My Resignation Letter to Aerotek

May 9, 2013

To Aerotek administration:

The purpose of this letter is to detail how I, Keith McNabb, have felt throughout my employment as well as the current situation regarding the layoff.  At no time in my work career have I ever felt more disrespected by an employer than I have with this company.  I began work here on May 1, 2012, during the first week of training we were told the things that were expected of us in order for us to be hired on full time by Volkswagen.  I realize that the person who ran my class is no longer with the company but at that time my class of 80 new hires were told that if we came to work every day, did what we were asked, and didn't have any corrective actions that there should be no reason that we shouldn't be hired on.  Now, I understand that circumstances change but this is where my first issue comes in.  The lack of communication between the administration and the employees is something I have never seen before in a company.  In the 12 months I have been here we have had 3 Aerotek meetings in which at no time a reason of not being hired on was explained to us.  

All throughout the 4 weeks of training I, along with approximately 5 others, approached Brandon with an issue of a very disrespectful person in our class and nothing was done to alleviate this issue.  Once on shift, I was again placed with this individual and had multiple issues with this employee in which I took the problem to Tiffany and once again NOTHING was done.  During many training classes I, along with others in my class were ensured by instructors that such actions as the ones by this employee would be handled appropriately and they where not. To be more specific, I have members of my family along with friends who are homosexual and I took it very personal when this employee overheard a conversation and starting calling me by "gay slurs".  Again, I reiterate, nothing was done about this and no member of Aerotek administration followed up with me. The person being talked about has also had his contract "extended".

Another issue I want to address is with training.  So far I have found that 90% of the things we were told in training are completely disregarded once being on shift.  One being the above paragraph.  The next being the overall idea of an ergonomic work place.  Now I can only speak for logistics as that is the only place I have worked.  Because of the current state of the equipment (trains, racks, boxes) being used, every employee has to do things that are a risk to their physical health in order to complete their job. An example of this is in section 2. The rollers and boxes are in such poor shape that the person working the area has to physically lift the boxes to place it on the rollers.  This will eventually result in a person damaging their back.  There are many, many problems like this all through the body shop and these issues have been brought up over and over again and yet nothing is done to fix the issues.  Not only is this very frustrating to deal with but when a Volkswagen employee making $20 and hour stands and watches you struggle with this or walks right by you to disappear and smoke it tends to be very frustrating.

Recently, a Volkswagen HR rep came down to talk with the employees to write down and try to answer any questions anyone had about the current situation of the plant. She came down three days in a row (Monday, April 22 - Wednesday, April 24).  When she found out that I was Aerotek on the first day she assured me that she would have an Aerotek person come speak with me.  The second day when she came she asked if I had been spoked to in which I informed her that I had not been.  She again asked me on the third day in which I had to once again inform her that no one had spoken to me.  I would have come to the Aerotek office had I felt like any issue that I have had would be resolved, however I don't think anyone would blame me for feeling helpless at this point.  If Volkswagen cares enough to send an employee to talk to people who are actually getting to keep their job the least Aerotek can do is send someone out to try and answer any questions that someone who, at the time, thought they were losing their job and has a family to support.  With that being said, what type of leadership does the Aerotek administration show when during the actual meeting in which the employees are being told we are getting laid off, not one member of management stood up to explain this to us.  Instead, a Volkswagen employee broke the news to us and told us we were not allowed to ask questions.  Do you not think we deserve the right to at least have a member of Aerotek management stand in front of its own employees and try to explain the situation?  Then during the meeting in which we were to find out who was actually getting laid off (which I wasn't) we were handed an envelope, told not to ask questions yet again, told not to open our letter until we've left the facility, and herded like cattle out the door. 

