Don't take it out on the check out girl/boy

vyle

louboutingirl wrote: »

I have been reading this thread with mixed amusement and frustration!

I can understand the point that the OP was trying to make, there is no need whatsoever to be rude to a member of staff - regardless of their age, job title etc... I can also relate to other comments made about the training etc... which allows staff to deal with issues in an appropriate manner.

IMO, If you are 'just doing your job' by asking a customer if they would like a bag, for example, I can not understand why someone would find it acceptable to shout/verbally abuse them. What is wrong with a simple 'yes please' or 'no thank you'?

On the other hand, if you are dealing with an actual customer complaint, there are ways to effectively handle the situation without it escalating, which does boil down to staff training and individual manner.

I have worked in banking for 8 years, from answering the phones in a call centre, to my current branch based sales role. I have had on numerous occasions 'THAT customer' who has a huge chip on their shoulder and has issues with the whole world and no matter what you say/do/smile/listen, they will rant and rave, demand to see/speak to someone higher, only to be told the same thing and then all of sudden everything is ok. Grrr!

One thing that has annoyed me, and whilst I do not take it personaly I feel the need to get this message across, I do not feel that people's ability should be judged on how old they are perceived to be/whether they have spots! I am 26, am damn good at my job and have had an abundance of thank you letters/flowers/chocolates from my cutomers over the years. I do look young for my age, unfortunately still suffer with problem skin, and have to take my drivers licence everywhere with me, so to judge someone's ability by their age/appearance is unacceptable, it is making nothing other than sweeping assumptions.

This is purely my take on the subject, and I'm sure some will agree, some will disagree. Whatever your take on the matter, have a lovely evening, lets all start counting down to the weekend - 2 more working days to go! Woo Hoo! Unless you are of the lucky lots who now have a very nice 6 weeks off now, in which case I am very jealous!

LG xx

I'm not looking forward to the weekend, lol, I work through it. I did just have two days off, though, so it's all good.

flossy_splodge

I didn't realise so many companies do not pay people for the hours they are required to be at work.
I am truly horrified and it will certainly make me more tolerant of staff with people still to serve at their going home time.
I'd be grumpy too in these circumstances.:eek:

Takoda

Is it a feature of lower paid jobs that people are not willing to work a minute longer than they are paid to?

Welcome to clock watching Britain! :rolleyes:

hbloomers

I wouldn't mind staying an extra few minutes if I were actually paid more than the minimum wage! I stay late after almost every shift for cashing up etc. There have been many days when I've stayed behind an extra half hour without getting paid.

Besides, it does say in employment law that people have the right to be paid for the work they do, so why should they basically volunteer their own time?

Esqui

I also don't normally mind staying after to finish up; but unlike some, I don't have the luxury of a car, so I'm a slave to the bus timetable. Some assistants may have to leave dead on time to go home, and don't mean to be rude

hbloomers

I'm in the same boat. Its a pain when the last bus leaves at 9.15pm, the shop closes at 9, yet I don't get out until 9.20. Means I have to pay for a taxi home (costing around a fiver). Wish I could leave dead on time to go home!

vyle

Takoda wrote: »

Is it a feature of lower paid jobs that people are not willing to work a minute longer than they are paid to?

Welcome to clock watching Britain! :rolleyes:

Well, I'm be effectively be giving my employer hundreds of pounds a year of my money to do something for them. Think how many TVs one could buy for that money...money that's scarce enough as it is.

People complain about not getting a £50 discount on a TV, yet if employers paid us for being at work, doing work after hours, that £50 wouldn't even be an issue.

Takoda

So is everyone else on this thread, except me, in retail then?

andyrules

I'm not - and I do think that the staff should not be expected to work any unpaid time.

GrammarGirl

Takoda wrote: »

So is everyone else on this thread, except me, in retail then?

Nope.

I regularly stay 30mins-1 hour later than I should at work. I adore my job, get paid a good wage and therefore don't mind staying later. In fact, I'd rather stay late to ensure my work was 100% perfect and correct than go home at 5.30pm on the dot and risk sub-standard results.

However, I think many retail workers (not all, but many) didn't choose the job as a career, don't particularly care about the brand, the image or the future of the business and therefore couldn't give a rat's !!! if they leave at 5.30pm on the dot. That's why staying late is a chore to them - they resent it because they didn't choose it.

Please be clear - I'm making sweeping generalisations, I KNOW not all retail workers feel this way. But some do, and a few years ago, when I worked in retail, I resented every last second I had to work late. Couldn't wait to get out!