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Incident Occurrence: Mercedes-Benz of Pompano

Dear AutoNation Corporation,

Corporation is a funny word and to me it describes a particular
business bound by its policies and procedures, put in place by its
shareholders. Policies provide a business with an order of operation,
more importantly it gives a company definition.

As of writing this, I have just become a former soul to the AutoNation
word- a faceless name if you will. But I can assure you that this name
speaks against a spectre of unfairness that haunts business operation
as well as inhibits the wellbeing of my co-workers.

On April 24th 2007 I submitted my two-week resignation as a result of
being denied a leave of absence (clearly stated for personal reasons).
In the resignation letter it specifically indicated that my “agreed
upon last working day will be Friday May 4th”. My supervisor, David
Benjamin, agreed and accepted the notice. By accepting this notice it
shows explicit consent to let me work until that agreed date. It is
understood this does not indemnify me from adhering to AutoNation
rules and procedures.

Today is April 30th and just a few hours ago I was told to punch out
and my relation to Mercedes-Benz of Pompano as an employee will be
ended earlier than agreed to. When I asked If I was being fired /
terminated, no clear answer was given (This is not AutoNation Policy).
When inquiring as to what instigated this decision, Mr. Benjamin
exhausted his discontent with me and explained that he was upset due
to the fact that I switched one day on my schedule with another
employee without notifying him first. I then told David that I, as
well as the rest of my department, were all under the same impression
that it did not matter who worked when, just as long as the position
was filled. This has be emphasized and reemphasized by Mr. Benjamin on
countless occasions. I further explained to Mr. Benjamin that I didn’t
mind working that day (as it would give me a healthy amount of
overtime), but rather I traded the day with an employee who was
lacking in weekly hours (Please note: This employee would not reach
overtime and his pay would be at the hourly rate).

I went as far as to explain to Mr. Benjamin that this would cost the
department less from a business stand point and his response was “This
has nothing to do with business; Its Personal!”- As soon as those
utterances were spoken it was clear that AutoNation and the wellbeing
of my co-workers was/is in jeopardy. Here you have a manager making
impractical business decisions based on EMOTION!

Witness to all of this was a newly-made manager, Miguel Caraballo,
whom I am led to believe has a skewed / tainted perception because it
was Mr. Benjamin who put Mr. Caraballo in a management position- This
typically breeds bias. Amongst my questioning the validity of this
penalization, Mr. Caraballo interjected hastly: “Consider this a
suspension until your date of leave”. If this is a suspension, aren’t
I supposed to be approached with the propper paperwork?

Mr. Benjamin did NOT ask me to sign any paperwork and to make such a
rash decision absent of documentation displays an act unbound by
policy and procedure. AutoNation does not stand for such actions.

Finally, I expressed my concern with Mr. Benjamin’s process of
decision making, explaining that he strictly scrutinizes my actions
over those whom he is seen closely associating with. If proof is what
you need please check the unexplained discrepancies in Trisha
Phillipeaux’s time card. Trisha was a former employee of David’s at
the Honda store whom he brought to MB Pompano at the dismay of Honda
management. Clearly Mr. Benjamin allows this to happen because he has
what has been described as a “more than cordial” inappropriate
relationship with her. This is a conflict of interest, this is
nepotism, and more importantly this is favoritism- all actions that
AutoNation eschews.

My situation is not uncommon, it happens to lots of employees due to
poor management. However it is imperative that you are made aware.

No Hard Feelings-

Corey B. Friedman
(CoreyLTD@Gmail.com)