87. Golf Like a Girl, Manage Like a Man

He was in his 60s. He was short, , and arrogant. He was the plant manager, the , the boss! His name was Tom. He relished minute of his power. He yelled at the . He called them names. He smoked daily, even it was against the law to smoke in workplace. He didn’t care. As the license plate his car said, he was The Boss.

California an “at will” state. That means that your can let you go for no reason (“You’re !”) or almost any reason ("You’re fired because you’re tall!”). You can take your firing to court it involves discrimination—sexism, racism, or ageism. However, even you were discriminated against, proving it in court difficult.

Tom considered himself a macho man. He not know that his employees considered him a . They made fun of him behind his back. called him Tommy Troll because he was short mean and had no manners. Never once had heard Tom use the words Please, Thank You, Me, or I’m Sorry.

Everyone wanted to attend funeral. But that wasn’t going to happen soon. his last physical, he presented his blood test at a weekly staff meeting. Every item on report was within the acceptable range. “The doctor I'll live to be 100,” he said proudly, depressing most of the employees.

Tom played golf Sunday with some other supervisors. He was a golfer, but he thought he was good. He to joke around and make fun of other . On the first tee last Sunday, Tom joked a golfer who had just teed off: “Look that guy. He swings like a girl.” Tom heartily at his own joke. His buddies were .

“What did you say?” asked the golfer angrily. had overheard Tom’s remark. He was a mean-looking .

“Uh, nothing,” Tom said.

“Yes, you did. You I swing like a girl. Now I’ve got to say. You apologize like a good little , or I’ll give you a fresh knuckle sandwich.”

front of his golf buddies, Tom meekly apologized. only nine holes, during which Tom was unusually , he excused himself and went home. He said had a headache. But his friends thought it shame that was eating at him. The next , Tom was still upset. He told Bill to to his office. He had never liked Bill. always wondered why he had hired him in first place.

“I’m letting you go. I don’t you here. Your last day is Friday."

Bill ’t surprised. Saying nothing, he spat on Tom’s desk walked out.




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