So you work retail and need to clock out. Rant.

[hennypenny9]

Okay. I work the cutting counter at JoAnn Fabrics. I get to work at 7:00 AM, and am off at 12:00. Corporate decides how many hours my managers can give out, which is why I only work five hours. Noon happens to be when things get busy. So we had a lot of people waiting, and it's already almost five minutes after noon. If I stay too long, I get CHEWED OUT. In Washington state, after five hours, you are required BY LAW to take a lunch, or clock out. This is for hourly people. So I had to leave. For the past ten minutes I had been calling for a back up cutter. Calling and calling, and the only backup says really loudly "I'm ringing at the register, I'll be there as soon as I can!!!" So everyone waiting can hear it. I finish with my customer, and clean up my area. Meanwhile, a lady comes and stands in front of me. She probably has the next number. I smile and say "I'm sorry, someone will be here soon." NOTE. There is another cutter besides me, I was leaving her by herself, the manager would have made it two people cutting. So for the record, I was NOT leaving the counter empty.

I go to clock out, and the lady says some things under her breath that I can't even repeat on here. I was not shocked, as this happens sometimes. It was just amazing, because she had heard me trying to get someone there to take my place. I can't do anything more. Yes, I understand that the line is long. I have waited in lines myself. I know that it's horrible especially at the PO when you're waiting, and you're next, and the teller closes. Trust me, I've been in these situations before. But I, as an employee, was as courteous as possible. What she said was in no way appropriate.

It's amazing how people waiting practically have a group mentality. If one person happily asks another what project they're working on, the other person will be more than happy to chat. Soon they're so deep in conversation that I can barely get their attention when I'm ready to cut for one. BUT on the other hand, if one starts to complain about how horrible the wait is, everyone else will immediately agree and start murmuring angrily. It's really weird to watch.

Thanks for anyone that read this whole thing. I'm not one of those rude employees. I'm not disgruntled. I like my job. I try so hard, and always have a smile on my face. If the wait is long, I apologize. I help with patterns, and colors, and measurements. Most of the time, my job is fun. But no matter what, I dread my time to clock out.

 

[Mahonri]

I'd say you are a wonderful employee and they have no idea how blessed they are to have you.

They would be smart to give you 8 hours a day with benefits.

 

[hennypenny9]

Thanks.

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

That herd mentality is amazing isn't it? When I am waiting in a long line I try to be the one who starts the positive mood. Sometimes when you are the one behind the counter you can bring people into the conspiracy by telling them what a shame it is that you're NOT ALLOWED to stay and wait on them or you get in trouble and you'd love to stay and help them because you sure could use those extra hours of work!

Then people complain to management that they need to hire more people!

 

[hennypenny9]

I have WHAT in my yard? :

That herd mentality is amazing isn't it? When I am waiting in a long line I try to be the one who starts the positive mood. Sometimes when you are the one behind the counter you can bring people into the conspiracy by telling them what a shame it is that you're NOT ALLOWED to stay and wait on them or you get in trouble and you'd love to stay and help them because you sure could use those extra hours of work!

Then people complain to management that they need to hire more people!

I save this for when I'm the only cutter at the counter! "Oh, we have no hours this week! Corporate is trying to cut back, but I'm not sure they're doing it in the right places..." Totally works, and is so true!

I truly feel bad for the managers. They're paid salary, and sometimes have to work 9 hour days, six days a week. Yes, in this state it is legal, we checked. And they get all the irate customers. And they only can use the hours that corporate says they can, or they will be fired. It's a sad thing.​

 

[newchickenfamily]

You can only do the best you can do!

 

[DuckLady]

In 21 years of retail service, I never walked away from a customer. If I had to stay over, I stayed over.

The backstage people don't know or care about if there are people waiting. They care that the store makes payroll. Leaving because your time is up shows them that everything is hunky dory.

Going over on your time is the way to get the uppers to ask what is going on and that is when your boss says that the store needs more hours. The uppers still don't care and will make her schedule according to need. Like having you work 8 to 1 or bring the afternoon person in an hour early to cover the rush or something like that.

Customers don't care about the back room tittle tattle, either. There is nothing more unprofessional than hearing an employee complaining about their employer.

 

[yotetrapper]

Gotta disagree with ya there Terri. I work in fast food, and no matter how busy it is, you need to clock out even if it means leaving a customer waiting. If you clock out late more often then very occasionally, you will be written up. Three write ups for the same thing, and you're out the door. Guess it varies from corporation to corporation?

 

[bluey]

Personally, I feel that the responsibility to keep the customers happy lies squarely on the store. Everyday I see understaffed stores or stores with employees who don't give a rat's behind.

Stores like that eventually close as people will go elsewhere.

Customers don't care about a store or an employees' problems. It either can sell them stuff in a timely and efficient manner at reasonable prices or it goes out of business.

It's not herd mentality. People have things to do in their lives other than waiting in nonsense lines for items they can probably get somewhere else or online.

Remember when the customer was always right? Well, that's what they taught me in my formative years when I worked in a supermarket many moons ago.

I'm not picking on the OP, I'm just not going to jump on the "blame the customer" bandwagon.

 

[domino7]

My wife has a crap job at Kmart's. It's the same there. If she punches out even 1 minute late for lunch, break, or end of shift it's a write-up. Managers aren't allowed to manage, and nobody is allowed to use their own discretion. If you don't walk away from customers you won't have a job long lol.