# Would you get rid of your car to make your workplace peaceful? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 3, 2012, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288 "2012-01-03T20:28:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/41 "2012-01-04T05:12:18Z")
My husband said he could definitely see such a thing happening at his company if he showed up in a very expensive car like that. People would be lining up outside his boss’s door asking for raises. If I showed up in that car, it would be so outside the realm of possible that I think everyone would just assume I won the lottery. Even the owner of the company drives a Buick. Maybe he keeps something else at home, but I don’t think so. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/42 "2012-01-04T05:51:12Z")
I am one of the least materialistic people I know, I _hate_ status items \ and the only reasonable excuse I can think of for your boss asking this is that HE is driving the same thing. Drive your car. You’ve earned it, and he should feel lucky to have employed someone who obviously was doing just fine financially before working with all the poor people. :dubious: Anyone who wonders how someone can afford something can just point to their spouses and say “He/she’s a romance novel writer; what, you’ve never heard of Tits McGee’s “Kiltripper” series?” ---
**Author:** ![ProbablyProcrastinating](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/57b2e6/32.png) [@ProbablyProcrastinating](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ProbablyProcrastinating)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/43 "2012-01-04T06:40:48Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > I have to say I wouldn’t want to work with such a crowd of pissy babies, nor overly inclined to work for a boss that supports them in their pissy-baby-ness. I have never owned a “fancy” car but I don’t care if my coworker shows up in a gold-plated Bentley if he’s working hard and getting his shit done. WTF business is it of mine how he got his car? I agree. Sounds like an awful work environment. I hope your job goes well nonetheless. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/44 "2012-01-04T08:20:21Z")
> [@lurkedtolong](#): > > well i drive a new amg s550. Its a six digit car (barely) but certainly not a bentley or ferrari. The boss drives a s550 as well would that be it? I don’t tell people how much i paid for it so i assume that they don’t know and that is how i act about it as well. The sad thing is that i aspire to a S65 one day. > > No, i have been told that this would be the only issue that would come up. And again even this was optional. They are not unreasonable in other ways since they pay for any employee emergency’s give bonuses and boost commissions for some employees as well as buying a used car for the shipping manager so that he could never say he was late because of the bus. They have ALWAYS taken care of their employees that is why this decision has weight and thus a post in here to get dopers opinions because to me these opinions in here do matter to me. So, you drive the same model as your boss but yours is newer? It sounds like jealousy to me. She wants to appear to be top dog. You having a "nicer’ car puts that in question. Petty petty. ---
**Author:** ![Postariti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Postariti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Postariti)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/45 "2012-01-04T08:41:59Z")
I think it bears repeating, his boss bought him a house and paid for his surgery. He has two other cars he can drive. It’s a strange request, but a very, very easy one to fulfill. As far as how the other employees feel, it really depends on how poor they are. I worked at a company with a lot of single mothers. We were all full time, but the pay was so low some of them were on government assistance. The owner had expensive cars. He would drive one to work in the morning, go home at lunch, and drive back in a different one. He was deeply hated. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/46 "2012-01-04T08:52:32Z")
Surprised you’re not working for my dad. Anyway, he has that same car. Or maybe the other model. Whatever. He’s the type who’d ask someone to do something crazy like that. If it makes you uncomfortable, NOW is the time to run. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/47 "2012-01-04T10:10:44Z")
this doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. you needed your boss to buy you a house and pay for your surgery, and you have two expensive Benzes and “aspire” to an even more expensive one? maybe she’s hinting that you need to start living within your means. ---
**Author:** ![lurkedtolong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@lurkedtolong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkedtolong)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/48 "2012-01-04T16:21:38Z")
Well when I was 21 my credit wasn’t so good on top of the fact that I only made around 17 a hour. Since then I have purchased my own home without any help and have come a long way finacially. That was also about 4 cars ago, all of which were paid for by me, and they were all about 20k cars ie. Chevy blazer, trooper, s-10, and a infiniti. This was over 13 years ago, no such help is needed now. In fact if a business purchased needed (say we were at a show) to be made it is not even a thing for me to cover a few thousand dollars at a show expo and not say anything about it until much later. I still am definitely living within my means. If i were to loose everything financially and not have another penny come in, my current home and all cars would still never need to be given up. A buggati Veyron IS OUT OF MY MEANS THOUGH. If we all went to a conference and all employees didn’t receive there per diem since accounting has yet to arrive, then I would definitely be the one looked upon to pay for the hotel x 10, and meals x 10. I don’t pay for drinks though, pet peeve. Boss can’t be jealous, the last i checked CEO’s make around 1,700 dollars (ballpark figure) for every dollar made by the average worker. But instead of doing nothing with the money she helps and invests in people. Buying a house and paying for my surgery when i was just a teenager has given her a lifetime supply of respect and hard work from me, all for the price of a happy meal in her eyes. We often joke about how i never ask for anything anymore. The difference between me and other employees is that at 5:01 PM, not a single employee will answer a the phone, or there cell phones if it is me calling. ME? I answer the phone at 11pm to start design on a new logo to be shown in a complete mock up in the morning. Then a call at midnight to pick up a important business guest from overseas. It wouldn’t be uncommon to take her Asian partners out to shoot and see a gun for the very first time. To me, this job is not a work, it’s a lifestyle where i live, breathe, eat and shit job x. My pay represents never being off. ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/49 "2012-01-04T16:56:10Z")
If you hate the Durango so much why even keep it? Drive the Durango for a while then make up a story about a death in your wife’s family and a surprise inheritance of the car. Don’t inherit the money to buy the car then they’ll think you should have been more practical with the money. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/50 "2012-01-04T17:09:58Z")
> [@lurkedtolong](#): > > Well when I was 21 my credit wasn’t so good on top of the fact that I only made around 17 a hour. Since then I have purchased my own home without any help and have come a long way finacially. … Good. After the age of 21 you bought your first house without any help. > [@](#): > > Boss can’t be jealous, the last i checked CEO’s make around 1,700 dollars (ballpark figure) for every dollar made by the average worker. But instead of doing nothing with the money she helps and invests in people. Buying a house and paying for my surgery when i was just a teenager has given her a lifetime supply of respect and hard work from me, all for the price of a happy meal in her eyes. Oh, but she bought you a house when you were still a teenager? > [@](#): > > The difference between me and other employees is that at 5:01 PM, not a single employee will answer a the phone, or there cell phones if it is me calling. ME? I answer the phone at 11pm to start design on a new logo to be shown in a complete mock up in the morning. Then a call at midnight to pick up a important business guest from overseas. It wouldn’t be uncommon to take her Asian partners out to shoot and see a gun for the very first time. To me, this job is not a work, it’s a lifestyle where i live, breathe, eat and shit job x. My pay represents never being off. Good job Jeeves. Keep it up. ---
**Author:** ![lurkedtolong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@lurkedtolong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkedtolong)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/51 "2012-01-04T17:19:54Z")
> [@Zulema](#): > > If you hate the Durango so much why even keep it? > > Drive the Durango for a while then make up a story about a death in your wife’s family and a surprise inheritance of the car. Don’t inherit the money to buy the car then they’ll think you should have been more practical with the money. I paid 4k for it with 150k miles on it. If i sold it i would get about $500 (13 years old) so its worth it to have especially for getting dirty stuff like mulch and tile / grout from home depot. Everyone has already seen the car in question its just i am never around enough for it to be an “issue” however in February I will be around everyday till we move, thats when it becomes an issue. So far it seems split about 50% of people here would make the sacrifice and the other half would either keep it or run from the job. In a few hours I will be giving my official statement to Miss Boss. I will let you all know what I decided and what happens in that conversation very shortly. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/52 "2012-01-04T17:25:43Z")
It sounds like an awesome job, but with a rather eccentric boss. But it sounds like the generosity goes with the eccentricity. FWIW, if my boss bought me a house and paid for my surgery, I would crawl to work on my belly like a reptile if she wanted me to. But that’s just me. Possibly apposite quote from Richard Pryor - > [@The Above Mentioned Comic Genius](#): > > I know times is hard - yesterday I saw a pimp driving a Volkswagen. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/53 "2012-01-04T17:36:25Z")
12-03-2011, 08:39 PM > [@How much of a $ bump should I ask for when considering a jump into management?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-of-a-bump-should-i-ask-for-when-considering-a-jump-into-management/604900/5): > > working at a fabrication company in 2001 i was hired at around 17.50 plus company paid my car bill, around $450. Just a 9 to 5er making parts on machines. > > Became manager around 2003 and went to about $24 hr plus car was paid off, and was offered 1% of total profit for the year. Didn’t care to much about the 1% profit sharing in fact i made a big stick about it, but when the first year I got a check for about 11k and the next year it was about 24k. After that it leveled back to around 10k a year. > > They also matched the profit if we put it into a charles schwab MMA account. I did this for a year or two but decided the money in my bank was better for me at the time. > > Becoming a manager was more money, and the job was to make sure production stayed where it was at or better. > 2008 laid off when company moved, recieved a bill from company to pay back a weeks pay (around 7 or 8 hundred) Compained that this was unfair, upper management was not pleased with the HR mistake and gave me a 10k severance. > > Working at a radio shack a long long time ago, i made around $400 a week. Went to assistant manager and pay went down to $350 and lost all perks like selling spiffs. Also alot more stress involved. > > Different companies treat people / workers completely different. **Now self employed and glad that I make more and work less**. Today, 11:21 AM > [@lurkedtolong](#): > > Well