i've followed my boss's advice, and steered clear of any uncomfortable situations.
today, one of the cube zombies came downstairs into the warehouse to ask about an order. before she began, i reminded her about her safety glasses; she complied, but was irritated. she was concerned about an order getting shipped, and was intent on getting it done. i told her that i never received the order she mentioned. she then requested, rudely, that i pack the order anyway, and that she'd clear it with my foreman. i replied that i can only pack jobs that i had slips for, and that neither my foreman, production supervisor, or plant manager had given me any such slip, nor was i given a verbal request for any. if i did pack the order, i would be the one responsible for it in case it was done incorrectly, or was lost in shipping, or if anything else went wrong. as such, i couldn't do it. she gave me an evil once over, and yelled "FINE!" before stomping off, and throwing her glasses across the plant floor.
2 hours later, the plant manager called me into his office. he's very easygoing, fair, and likes his employees. he first asked how the shift was going, how much we got done, and how many more jobs did i think would be done by 6pm. we chatted for a bit more, then he asked me to sit. he closed the door, then asked me if he could ask me a question. i said "sure". he asked me if everything was alright with me, if i was okay, and about me in general, which was a little confusing. i told him everything was great, actually. i thought maybe the cube zombie had complained about my "attitude," which she's known for. he then, very hesitantly, asked me "umm, are you.....carrying.....a gun?"
oh, crap.
i admitted that i was. i saw no point in lying to him. he's never lied to me about anything, and i felt uncomfortable lying to him. he asked me why i felt it was necessary to do so. i explained that i live in a rough part of town, and i wait for the bus at 6am, then transfer downtown for another bus at 6:35. my job is located in the warehouse/meth head district. at that time of day, the only people on the street are people on their way to work, and those up to no good. i went on to say that i don't make it a habit of showing off my gun, nor do i talk about it. he sat quietly for a moment, then said that our company policy forbids carrying of illegal weapons or contraband on the property. i then mentioned that i do have a permit, so technically, i wasn't carrying illegally. he looked rather surprised, and then asked me "well, how long have you been bringing a gun to work, then? i won't mention it to the owner, i just would like to know." i only said "for awhile, now." he then said that someone saw the gun, and became very upset and anxious about it (i can only guess who), especially with what just happened in omaha, yadda yadda yadda.
i asked him plainly what was going to happen to me as a result. he said that if were him that saw it, he would have had the same talk with me, just to clarify things, and left it at that. "unfortunately, you know that she went and also informed so-and-so after telling me. i got a call, and we're having a meeting about the situation on monday morning. you're status is unchanged until then, but i can't say much more than that." i told him i understood, which i do, really. i went back down to the floor. my foreman asked me what was wrong; i told him the cube zombie made me. his face dropped, which isn't reassuring. "well, how are you carrying?" i showed him, i was carrying IWB, with an extra long and thick flannel shirt over it. i wasn't printing, so i the only thing i can think of is that she must have seen it on another occasion, and decided to be spiteful, in retaliation for not doing what she wanted, when she wanted.
i wonder how she owuld have reacted if she knew i was also pocket carrying a .380?
i might be out of a job come monday, right in time for x-mas. wish me luck, guys, in keeping my job, or finding a new one fast.
today, one of the cube zombies came downstairs into the warehouse to ask about an order. before she began, i reminded her about her safety glasses; she complied, but was irritated. she was concerned about an order getting shipped, and was intent on getting it done. i told her that i never received the order she mentioned. she then requested, rudely, that i pack the order anyway, and that she'd clear it with my foreman. i replied that i can only pack jobs that i had slips for, and that neither my foreman, production supervisor, or plant manager had given me any such slip, nor was i given a verbal request for any. if i did pack the order, i would be the one responsible for it in case it was done incorrectly, or was lost in shipping, or if anything else went wrong. as such, i couldn't do it. she gave me an evil once over, and yelled "FINE!" before stomping off, and throwing her glasses across the plant floor.
2 hours later, the plant manager called me into his office. he's very easygoing, fair, and likes his employees. he first asked how the shift was going, how much we got done, and how many more jobs did i think would be done by 6pm. we chatted for a bit more, then he asked me to sit. he closed the door, then asked me if he could ask me a question. i said "sure". he asked me if everything was alright with me, if i was okay, and about me in general, which was a little confusing. i told him everything was great, actually. i thought maybe the cube zombie had complained about my "attitude," which she's known for. he then, very hesitantly, asked me "umm, are you.....carrying.....a gun?"
oh, crap.
i admitted that i was. i saw no point in lying to him. he's never lied to me about anything, and i felt uncomfortable lying to him. he asked me why i felt it was necessary to do so. i explained that i live in a rough part of town, and i wait for the bus at 6am, then transfer downtown for another bus at 6:35. my job is located in the warehouse/meth head district. at that time of day, the only people on the street are people on their way to work, and those up to no good. i went on to say that i don't make it a habit of showing off my gun, nor do i talk about it. he sat quietly for a moment, then said that our company policy forbids carrying of illegal weapons or contraband on the property. i then mentioned that i do have a permit, so technically, i wasn't carrying illegally. he looked rather surprised, and then asked me "well, how long have you been bringing a gun to work, then? i won't mention it to the owner, i just would like to know." i only said "for awhile, now." he then said that someone saw the gun, and became very upset and anxious about it (i can only guess who), especially with what just happened in omaha, yadda yadda yadda.
i asked him plainly what was going to happen to me as a result. he said that if were him that saw it, he would have had the same talk with me, just to clarify things, and left it at that. "unfortunately, you know that she went and also informed so-and-so after telling me. i got a call, and we're having a meeting about the situation on monday morning. you're status is unchanged until then, but i can't say much more than that." i told him i understood, which i do, really. i went back down to the floor. my foreman asked me what was wrong; i told him the cube zombie made me. his face dropped, which isn't reassuring. "well, how are you carrying?" i showed him, i was carrying IWB, with an extra long and thick flannel shirt over it. i wasn't printing, so i the only thing i can think of is that she must have seen it on another occasion, and decided to be spiteful, in retaliation for not doing what she wanted, when she wanted.
i wonder how she owuld have reacted if she knew i was also pocket carrying a .380?
i might be out of a job come monday, right in time for x-mas. wish me luck, guys, in keeping my job, or finding a new one fast.