So some years back, our company had a massive hiring of temporary workers. After the need was done, they were let go, but we did promise them a small retirement bonus, payable in 20 years.
Well, recently the markets crashed, and now they are all clamoring for the payout to happen now. We’ve done what we can, but hey, times are hard for everyone so they really need to tighten up their belts and quit whining in my opinion.
Recently a bunch of them have banded and decided to camp out in front of our headquarters, along with their families. There have to be 40,000 of them out there. Frankly, it is pretty insulting to see their total lack of gratitude for what the company has done for them, and if you ask me, I suspect that they are mostly just Communists trying to cause trouble.
Anyways though, this has gone on for far too long, and my boss has decided that enough is enough, and decided they need to be kicked off our lawn. As head of security, that falls to me. Now, he doesn’t really have the stomach for this if we’re being honest, and ordered me that “every kindness and consideration” should be shown in removing them, but I’ve been in this business long enough to know that if you want results, you need to show you mean business, and the EVP who I directly report to agrees. We’re the top security force in area, and we have everything. Even a few tanks. The forces of unrest present in that camp aren’t going to budge if we show any weakness, I guarantee it.
So keeping in mind that these are mostly a bunch of dirty vagabonds and communist infiltrators, WIBTA if I had my men kick them out of here with fixed bayonets and a few tanks?
YTA.
You dumb son-of-a-bitch, I told you not to go down there.
Dougie, you're a goddamn gloryboy, and that is *me* telling you this, so you know it is some serious shit. I'll level with you here, I know they represent a severe danger to the stability of this country, and I'm sure there are some clear Communist sympathizers in there, but I've also hear Joe Angelo is there. He was the best fucking aide I've ever had, saved my goddamn life back in the War. I simply can't believe he is a damn Red. He was an honest soldier, and still a damn fine man, just fallen on hard times.
Still... I get where you're coming from, and I can't quite say you're the asshole, but I'll be honest, I may have some doubts about this all. It is a most distasteful business, but still, we're on the verge of a goddamn insurrection, and we must toughen our resolve and deal with this as soldiers.
NTA
INFO -- Has the company considered any alternative approaches? Maybe some sort of jobs program to re-employ these guys?
I ask mostly because a boss who "doesn't have the stomach" for tough decisions like this may not last long at the top of the company. I'd be looking out for my own future a little more, in your shoes, and thinking that maybe this guy isn't the best one to have in charge in a crisis. He might be replaced by someone with more initiative, and if that happens, you could find yourself assigned to some backwater Philipines office and be lost to history.
YTA. You don’t go after protesters, especially children, with tanks and bayonets. Even if they’re communist.