Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
So yesterday I had a guy in who was installing some cabinets for us. This was a project I would have had done months ago if not for the shutdown.
He seemed to be good at the work. I've no complaints about that. But as they day went on and we got a bit more talkative he made his political views known.
They were in total opposition to mine.
Mind you, I didn't bring up politics but just said how happy I was to be getting this job done since I had to put it off. He said some pretty insulting things, thinking I was of the same mind. I kept my mouth shut about my opinions.
Well, any chance of me ever calling him back to do any work at my house went out the window right then and there.
Pro tip: Be professional, people.
Okay. Here's my question.
How hard would it have been to just say, "You know, we're not going to see eye-to-eye on politics," followed by an artful change of subject to something innocuous such as, "Did you catch the game last night?"
That's literally all you had to do. The guy would have gotten the message, but in a way that wasn't directly confrontational.
I work from home and the guy who painted our interior took a full month to do it (Worth it. He's a total perfectionist). He and I held polar opposite political views, but we managed to get along. Because, guess what? Guys who are really good at their jobs are hard to find.
Instead, you had to sit there and seethe about it like some drama queen. And you're going to penalize himself and yourself for his political views?
You need to really, truly need to get a grip. Not only do nice, capable people often vote differently from you every second Tuesday in November, but you also need to get way better at developing some people skills.
What's so ironic here is that the slogan on your profile is "Hakuna Matata." Might want to try living by it for a change.
We had a mobile mechanic fix our car.
Hubby, wearing a mask, came out to discuss the problem, and the mechanic (no mask) started ranting that Covid was a hoax, politics, religion, etc. etc. etc.
Guy was working outside, and he did a good job, but I'll find somebody else next time.
Personally I don’t put anything away...because I don’t have anything out in plain view. I don’t have gun stickers, crosses, pentagrams, BLM, support cops or rainbow flags or Go Hillary/Biden or Trump yard signs or flags. There are no signs whatsoever on my cars. My political views or your political views should have absolute nothing to do with the job you were hired to do. Few things (unless you really know the person) you don’t talk about....politics...religion....sex....or any recent controversial topic. Unfortunately most people are vindictive jerks and feel they are “evening things out” by screwing someone over with shoddy work.
When I met with customers I simply kept my mouth shut and did what I was hired to do. I didn’t listen to radio programs, wear any support this or that shirts. I also don’t want the customer next to me birddogging or yammering their head off. It actually slows me down as I want to concentrate on my job. When I had such customer I simply made a note in their file and simply prepared myself to deal with whatever.
Seriously....if you want to avoid any bs....make yourself unavailable. No tradesman really wants a customer next to them just to watch what they're doing. It’s annoying and can be dangerous. Go in another room or make yourself unavailable. Most people imo unconsciously hang out cause they’re afraid “they may steal something”. If you’re worried about that you shouldn’t be hiring people.
So yesterday I had a guy in who was installing some cabinets for us. This was a project I would have had done months ago if not for the shutdown.
He seemed to be good at the work. I've no complaints about that.
This is the ONLY criteria you need to be concerned with. Politics ruins more things than it fixes.
Would you hire him again, BASED ON THE QUALITY OF HIS WORK?
Lastly, just because people may have different political views, that doesn't give reason to NOT be civil to each other.
You're welcome to pass this along...
This is the ONLY criteria you need to be concerned with. Politics ruins more things than it fixes.
Would you hire him again, BASED ON THE QUALITY OF HIS WORK?
Lastly, just because people may have different political views, that doesn't give reason to NOT be civil to each other.
You're welcome to pass this along...
and this worker was NOT civil, when making insulting comments about what turned out to be the OP's political leanings.
You're welcome to pass on to tradespeople that they aren't being hired for political commentary or to share pornography and they should focus on the work, or there may in fact be ramifications to that choice on their part. They are in control of their own actions and the OP is under no obligation to rehire someone who behaved, in her opinion, inappropriately regardless of whether the work itself was satisfactory.
It's one thing to have different political views and another to have some crazy conspiracy type ideas. Anyone who's spouting off with some of the wacky stuff going around would not be anyone that I would give my business to regardless of how good a job they do.
Do a good job, keep your views to yourself, and offensive stickers off your truck and I will be glad to hire you.
If I have a worker in my home and they mention politics, I tell them we do not discuss politics or religion with anyone. I have had to state that firmly a couple of times with some people.
I have very strong political beliefs, I also provide a service to people. I NEVER bring up politics and fortunately, most of my clients never do, either. If they do, I tell them I have a policy of not discussing politics or religion. I've never had one push me to discuss anything political after I have said that. I say it with a smile and then move the conversation back to what I am there for (I own a dog training business).
Really would not care what his beliefs are as long as he was competent and could do the job well!
OP doesn't care what his views were. They just don't think he has a right to impose them on him/her. I agree.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
