needing advice about a situation . . .

[MidnightFox Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MidnightFox]

Ok I was as of last week working for a security company in Davenport Ia. for the moment I'll hold back from naming the company. How ever I will state that according to The Ripoff Report the company in question has at least 21 Reports filed against them for dishonest, harassment, poor business practices, Disciplinary transfers, corrupt management, Cover-up of scandal, unethical management, and discrimination on medical grounds to name a few. How ever I feel it seemed fishy that I get fired the moment I go to file a complaint against a supervisor for his unprofessional behavior on the job. The Supervisor was not only rude, impolite, but at times seemed brain dead about the laws regarding the security field. One case being that according to him, one could not hold a security license in two different states. Despite a friend of mine who's working for Whackenhut has one for Illinois and Iowa. Also while I was working for Per Mar Security I had one for Illinois & Iowa. From those I worked with while there, the supervisor was once in the marines and worked as a sheriff's deputy. The following below is a clip from my official report that I handed in before I was fired. (I removed the full names of those involved, I only used their first name as to not break any rules for this forum site.)

On the morning of August 15 around 0645 there was a dispute over how the truckers are to receive their bills for their shipment. I was trained by Anthony, that the driver is not to receive their bill until after the following was done: I had place the date, the out time, temps, and whether or not the seal was in tack. After those was placed on his bill, the driver was to received copies 2 & 3, the manifest, and a paper stating if his seal had to be broken by someone of authority.
Ken, the on site Supervisor, on the other had said that once the truckers signed the bill they are to have the papers. I tried to inform him that under the training I received, that was incorrect. He said that the issue was not up for debate that it was the end of story. I tried to rebut his statement but was once again told that it wasn't a debate. I told him fine sir.
After the back up of trucks at Gate 19 was checked in, Ken requested to speak with me in private. I followed him to the back of the Gate 19 guard shack. Where he began to state that I'm to never argue with him and that things are not up for a debate. I tried to state once again I'm just going by how I was trained but was interrupted by Ken again with him stating that the only words that he wanted to hear from me was that I understood. I told him calmly that no sir I don't understand. I then tried to once again explane my self only to be rudely cut off again by Ken. He basically stated everything again adding that I was on a short leash in a tone that was by far unprofessional and uncalled for given the matter at hand. I once again tried to speak up to defend my self, it was at this point that Ken demanded that I grab my clothing and leave the property. I firmly and professionally asked who is it that he answers to. I said, "Sir, who is your supervisor?" Ken failed to answered my request and once again in what seemed to be a fit of rage demand that I leave the property or else he would call the Davenport Police. At no point did I state that I wouldn't leave the property. How ever I did try to make a request to place a single call for my ride to come get me. Only to be rudely interrupted multiple times with threats of calling the Davenport Police. It was at this point that Ken placed a call with one Greg, chief of security/client contact. He briefly informed him that I was refusing to leave the property. Which was false. As I noted earlier I never once stated that I had refused to leave. I simply wanted information before I left regarding who was above him in the chain of command. I explained to Greg about the events and that before I left that I wanted to place a call to my father to pick me up. Greg informed that I should leave at this time and understood that I needed to place a call for a ride. He informed me to make the call and to kindly leave. I said to him, "Thank you for lessoning to me and allowing me to make a quick call." Once I was off the phone Ken was no where to be seen. According to the mobile he had walked back up to Main Gate. At that point I rounded up my items and begun to walk off the property. The guard that was taking over reminding me to swipe my badge one last time to log out. So I agreed and swiped my badge and went through the turn styles. Then started to exit the property. Upon reaching the side walk, I walked towards main gate to wait by the cross walk for my ride to show up. It wasn't until about 745 that my ride showed up allowing me to leave the area.

From my POV the supervisor escalated a situation to a level that it never should have been taken too. Also his tone of voice while talking to me was unprofessional and way over the line. Please forgive me for this, but I'm the type of person who if spoken to politely you will get everything under the sun and more. How ever if you come at me like a dog with it's teeth showing backing me against a wall, I'll start showing my teeth and want to come out fist a flying. Despite wanting to lower my self to his level in the way he was acting, I did not. I stood firm and kept my ground with my responses and attempted questions. I only say attempted because he would not allow a word in edge wise. According to the office I was fired on the grounds of insubordination for not leaving the property after being told to leave. According to a friend of mine who works in the security field, when a supervisor is asked who is above him he has a duty to answer the question. I don't know if this is true or not, hence me asking those here about that. How ever with the way he acted towards me it could be classified as unbecoming of an officer. On the grounds that not only did he turn a small problem in to a mountain, then proceeded to kick me off of it, then way he handled the problem, and his actions in general.

