From time to time, every worker has dreamed about giving their boss a piece of their mind, or walking off the job in a suitably dramatic way.
Most of us would settle for the classic Johnny Paycheck experience ("Take this job and shove it!") but some people are even more dramatic.
One worker, a builder from Liverpool, England, kissed his job goodbye with a destructive send-off that made headlines around the world. After allegedly being stiffed £600 (around $770) the disgruntled employee drove a mini-backhoe through the glass entryway of a newly built hotel.
The hard goodbye reportedly took place on the same day that work on the Travelodge had finished. (While the hotel's website still says "Opening soon," we wouldn't bet on it.)
Warning: this video contains strong language.
I was on that job an was supposed to get paid the Friday before Xmas, could have been skint for all they knew, never got my money until the 2nd week of January, only a matter of time before something like this happened 🤷ðŸ»"♂ï¸ðŸ˜‚ pic.twitter.com/WvQ91aRRgL
— Joe fearon (@joefblue) January 21, 2019
As the vehicle crashes through the front door, the angry man's co-worker can be heard yelling, "That's what happens when people don't pay your wages, mate."
The forklift driver, who fled the scene after ruining the hotel lobby for a solid 20 or 30 minutes, is still on the run. One bystander was treated by paramedics at the scene, but no charges have been filed so far.
Incredibly, the outrageous stunt earned the builder a number of fans after video of his tantrum went viral online.
"Pay your bills next time Travelodge," one person tweeted.
Good, can't muck about about with family men around Christmas pic.twitter.com/cV4OaaFsUu
— Jayde (@Jrocain) January 21, 2019
A man who claimed to be one of the driver's colleagues told the Liverpool Echo that the man was not paid for several days of work.
"I stand by what my colleague did today," he added.
"He is owed £600 in unpaid wages and it just isn't fair. That's a lot of money to all of us and he has tried in every way to get what he is owed. He felt this was his only choice."
A spokesperson for Triton Construction, the main builders at the hotel, told MailOnline the laborer actually became upset after he couldn't track down the boss that was due to pay him.
Triton also assured the public there was no structural damage to the hotel, so it would open after some quick repairs.
A GoFundMe page dedicated to raising cash for the driver popped up shortly after the story broke, and the fundraiser quickly smashed its £600 goal to bring in more than £3,500 (around $4,500).
"This gofundme has been created to help fund the lost wages for the Travel Lodge - Edge Lane Digger Driver who is owed 600 in unpaid wages," the page explained, "and primarily any legal fees and expenses which may arise as result of the demolition of the travel lodge.[sic]"
"Many people in the building trade encounter similar situations week in week out and this guy has helped MANY tradesmen and workers to get paid on time and to stand up for themselves when its really needed."
"This is a contractor vs worker situation and guess who usually comes out on top with huge payouts and the worker going short? Not this time," the page's organizer said in an update.
[H/T: The Sun]