As far as the layoff situation, to most of us, perception is reality.   Volkswagen employees where given a 10% bonus for what is being called "the best quarter to date" only a month before Aerotek employees are told about the layoff.  On top of that, on thursday, May 2, 2013 (the day we found out who was getting laid off) Channel 3 news released a story about how Volkswagen of America had DONATED $10 million dollars to "revamp" the national mall in Washington D.C. Surely someone can understand how most of us have questions about this.  I understand that there is an answer for this but again, to those of us who are left in the dark because of the lack of communication, perception is reality.   As far as the point system, I took two PTO days in November for the birth of my son, I took another when my wife was sick and I was needed to watch my son.  April 19th I had to take a point because I missed due to my son having surgery.  I think its ridiculous that in 12 months of employment I've missed 4 days total and because of the last one not only do I have one corrective action but I was made to feel guilty about missing this day and taking a point by being told, "think about the consequences" before missing this day.

Finally, I would like to express that I have given up so much for this job. Not only have I given up very precious and countless time with my family but I have also had to give up a second job of teaching music in which I love very much.  I gave up a full time job and took a pay cut in which my family has struggled finically due to this job.  I've given up hobbies and missed out on things that I traditionally do every year.  I realize that this sounds very petty to whom is reading this but I ask you, what did I give these things up for? To feel lied to for a year? To be disrespected by an employer?  To be pushed out the door after a year of hard work?   Not only do I as a man and an employee deserve more than what has been given back for what I have sacrificed but my family deserves more for standing by me for leaving a well payed job to attempt this "career opportunity".  With that being said I would like return your letter of extending my contract and would like to replace it with this letter to serve as my resignation effective immediately.

                                                                                          

                                                                                                                     Keith McNabb

God's Timing

     I'm about to tell you a story, a timeline of sorts.  A story that VERY few people know details about including my family.  There was always part of me that told myself that I would never talk about this and the last couple of days God has laid this on my heart and with his hands he's giving me the courage to talk about it.  When some of my family reads this its going to be very difficult and may disappoint some of them but to that I say God had a plan and he knew exactly what he was doing.  I want to start out by saying my whole childhood I was raised in church with a loving Christian family whose always made sure that God was in every aspect of our lives.  I'm not just talking about my parents, I'm talking about my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I was very very close to my grandfather as you probably gathered had you read my previous blog.
   
     Lets go back to 2003.  January 2003 when my grandfather past away was by far the hardest thing I've had to endure in my life.  Even being raised in church all my life I never really was one to pray.  That night I really talked to God, not in a way I should have, and meant it.  I remember sitting outside the basement of my grandmother house with my head in my hands, tears pouring down my face and saying, "how could you do this to me" "You've taken the most important person away from me and I'll never forgive you for it." I wouldn't even be surprised if the words "I hate you" came out of my mouth. This was a turning point in my life.  I became a different person.  I stopped going to church, I was very bitter and for a very long time I kept my word, I never "forgave him".

     Now from this point all the way through 2007 I went through a lot of things that effect me emotionally.  I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety and with this comes the part of the story I was talking about, the difficult part for my family to hear.  When a certain situation came to light with the ending of a four year relationship I found myself sitting in my apartment, laying in bed, starring at a .40 cal Glock in my hand and wondering if I could. For the first time since 2003, I talked to God and meant it.  "WHY?" "Why are you doing this to me?"  "I try to be a good person and yet you put me through this!?!?" When I knew I wouldn't be able to pull the trigger I  decided to try something else.  I swallowed a handful of hydrocodine in hopes I'd pass out and never return.  That, of course, didn't happen.  While I couldn't tell you exactly what happened on my end my sister could tell you what happened on her end.  Apparently in the midst of all this I had called my sister after taking the pills and she came to my rescue and to this day says when she picked me up I was in the middle of Hixson Pike (a very large main road in our town).  I did seek help after this but not the help that would help me deal with my issues between me and God.

     In 2009 little did I know I would face something that could have ended up harder to deal with than loosing my grandfather.  Mom had a kidney stone.  Wait, what?  I know I know, your wondering how my mother having a kidney stone is worse than loosing my grandfather.  Settle down and let me finish, during this kidney stone process my mother fell very ill and ended up in the hospital with sepsis infection.  My mom spent numerous days in the ICU and if you've never seen a family member in ICU with 5000 things attached to their body well it's very very scary.  To summarize everything, The doctors told us that had we brought her in 48 hours later she would be dead and the next 48 hours are very critical.  I hit my knees again in the hallways of that hospital saying what I had somewhat became used to saying to God. "WHY" "This is something I can't deal with, you can't do this".  Notice a pattern in my "prayers"?  Eventually mom came out ok thank goodness.