I would like to know from those of you here a few things. #1 how would have you handled the situation both from the supervisors POV and mine. #2 What steps if any I should take against the company in question. #3 When asked does the supervisor have a duty/responsibility/legality to tell you who is above him in the chain of command?

P.S. Hopefully my comments in this thread or the thread it self didn't break any rules for the site. If for some reason someone feels I did, I do apologize in advance it was not my intention to do that but only seeking information regarding this problem.

[Lawson Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lawson]

I don't want to sound abrasive here, but... If that was the actual report you submitted, I may have canned you for lack of grammar, spelling, and report writing skills. This was a heavily opinionated report and was not simply factual. You used a lot of words such as "rude", "unprofessional", "uncalled for", etc... which in my opinion should not be used in a written report. Instead, use adjectives that explain the rudeness, such as, "in a loud tone he said."

There was a lot of emotion in that report too, which is generally unnecessary. It appears to me that you probably wrote that report quickly after the incident. For an occassion such as that, take some time to vent before you write something like this.

As far as the incident itself go, I will post again later, I am coming off a 12hr shift, too tired to continue...

[Andy Taylor Member Find all posts View Profile Close Andy Taylor]

What Lawson said.

1.As far as the supervisor's point of view, I would have simply informed you, politely and professionally that you had been given incorect information and that I would go through it again with you so that you had the correct info.

2. Never argue with a supervisor, even if they are wrong. Unless it is safety or legal issues. Simply go with the flow, and document, document document.

3. What you should do now largely depends on whether or not you are union. If you are, then file a greivence with your union rep. If not, contact your states labor board and go from there. I don't know your state's laws regarding treatment of employees.

4. I don't think there is a legal obligation to tell you who he reports to, but there certainly is a professional one.

[mh892 Member Find all posts View Profile Close mh892]

#1 how would have you handled the situation both from the supervisors POV and mine.
"Ken, the on site SUPERVISOR, on the other had said that once the truckers signed the bill they are to have the papers." So do as directed by your Supervisor.
>>End of story. SUPERVISOR is there to SUPERVISE. It might be that Anthony was incorrect? You don't have the 'big picture'. The client may have changed procedures the day before and the Supervisor was implementing the change. He may not have had time to stand around pampering you with explainations at the moment but would have brought you up to speed later? As for me, I would have said "O.K." and proceeded as directed. If questioned I would refer the matter to the supervisor.



#2 What steps if any I should take against the company in question.
>>Apologize for my actions and ask if you may be counseled on how to react to authority, and ask for up to date training.

#3 When asked does the supervisor have a duty/responsibility/legality to tell you who is above him in the chain of command?
>>You got me on that one. That should be published by your company.

In addition to BHR's comments. Sure is a lot of derogatory reports about one company. Is this known to you as fact? Or are you repeating rumor? You certainly appear to have little respect for this supervisor. But, he has the position and has the authority to instruct you in procedure. Should he be incorrect, his superiors will correct him. That is not your job.

[SecTrainer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SecTrainer]

It's always best to obey any lawful order of a supervisor first, and then seek clarification later.

However, assuming that things went down as you described them and that there is no prior history of anything that might be labeled "insubordination" on your part, it's a little difficult to support some of the supervisor's actions here, either. My own area of expertise in HR law involves another state, but if I were the supervisor's superior I'd have some real concerns about several liability issues here.

Bottom line: I'd retrain both you and the supervisor.

[Lawson Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lawson]

Just a random side note, for all of you front-line guards...

Know your chain of command! There is sometimes, especially in instances like the above where you need to skip a person or two. I mean, you aren't going to report your supervisor to your supervisor. Engage your CoC in small talk from time to time, you can learn who in the higher ups are buddy buddy with each other and who will be more fair and balanced.

It's always good to know your chain of command beforehand so you dont have to ask around after an incident.

[Black Caesar Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Black Caesar]

Supervisor tells me to do something and that something is not illegal, unethical or immoral, I do it, and if hes wrong it's on him. If I don't agree with the order I'll speak to him afterwards. Arguing (even if you think you're right) in a non-critical situation is the wrong move.

[MidnightFox Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MidnightFox]

sorry about the spelling and so forth by the time I started to write that report I had been awake for 24 hours. and most of ya know that when that time hits it's as if you have had a few beers in your system.