Over on the Executive Director Happy Hour Facebook group, one of the members brought up a good point about lazy staff. It was related to folks not wanting to clean up after themselves because of having a janitorial service, not wanting to replace items that have been used up, etc. It inspired this post in hopes of learning.
In fire and EMS (which was my first career both in terms of paid and/or volunteer capacities) there's what are known as "house chores" or "station chores". You don't get to sit down or watch TV etc until your assignment is done. Even EMS students have to help. So the idea of not picking up after oneself at work, not restocking, etc just makes me bristle. It simply should be part of a person's duties. It sucks that it comes down to saying "pick up after yourself" needs to be written into the job description but then again we have to put in writing even more blatantly obvious or basic tasks... *shakes fist at sky* #KidsTheseDays
Besides...it is incredibly disrespectful to the janitorial staff to not pick up after yourself. Honestly, that gets at me more because of the way I was brought up. Which brings me to what I guess you could call today's sermon...
When I was a young EMT and still very wet behind the ears, my medical director (the doctor under whose license we practiced) was a former Vietnam special forces combat medic turned civilian paramedic turned emergency physician and all around hard ass. He also had the best bedside manner of any physician I have ever seen. He was demanding of his people and often wasn't well liked by EMS providers because he expected everyone to be the best or go find work elsewhere. However, he also was one of the most loyal people I have ever known and had all the ferocity of a wolverine that has been snorting PCP after a week long coke fueled bender in defending "his medics" from undue harm or false accusation.
One of the greatest lessons he ever taught me was demonstrated one day in the emergency department (ED). He had a young doctor who came in to see how the ED ran and in hopes of joining the practice group. Kid was a top student, chief emergency medicine resident at a major hospital, blah blah...a real good catch on paper. He was following Robert (my medical director; also not his actual name in order to protect his privacy) around and one of the trauma rooms was being cleaned after a messy case.
The housekeeper doing it was an older black lady who we all referred to as "Mrs Mellenson" or simply "Mom" out of respect since she always referred to us as "kiddo", "sonny" or "baby girl". When she passed away a year or two after this event happened, there was a sea of EMS uniforms, fire uniforms and surgical scrubs there because we all loved her; I miss her....I tear up thinking about her. She always told me I need to put on weight (I was a 155 lb kid at the time) and always made sure to leave snacks for me in a bag on my locker. She had a heart of gold. Even as crotchety and crabby as I can be at times, I hope to be even a tenth as good of a person as she was some day.
Mom stepped out after Robert had passed and blocked this young doc's way by accident. He let loose on her about how she needed to remember her place and he's a doctor and she's not. This self-aggrandizing bullshit went on for about fifteen seconds. The entire department went silent. I was a good ten feet away and still swear I heard Robert's knuckles crack as he clenched his fists.
He didn't hit the guy, didn't say a word. He grabbed him be the shirt collar, dragged him backwards off his feet. Across the floor to the ambulance bay doors and dropped him on his ass just outside the door. Quietly, very calmly he said "You are a disgrace to the profession. You are not to ever darken the doorstep of this hospital again. No one ever taught you the proper respect for others that goes with being a man let alone being a leader. Let me say this: if you think that you're the end all be all and that housekeepers and others are there only to serve you, you're a worthless sack of shit. Get out."
He then walked over to Mom, took her by the hands and in the softest voice I have ever heard from the man goes "Ma'am, I am so so sorry that he spoke to you like that. I was wrong to bring him in here. I hope that there is no harm done."
"'cept to that boy's butt and pride? Nope. But thank you nonetheless my dear."
"We all love you. You're more important to this department than I ever could be. Don't ever forget that."
He gave her a hug, then turned around and walked off as if nothing had happened. He did what he needed to do, said what needed to be said and was off.
The main lesson learned: You can always judge a person's character pretty accurately by the way they treat housekeeping staff. The same goes for behavior directed at wait staff, delivery drivers, bar tenders, cashiers and folks performing other "menial" tasks. It doesn't matter what title you have, you should never look down on anyone who makes it possible for you to do your job or live your life. If you've never worked retail or as a bartender or waiter/waitress, pick up a shift or two per week. It will be an eye opening experience in more ways that one.
If you have someone who works for you and they have a task that you're qualified to do but you feel is beneath you, your priorities need to be realigned. I am happy to do this by arranging a meeting between my boot and any ass that needs it. My going rate is a case of Cokes or an equivalent cash donation to our organization. The acknowledgment letter may be difficult to produce because I am not sure what the fair market value of a swift kick to the ass is these days. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
There is a secondary lesson buried in here as well. I knew Robert well between work and having later dated his eldest daughter. He's quite capable of raising his voice when necessary. But you'll notice that I pointed out that he did not when dressing this young punk doctor down. If you remain calm and as emotionless as possible, it makes the impact of your words all the greater. People know how to deal with someone who is yelling and screaming. It is unsettling to watch someone coldly and flatly gut your ego like a hunter gutting a deer. It actually can be downright terrifying because it is usually a demonstration of professional bearing that you didn't exercise during whatever led to them being displeased with you.
I will point out that this second lesson is something that I still work on to this day. There are times I can do it and there are times that I cannot. However, that first lesson is something I have no trouble doing. Even as a cynic of sorts, it just seems like such a basic courtesy.
No matter how good you are, you never accomplish anything entirely alone. Now....go tidy up your desk. ;)
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