Things that are happening at work right now are causing deja vu and making me think of other things that happened years ago.
Have you ever worked with one of those people that has been at a place so long he thinks he owns it, that he has more authority than the boss?  Frank was a person like this.
I started working in a pretty nice place.  I had already done odd jobs for the boss, so he knew me.  He gave me instructions on how he wanted stuff done, and I immediately began to straighten up the place the way he wanted it.
That afternoon the evening crew started coming in and one of them came up to me.  "You're not putting stuff where we keep it," he began, "let's get this straightened out right now!"
He began to tell me where he wanted things.  "Whoa!  Whoa!"  I remarked.  "The boss showed me where he wants things, that's where I put them.  If you've got a problem with that, you talk to the boss.  That's always my philosophy."
"Look, you," Frank continued, "you don't talk to me like that!  I've worked here 8 years, the boss doesn't work at night.  We do things OUR way!  Now start putting stuff where I tell you!"
"Talk to the boss!"  I answered.
Frank walked off in a huff, and for three or four days this scene was repeated.  Then, finally, one afternoon Frank screamed, "All right!  I WILL talk to the boss!"
A while later the boss came into the kitchen and Frank walked up to him.  "This f      ' jerk," he began, "won't put a damned thing where we tell him to put it.  He argues with me constantly and tells me to go to you if  I've got a problem.  I don't like this f      ' attitude.  I think I've worked here long enough to be shown some respect.  We know where we need to have things."
The boss looked at him very coldly then remarked, "Gerald puts things JUST EXACTLY where I tell him to put them, and does JUST EXACTLY what I ask him to do.  If other people wish to continue working here, I think they'd better start doing the same, too!  There's been far too much of everybody thinking they can do whatever they want to do.  It's time for it to stop.  From now on things stay where Gerald puts them, because that's where I want them!  If there's a problem with that, I think some people here better start looking for new jobs.  Are you going to be looking, Frank?"
"No, no!"  Frank stammered, "I didn't know he was really following your instructions, that this was what you wanted.  Sorry, I thought he was just being a jerk.  Sure!  If it's what you want that's where the stuff will stay!"
"Good," the boss answered.  "Now get to work."
"For the next few days Frank was totally obnoxious every time he'd come in.  He'd look around and make remarks like "Well, I see Gerald has been kissing ass again to get his way.  I wonder what else he's been kissing?"
One afternoon just after Frank had come in, and the hostess had overheard one of these remarks, the boss came back into the kitchen.  "Frank!"  he snapped, "There will be no more remarks like those that have been reported to me.  If there are, you will be fired.  My patience has run out.  If I have to get rid of you before Gerald loses his temper, I will, because I can't afford the medical bills if he does.  Do I make myself clear?  IT STOPS NOW!"
"I've got a right to express an opinion!"  Frank remarked.
"Express it elsewhere," the boss answered.  "Now, I've got work to do.  I can't be bothered with this nonsense any more, This is your only warning.  You've done good work.  I'd hate to lose you.  But this stops now!  You're not only insulting Gerald, you're insulting me, and I won't have it.  Now get to work and no more of this!"
I had other troubles working in that place, but I had no further problems with Frank.  As a matter of fact, slowly our relationship grew rather cordial.  But it took a little while, it took QUITE a little while!