Saturday, November 21, 2009
I made a run to the grocery store this afternoon. they were busy and I had a cart load. At the check-out lane, I maintained a pleasant attitude and greeted the cashier politely. I joked with a family member who had shopped with me as we waited for the groceries to be rang up and the cashier made a remark about my comment. The remark was off tone slightly and he excused the remark explaining that he had a bad week. He believed that someone owed him a good time. Who? he didn't say, but SOMEONE owed him a make up for his bad week. He complained about the store he worked for and complained about the pay and the benefits. I was disappointed in hear such. Where was the dedication and support of the place that employed him and pays him a wage weekly?
The grocery store is not the only place I hear these types of derogatory remarks from employees in a workplace. The place where I work seasonally, co-workers speak badly about management and the company in general routinely. It seems to be a common place to do so. When I was working full time, professionally, an employee could be and a couple times were, fired for "bad-mouthing" the company. Whatever would a customer think if they should hear such a thing. The customer doesn't understand that the employee is frustrated because they didn't get a promotion or because they had to work an extra hour during a particularly busy period. They only hear an employee saying how much the company "sucks."
I feel that it has become a habit with some folks. A form of venting that has gotten out of their control. It's sad...no company pride, no appreciation for an employment opportunity. At Wal-Mart the other day, I asked an employee if they had a specific brand. The employee snorted and responded, "Did you forget where you are?" Then preceded to tell me the only brands they carried were already on the shelf. I wondered if the employee forgot who I was...a customer. All this negativity in the workplace makes me sad.
Is it really so hard to put on a pleasant smile and greet the world, and the customers, with good humor and a little encouragement?
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