when I was 21 my credit wasn’t so good on top of the fact that I only made around 17 a hour. Since then I have purchased my own home without any help and have come a long way finacially. That was also about 4 cars ago, all of which were paid for by me, and they were all about 20k cars ie. Chevy blazer, trooper, s-10, and a infiniti. This was over 13 years ago, no such help is needed now. In fact if a business purchased needed (say we were at a show) to be made it is not even a thing for me to cover a few thousand dollars at a show expo and not say anything about it until much later. I still am definitely living within my means. If i were to loose everything financially and not have another penny come in, my current home and all cars would still never need to be given up. A buggati Veyron IS OUT OF MY MEANS THOUGH. If we all went to a conference and all employees didn’t receive there per diem since accounting has yet to arrive, then I would definitely be the one looked upon to pay for the hotel x 10, and meals x 10. I don’t pay for drinks though, pet peeve. > > Boss can’t be jealous, the last i checked CEO’s make around 1,700 dollars (ballpark figure) for every dollar made by the average worker. But instead of doing nothing with the money she helps and invests in people. Buying a house and paying for my surgery when i was just a teenager has given her a lifetime supply of respect and hard work from me, all for the price of a happy meal in her eyes. We often joke about how i never ask for anything anymore. > > The difference between me and other employees is that at 5:01 PM, not a single employee will answer a the phone, or there cell phones if it is me calling. ME? I answer the phone at 11pm to start design on a new logo to be shown in a complete mock up in the morning. Then a call at midnight to pick up a important business guest from overseas. It wouldn’t be uncommon to take her Asian partners out to shoot and see a gun for the very first time. **To me, this job is not a work, it’s a lifestyle where i live, breathe, eat and shit job x. My pay represents never being off.** How do you reconcile these two posts? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/54 "2012-01-04T17:37:04Z")
Given the scenario I can’t see how you would say “no.” even if you had to trade in the Durango on a used SmartCar and just let people think you are trying to go green, I’d say you’d be stupid not to keep this boss happy. It’s a silly request, but the trade-off is great enough to just go for it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/55 "2012-01-04T17:45:37Z")
> [@lurkedtolong](#): > > its a six digit car $1,456.99 ? ---
**Author:** ![lurkedtolong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@lurkedtolong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkedtolong)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/56 "2012-01-04T17:50:58Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > 12-03-2011, 08:39 PM > Today, 11:21 AM > How do you reconcile these two posts? I work for the same company but they own several different manufacturing plants/ offices/ warehouse and such, and was placed at that shop right around the time of the surgury. Even in that post you see that i was getting very good deals and bonuses. The company i work for places me around at certain jobs where they want me, and would then take me back and have me do something completely different. It may seem odd but it has worked for me for a long time. When i say self employed i mean what my OP stated that i was a WAH employee. I worked from home as a contracted worker. I have several areas of knowledge from trade shows, tech, mechanical and am the ONLY male employed. I was laid off “technically” since i didn’t move to Beverly hills. The company has since moved back. Even after layoff, I still received payment for contracted odd jobs from the same company. I really dont answer to anybody, Ill get a email saying we need these file cabinets from the old office shipped to Beverly hills, bill us whatever you want" was how i got thru days of no constant work. I hope this clears things up for you. ---
**Author:** ![lurkedtolong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@lurkedtolong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkedtolong)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/57 "2012-01-04T17:55:54Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > $1,456.99 ? Where did you get that number? $94,500 was base price and that’s without all the options and all possible upgrades and updates. That also didn’t include the renntech or other added systems. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/58 "2012-01-04T17:56:28Z")
> [@lurkedtolong](#): > > Boss can’t be jealous, the last i checked CEO’s make around 1,700 dollars (ballpark figure) for every dollar made by the average worker. But instead of doing nothing with the money she helps and invests in people. Buying a house and paying for my surgery when i was just a teenager has given her a lifetime supply of respect and hard work from me, all for the price of a happy meal in her eyes. Yeah, none of that means your boss can’t be worried that you’re driving a newer car than she is. > [@](#): > > We often joke about how i never ask for anything anymore. Sounds like you should ask her to buy you a Prius. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/59 "2012-01-04T17:57:33Z")
I’m surprised he can afford to smoke the good stuff. My bet is the OP works part time at taco bell. ---
**Author:** ![lurkedtolong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@lurkedtolong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurkedtolong)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288/60 "2012-01-04T18:01:12Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > Yeah, none of that means your boss can’t be worried that you’re driving a newer car than she is. > > Sounds like you should ask her to buy you a Prius. my friend just got one and i drove it, I actually liked it a lot. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-get-rid-of-your-car-to-make-your-workplace-peaceful/608288.md?page=4)