Conversation with a contractor for the business I manage, talking about him showing up at the store we contract to, every morning, and then disappearing for 20 minutes (every day) while he leaves his semi truck running (to warm up, it's -10*F outside...).
Me: Can you please explain why our customer is complaining that you leave your truck running, unattended every morning?
Him: Yea man. Do you have a favorite place you like to eat?
Me: Um? That's an odd question. Yea man, my house. I cook all of my meals. I love it.
Him: Common man. Really? Every one?
Me: Yes. Every. Single. One.
Him: Yea, but what about breakfast? I mean, we work so early in the morning, you know? (HAHAHA. 7AM! HAHAHA)
Me: I've never eaten breakfast at a restaurant on a workday in my entire life... (the exception being when I travel for work)
Him: Well, I don't know about you, but with getting up at 6:00am, with my kid and all, there is no way that I have time in the morning to make breakfast. That's just the way it is.
Me: Ok. So is this where you go every morning?
Him: That's what I'm getting at. I get to the store, start the truck to let it warm up (legit thing to do when it's -10*), and then drive my Tahoe to TacoBell to get breakfast. I go every morning, cause honestly it's way better than Burger King or McDonalds.
Me: Dude, why don't you just load your truck at the store and then drive the semi to taco bell and get your breakfast then?
Him: They don't open the dining room until 10am. The drive through is open at 7am. I have to go through the drive through. I can't possibly get the semi truck through there.
Me: Dude. Okay man. I'll tell the store that we're going to start at 7:30am instead of 7am, and you can hit the drive through on the way into work. Ok? So you can have your breakfast, and you won't be leaving the store/truck every morning after showing up on time. And the store won't have to bitch anymore. OK? Deal?
Him: Man, thanks. I really appreciate it!
HOLY SHIT. I'm 2,000 miles away from this contract. I'm in Seattle, he's in Wisconsin. He's been driving to the store (passing the taco bell on the way), getting to the store, starting the truck, driving back to the Taco Bell, hitting the drive though, and driving back to work.
NOT only is this guy buying at LEAST $40-$50worth of breakfast every week (~$8 x 6days/wk), he's driving his damn Tahoe an extra 7 miles/day so he can hit the store first... $160-$200 every month for BREAKFAST! That's 2/3 my grocery bill for me and my wife!
This guy is 6'2" and 380lb. I want to tell him he's killing himself. That his 40oz extra-large soda at 7am is killing him. That this is part of the reason he experienced gout this year at AGE 30!!! But it's not my prerogative. I don't know his life. Instead I find myself enabling him, so as the appease the business relation with the store, and so I don't have to replace the contractor at an unaffordable cost. The customers love him. He makes us money. What's an Operations Manger to do? FAAAAAAAAAACK!