Bubba on Business: Common Sense from Working People About Respect, Accountability, and Results

Every organization has a culture that either inhibits or enables positive business results. "Bubba on Business" describes some simple, practical techniques that will produce dramatic improvements. "Bubba" is a fictional stand-in for the great majority of people: those who work hard, care enough to get frustrated, and try to do their best. This book is about achieving business results in partnership with people—people like Bubba.

Chapter Four

Marty looked up to see Bubba standing silently just outside the door. Bubba seemed nervous, his fingers gripping the brim of the cap he held in his hand. No knock; no greeting-- just standing there.

"What can I do for you, Bubba?" Marty asked tiredly. He glanced at the clock and saw that Bubba's shift had just ended. "Oh, I don't need you to stay over; just operators and packers. You can go on home."

"No, sir; that ain't what this is about," Bubba said. "I don't mean to stick my nose in where it ain't welcome, but I came to talk to you about Sam."

"Oh," said Marty, remembering the discomfort of suspending Sam. "Come on in and sit down, but I can't talk about a personnel situation involving another employee. That wouldn't be fair to him."

"Well, I hope you don't think I'm out of line, but I don't think it's fair to start with," Bubba said. "Now, I know you can't really discuss it, but I need to say some things just for me. And the thing that's got me upset is that this was Sam's first problem since he come to work here. Marty, how long you been knowing me?"

Marty sat back. Bubba had been one of the first operators he met when he transferred to this plant nearly 10 years ago. Bubba was smart and committed, and everybody seemed to listen to him. Marty had recommended that Bubba train as a technician, and he'd made a good one. He just had a sense about how to handle things. "Ever since I got here, Bubba," Marty replied.

"I like workin' for you, Marty," said Bubba, "but I have to tell you that I think you did wrong suspending Sam. He made an honest mistake, and he's losing three days' pay for it. Meantime, there's folks like Jimmy that have been causin' trouble for years, and they're still workin'."

As Bubba mentioned Jimmy, a cold chill ran down Marty's back. And it wasn't just the incident moments before. Jimmy had been disciplined, suspended, and chewed out countless times. But it didn't do any good. He seemed to enjoy confronting Marty and the supervisors -- as if his mission in life were to stay in management's face . . .