From the story, it sounds like alcohol may have played a part in this. It's sad.
At about 30yrs old, I spent a short time working for a contractor that was a hardcore drinker, but had a very nice "printing press" job going. Both he and the job foreman would show up on the job stumbling, with the smell of fresh (not last night's) alcohol on their breath.
The contractor showed up one morning and called a safety meeting. He said that anyone showing up on the job without safety glasses the next day would be fired. When I mentioned that safety glasses were actually supposed to be provided by the employer, he came to me (in front of about 10 guys), called me a "smart***", and shoved me. Very professional
I knocked him on his can with a broken nose.
Another employee walked up to me and casually said "I guess this means you won't be working for Steve anymore?"
I'd never been in a physical confrontation on a job before, and haven't since.
Sometimes it's been tough to walk away, sometimes it's been tough to keep from laughing my *** off at a belligerent fool.
It sure beats workplace violence, though.
