Hundreds of passengers no longer have a bus line to rely on, and several drivers are without jobs after a bus company in England abruptly shut down Sunday. The shutdown followed an internal memo from the company’s boss, who said, “There comes a time in any relationship when you just have to say ‘Fuck it.’”
“I am quitting to pursue my dream of not having to work here,” he continued.
Now, listen, we all dream of the day we can really go out in a heap of glory, possibly with a chair thrown or two and some glass shattered for good measure—everyone should do this once in their life!—but the calculus changes a bit when you’re the actual boss, and the job at stake isn’t just your own, but those of your employees as well.
All of which is to say that what Sydney Hardy, 57, the manager of Nippybus in Somerset, England, did Sunday is fairly shitty!
“Nippybus has ceased operational activity with immediate effect,” a message on the company’s website said, though Hardy’s memo was much more elaborative.
“There is a difference between giving up and knowing when you have had enough,” the note [said.] “I have had enough and realise I cannot work with you, the people I employ, a moment longer.
“There comes a time in any relationship when you just have to say ‘Fuck it’, say goodbye and move on. This is my time! I am quitting to pursue my dream of not having to work here.”
Hardy added: “The gates are now closed and will not open so you can stay in your scratchers and have a lie in.”
Employees, many of whom have mortgages and other real-life problems, weren’t amused.
[Steve Atkins], who had been with the company for three years, said: “I’ve already spoken to Citizens Advice. Everybody’s got mortgages and bills to pay. I’ve had to ring up and cancel all my direct debits … There’s no way I can cover them. The main thing is to cover the rent. I don’t know what’s gone through the man’s mind.
The county council has since intervened to get buses for the 300 or so schoolchildren who were left in the lurch, in addition to others who took the buses routes, according to The Guardian, while Hardy declined to comment further when reached by the newspaper. If you’re having a life crisis and need to quit your job but you are also someone people’s livelihoods are dependent on please consider your actions and take your time.