Before I get into the situation; a little about the way I approach terminating someone's employment. I guess if I had to single out one aspect I hate the most about being head chef, it's the responsibility of sometimes terminating someone's employment. I hate it. I love hiring, giving some new chef her first real-world job or giving some high school student his very first paycheck, then his very first raise. Firing people is fucked. I only fire someone when it's absolutely justifiable and even then it's never been enjoyable. I think about their car payment, housing, family. Unless a "terminate immediately" policy is broken, I approach discipline as training and consider most terminations as, at least in part, my own failings as a mentor. I address the issue, explain exactly how the employee can resolve it and do their job to the standard required and then coach them through the learning process. I think the power to fire is often abused, often used in an emotional or egotistical moment as retaliation and that most people, given the chance, will become a better employee for the chances they've been given. Well, actually I don't think it; I know it. I see it every day.
Now, the thing about this situation is the man doesn't work for me. He's a truck driver for my main supplier. He's always hours late and always rude, but I don't really care about that because I see him for twenty minutes twice a week. He's a dick. This week, we saw his truck pulling in (three hours late) and one of our greeters was out on the dock having a smoke break so she hollered at me that she'd open the roll-up door for the truck. She's seventeen. So she rolls up the door, which makes enough noise that anyone standing on the other side of it knows it's coming up and the dude is standing there, all hung out and taking a piss on my loading dock. In front of a minor.
A moment of chaos ensues while I got her inside the kitchen and then I confronted the guy. He says, "I figured it would be you opening the door."
I say, "I don't want to see your dick, either, dipshit. Don't unload the truck."
"What you mean don't unload it?"
"Take it back. I'll have it redelivered tomorrow by another driver."
"You're crazy, man."
"Yeah. Pissed off, too."
He left.
Aside from exposing himself in front of a minor, he's going to take a leak, not wash his hands, then handle my food? He's stupid enough that he has to piss in my loading dock when we have two restrooms he can use? I didn't have any of the usual guilt about calling my vendor rep to report it. I knew he would lose his job, but I have a responsibility for the safety of my staff when they're at work, especially the kids. I have a responsibility to their parents, as well, I believe.
My rep just called me and told me they want me to make a complaint with the local police. If I call the police, he will absolutely be hit with at least three criminal charges, two misdemeanors and a likely felony. I know he deserved being fired, but does he deserve a criminal complaint? He wasn't intending to commit a lewd act in front of a minor, but he did. If they find him guilty of that, and they will, he's a sex-offender for life.
I'm probably going to call the police tomorrow morning and make the complaint. I'll sleep on it, but I don't think sleep will change my mind. Is it justifiable? Would you file the complaint?
Well done, you.