     So moving all the way up to this year, I've been married for about a year and a half with a beautiful step daughter, a son on the way, and we just moved right next door to my grandmother and the house where that prayer took place.  I started a new job this year as well so things have taken quite a change in a short amount of time.  About a month ago we sat down to watch a movie that I had been wanting to see and yet I had no idea what it was about.  That movie was "Courageous".  After being raised my whole life in church its hard to believe that a 2 hour movie changed my entire life but it did.  How do I explain this? I'll tell you how, I've realized that I was never on "my" time.  God had a plan the whole time.  He knew what he was doing all along and there is nothing that I could have done to change it.  My prayers today have turned from "why" to "I don't understand just yet but help me and show me through this time."  I'm talking to God more than just in a time of need and instead of my prayers being more for me they've turned more into helping people seeing him through me.  I still struggle everyday and I will continue but with God's grace I can overcome these struggles.

     To wrap this up I would like to encourage anyone who suffers from depression to find someone to talk to.  I of all people know that it's not easy to talk to your family about stuff like this so please know that there are people out there that will listen.  I am one of them.  I'm very easy to contact and would love to help.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

What it means to me to be a VOL

          Recently I had someone ask me a question that I would have never thought that I couldn't answer.  That question was, "Why are you a Tennessee fan?".  My response was the same that I had always given, "born and raised man, born and raised".  Later on I really started to think about what really brought me to have a passion and love for Tennessee football.  My first Tennessee football game was in 1985 when I was three years old.  While I do not remember it at that age, I do have memories of games not too long after that.  I was very, very close with my grandfather who had season tickets for many, many years.  I can remember going to the games at a young age with my grandfather, uncle, and cousin.  It seemed as if we always did the same things back then, but little did I know those little things would come to mean so much to me now.  I remember stopping to eat at a gas station on the way to Knoxville and listening to my uncle and grandfather discuss over coaches, players, and teams that we would play.  Once on campus I remember walking past the "game day rock" that students paint every saturday for the game.  Then we always walked through the Stokley Athletic Center to visit the gift shop and use the restroom.  After Stokley, it was off to the Stadium where I always got a Dr. Pepper and a game day newspaper so that I could look at the starting lineup and read the game day comic strip.  We would stand right outside gate 10 ("the ramp") up in the grass where my uncle and grandfather would meet up with the "regulars".  Once inside the stadium we would make it to our seats and to this day still I remember some of the faces that surrounded our seats.  A few rows above us was a lady about my grandfathers age that I would come to know as "Coach".  Right next to us was an older man who never really cheered or got excited but I can remember watching him pour small bottles of alcohol into his cup.  Down below us was a guy who always stood and would wave his hands up and down trying to get everyone to stand up and get louder.  The sounds of my uncle, cousin, grandfather yelling at the officials, hearing Rocky Top all day long, hearing the announcer say things like "Big Bad John", "Smokey's on the prowl", and "It's football time in Tennesseeeeeee!" will never leave my memories.  The last game I remember going to with my grandfather was an Orange and White game.  I remember sitting next to him and eating peanuts listening to him talk about the team and what we had to look forward to.  I've seen amazing win's and I've seen heartbreaking losses but one thing always happens is the fact that the very next week we always had our orange on and our hearts were in it.  So I guess after really thinking about it, I would have to answer the question, "Why am I a Tennessee fan?", with the answer that it's more than just football, its family.  I guess going to the games still today keeps me close to the memories that I have with my family and the most amazing man I've ever had in my life.  Even by myself, I still take that walk past the game day rock, walk through Stokley Center and stand outside gate 10 and never do it without "Papaw" on my mind.  As long as I'm able, I will always go to as many games as I can win or lose, wear my orange, and be proud to call myself a VOL.  I will forever love my Papaw and will forever be a VOL!