Melvin.
This fellow was my first line manager when I worked in the (vast) distribution centre of a certain Bradford-based supermarket chain. He was about 40, looked uncannily like a shorter version of James Cromwell with a shaved head, and seemed quite intimidating. More often than not, he was impatient and short-tempered, but he was generally reasonable, had rigid self-control and never lost his rag (although he could give first-class bollockings when the occasion demanded.) He was a very straightforward, no-nonsense type; if he told you to do something, you did it, and if you tried to bullshit him or worm your way out of it he'd give you a hefty (albeit metaphorical) kick up the arse.

Unsurprisingly, many of the slackers hated him, but I actually got to like and respect him, as he did his job well and expected the same from everyone else. This kind of simple, efficient work ethic is all too rare, and I try to implement it as much as possible; in the long run, it will hopefully serve me well.

My tenure at that place was brought to an end after I spent a weekend, including the Friday night I was supposed to be at work, vomiting blood and shitting gravy. Naturally, I phoned in sick several hours beforehand, but because of my absence the office-based management deemed me "unreliable" and summarily ejected me about a week later. Because it was two weeks before Christmas, everybody had taken on all the staff they needed and I ended up spending nearly two months on the dole, in which I nearly went insane from boredom. Thanks, lads.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Fri 19 Jun 2009, 21:30, 3 replies)

P.S. I'm deadly dull and I have a fanny.
PLEASE PAY ATTENTION TO ME OR ELSE I'LL COMMIT SUICIDE, ONLINE.
( The Mock TurtIe ™ --- Thinks you are a cunt, on, Sat 20 Jun 2009, 0:42, closed)

(Scritty Bakerman., Sun 21 Jun 2009, 9:52, closed)

(RVD420 has his world coming down on, Wed 24 Jun 2009, 17:36, closed)