Quote:
Originally Posted by CorneringArtist
Okay, I've posted this in a couple of other threads, but I was nearly fired today because my acting service manager wanted me to use conventional oil in a Nissan 370Z, when I strongly recommended synthetic. The customer AGREED to use synthetic after I asked the service advisor if they wanted to do so. I called a local Nissan dealer, and even they said use synthetic (we are a Toyota dealership).
When the acting manager found out that I did that, he yelled at me that either I do things his way or leave, that I know nothing because he "has 20 years experience in the industry" (I am a apprentice tech, but this was a common sense case to me, and according to other techs he supposedly has no actual technical experience), claimed that ALL oil is the same, said that I don't know anything about cars, and then threatened to send me home, and then escalated it to threatening to fire me. To defuse the situation, I just told him it won't happen again, said he was right, got the proper oil anyways, and carried on. I was ready to tell him that it's common sense to use synthetic oil in a sports car (considering that the FR-S does as well), but I didn't want to risk making the situation worse.
Now, I understand that I'm supposed to respect the manager's decisions especially as an apprentice, but if the vehicle comes back with an engine problem directly related to the wrong oil used, I would probably end up fired because my number would show up on the service history. When this individual takes over as acting manager while the real manager goes on vacation (he's a senior service advisor), he is supposedly known to power trip when in that position.
I need to know, did he have grounds to fire me over questioning a single decision and doing the right thing, and would it have been my ass down the line had I listened to him?
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I drive Nissan 350Z and I know that synthetic oil is recommended for my Z which I use but it's not necessary, and when I take my Z to nissan, they use normal oil unless customer requests synthetic. I highly doubt that using normal engine oil instead of synthetic one would actually cause engine problem. I am also a manager in a large corporation and in no way would I ever threaten my employee the way you've described it. If you were rude and disobey direct order from your manager, that's insubordination and can be a reason for involuntary termination in an extreme case but from how you've described it, it doesn't sound like the case.
If you are unhappy with how you've been treated, if you can, get statements from employees who've witnessed the situation and bring it to human resources. If you don't have HR in your company, bring the matter to the actual manager when he's back from vacation. If you don't feel comfortable about making a big deal out of this, then talk to the real manager and ask for advice and let him know that you just want advice and not proceed this matter formally. If your manager tells you that you should use conventional oil, do as you've been told because they can't fire you for doing something you've been asked to do by your superior without getting legal trouble, but they can legally fire you for insubordination if you willfully disobeys or disregards superior's legitimate directive. (you can't argue that synthetic oil is a MUST for 370Z, and if you don't believe me, read the manual)