This happened to me over the summer and I just found this sub so I created an account to ask. It’s kinda long and Tl;Dr at bottom. 

So I’ve worked as a lifeguard and a swim lessons instructor over the summer at a Country Club for the past 4  years. It’s a good starter place to work, minus the crazy owner, but I stay because I genuinely enjoy my lifeguard staff (30+ people we watch a man made lake). The head of maintenance I’ll call him “Jenkins” has harassed the lifeguards since I’ve started working. He’s a middle aged man and has no authority over us but likes to boss the guards around. Everyone knows this including the aquatics manager (my boss not the owner) knows and deals with this. He would even put random pieces of trash on the lifeguard stands just to show his distaste. 

Now my first 3 years I just shrugged it off. I prided myself on being a good lifeguard who was always attentive and a great swim lesson instructor. I didn’t really care what he thought. After coming back from my first year of college I got promoted to the lead life guard of the lake and tried to make an effort to appease Jenkins. I did every arbitrary task he asked and stuff that wasn’t my job to try to get on his good side. If I saw him sitting down I’d ask him if I or anyone could do anything for him. 

So here comes the asshole part. We throw a party on the lake for all the members and it’s a stressful day for everyone. My younger brother (also a lifeguard) and another lifeguard/good friend set up everything we need to do for the lake before the party and take a  break before the aquatics manager gets here. We sat down for literally 30 seconds and Jenkins starts yelling at us. He yells at us telling us to do more arbitrary things and how we suck as lifeguards. The conversation goes like this after my brother and friend walk to do what he asked.

Me “Hey next time talk to me or another lead guard when you want us to do something do not try to scare the other lifeguards into doing it”
Jenkins “I don’t know who they are”
Me “okay they are me and (two other lead guards)”
Jenkins “How about if you actually do something instead of sitting around on your asses all day.”
Me getting irritated “we did everything that was asked of us and were waiting for our boss to come back you saw us working across the lake.”
Jenkins “you guys shouldn’t just be sitting around doing nothing while we work way harder than you.”
Me visibly pissed off “how about you stop yelling at me and do your job it’s not my fault you have had nothing better to do than yell at us for the past four years.”
Jenkins “you need to not treat this like a summer kiddie job where you get paid to do nothing and more like a career. I’ve seen you on your phone on the stand (lie) and putting people at risk.”
Me (asshole part)- “that’s the problem Jenkins this is a job for me not my career. I go to college. Im getting my degree. I’m sorry that’s obviously not the case for you and now you got stuck here the rest of your life. I’m gonna do a lot more with my life than you  ever will  and when you see me lifeguarding today I hope you remember that.”

He storms off and files a complaint but nothing happens after that.

So AITA for blowing up in his face? I’ve always been calm and rational at work so it came to a surprise to everyone. I know I don’t know how he turned up there and I felt kinda guilty at the time. On the other hand he really shouldn’t be taking his problems out on us.

TL;DR- I’ve worked as a lifeguard for 4 years with a bully head of maintenance. The last day I snap when he yells at us for nothing and sarcastically apologize for his life sucking and how mine is going to be so great.

