Respectfully, sir, that sounds like a you problem

I recently overheard one side of a conversation between one of my coworkers and a contractor that was funny enough to rate an all-stop with what I was doing so I could concentrate on eavesdropping appropriately.

Coworker: What do you mean you fell asleep? It's your first day.

Contractor: <inaudible>

Coworker: Well, they need to go through the training thoroughly so you know what to do, and if the machine takes a few minutes to finish the cycle and you need to wait, then that's the process.

Contractor: <inaudible>

Coworker: Respectfully, sir, that sounds like a you problem. It's your first day.

Contractor: <inaudible>

Coworker: Well, why don't you stick it out a few days and see if it gets better.

Contractor: <inaudible>

Coworker: Yeah, well, figure it out. Respectfully, of course.

I was snickering to myself by the end of that phone conversation. I was then copied on an email notice from the client that the contractor walked off the job about an hour after the above phone conversation. According to the contractor, it "wasn't the job, or anything. The job was just fine. They [our company] upset him, and he didn't want to work for [our company] anymore."

As part of damage control, we ended up explaining the conversation the contractor had with us earlier that morning, and the trainer confirmed the contractor was nodding off during training. Several times.

If I had to guess, he probably wasn't going to be a good fit overall.

Funnily enough, the contractor called later that same day and ended up with me. I happily told him that we were uninterested in placing him at any of our other clients or working with him in the future since he walked off the job. The contractor attempted to explain the job just wasn't a good fit, so I (respectfully, of course) told him that falling asleep on the job is unacceptable, boring or not.

Oh, and since we were aware he told the client he was not interested in working with our company because we “upset” him, he should consider the feeling reciprocated and could seek employment elsewhere.

Respectfully, of course.