03-11-2006, 06:29 AM
When Yugoslavia was falling apart, Houston hosted several thousand of Bosnian refugees. We hired several of them. Part of our indoctrination routine was an explanation about weird american habits such as deodorants, personal hygiene, etc. One fellow who we employed as our supply runner/driver, unfortunately failed to follow instructions. That was another reason he became our driver, we needed to get him out of the plant.
However we also used his natural "attributes" to our advantage; we had couple suppliers who lied notoriously about our stuff being ready for pickup, when it was not. We instructed our Bosnian driver to wait for our supplies until they were ready for pickup in the vendor's office.
Since his comprehension of English was almost nonexistant, he did, nor could he be persuaded by quite polite, vendor's employees, that he needed to be outside, on the dock, plant floor, anywhere but their office. His bosses orders were holy writ.
He was also Moslem, bearded, wild looking and boy, did he reek. Effectively we were planting a human bomb.
Yes, it worked; within a week our supplies were really ready to be picked up as scheduled.
Keep in mind that some of these vendors we dealt with for fifteen years and we could never, never get them to be ready for our pickups. Our drivers used to wait on their dock as long as several hours before the supplies were ready. Until the Bosnian.
Even after he left, a mere suggestion that we might send him back for pickup would remedy any backsliding on their part.
The Bosnian stayed with us for three years, then found a job as an 18 wheeler, long distance driver. Eventually, he learned to use a shower, shaved his beard, opened up a bar. He still keeps in touch ...
However we also used his natural "attributes" to our advantage; we had couple suppliers who lied notoriously about our stuff being ready for pickup, when it was not. We instructed our Bosnian driver to wait for our supplies until they were ready for pickup in the vendor's office.
Since his comprehension of English was almost nonexistant, he did, nor could he be persuaded by quite polite, vendor's employees, that he needed to be outside, on the dock, plant floor, anywhere but their office. His bosses orders were holy writ.
He was also Moslem, bearded, wild looking and boy, did he reek. Effectively we were planting a human bomb.
Yes, it worked; within a week our supplies were really ready to be picked up as scheduled.
Keep in mind that some of these vendors we dealt with for fifteen years and we could never, never get them to be ready for our pickups. Our drivers used to wait on their dock as long as several hours before the supplies were ready. Until the Bosnian.
Even after he left, a mere suggestion that we might send him back for pickup would remedy any backsliding on their part.
The Bosnian stayed with us for three years, then found a job as an 18 wheeler, long distance driver. Eventually, he learned to use a shower, shaved his beard, opened up a bar. He still keeps in touch ...