Q: I am a retail sales clerk in the lingerie section at a women's department store. It is obviously not my dream job, but I need a job, so I am glad to have it.
A customer wanted to buy Valentine's Day gifts for two women. We were having a sale, and customers could get a free pair of panties if they bought three pairs. He wanted the special sale price for the four but wanted it rung up as two items on each receipt so he could split the gifts -- two pairs of panties for each woman. I explained I had to ring it up under one sale for him to receive the buy-three/get-one-free price, but I told him I could give him two gift receipts. He was in a hurry and not really listening, and he gave me such attitude it was hard to tolerate. In the middle of my explanation, he answered his cell phone. He snapped at the woman, saying, "Why are you calling me?" He waved his hand at me to shut me up in the middle of my explaining the charges and said, "Just do it. Do it."
I completed the sale with half the payment by charge and half paid in cash, but when I asked him to sign, he snapped that it was wrong. With a bit of attitude, I replied, "You asked me to do it this way," which is right when my manager walked up to the desk. After the man left, my manager reprimanded me for the way I spoke to him. I told her she didn't see the whole thing, that he was the one who was rude first and for no reason. She said it didn't matter; he was the customer, and I was wrong. Was I wrong?
A: Forget about right and wrong, and think about what is best for you. Yes, he was rude, but his attitude toward you was not personal. He is likely a rude and impatient person to all, for as you saw, he was also rude to the person calling him. Buying Valentine's Day gifts should be fun. Instead, he showed anger toward you, a stranger who was trying to accommodate him, and his caller. His behavior was inexcusable.
Unfortunately, you took his anger personally, and that is what got you into trouble with your manager. Anger says much about the person expressing it; it says nothing about the person receiving it. You will surely run into other angry customers. When you do, it will not be personal, even if they think it is. Be the better person. Ignore their ignorance. And don't let who they are ruin your day.
Threatened Because of Sick Day After 17 Years
Q: I have worked as a doorman at an upscale gated community for 17 years. I rarely miss work, and my record proves it. Two weeks ago, I called in sick. My boss threatened, "Bring a doctor's note, or don't come back." I couldn't believe what I had heard. I returned with a note, but I'm so upset I want to quit.
A: You have a right to be hurt and angered by your boss's response. It sounds intentionally degrading. Some managers think all people are replaceable and treat them as such, despite the people's dedication to their jobs. Tell your boss that you were hurt, that you thought 17 years of service was valued. If no apology is forthcoming, you can start a job search, but quitting without a new job would hurt you more than your boss's attitude.
Have you been hurt by gossip? E-mail Lindsey Novak atLindseyNovak@yahoo.com with all your workplace questions. She answers all e-mails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM
A customer wanted to buy Valentine's Day gifts for two women. We were having a sale, and customers could get a free pair of panties if they bought three pairs. He wanted the special sale price for the four but wanted it rung up as two items on each receipt so he could split the gifts -- two pairs of panties for each woman. I explained I had to ring it up under one sale for him to receive the buy-three/get-one-free price, but I told him I could give him two gift receipts. He was in a hurry and not really listening, and he gave me such attitude it was hard to tolerate. In the middle of my explanation, he answered his cell phone. He snapped at the woman, saying, "Why are you calling me?" He waved his hand at me to shut me up in the middle of my explaining the charges and said, "Just do it. Do it."
I completed the sale with half the payment by charge and half paid in cash, but when I asked him to sign, he snapped that it was wrong. With a bit of attitude, I replied, "You asked me to do it this way," which is right when my manager walked up to the desk. After the man left, my manager reprimanded me for the way I spoke to him. I told her she didn't see the whole thing, that he was the one who was rude first and for no reason. She said it didn't matter; he was the customer, and I was wrong. Was I wrong?
A: Forget about right and wrong, and think about what is best for you. Yes, he was rude, but his attitude toward you was not personal. He is likely a rude and impatient person to all, for as you saw, he was also rude to the person calling him. Buying Valentine's Day gifts should be fun. Instead, he showed anger toward you, a stranger who was trying to accommodate him, and his caller. His behavior was inexcusable.
Unfortunately, you took his anger personally, and that is what got you into trouble with your manager. Anger says much about the person expressing it; it says nothing about the person receiving it. You will surely run into other angry customers. When you do, it will not be personal, even if they think it is. Be the better person. Ignore their ignorance. And don't let who they are ruin your day.
Threatened Because of Sick Day After 17 Years
Q: I have worked as a doorman at an upscale gated community for 17 years. I rarely miss work, and my record proves it. Two weeks ago, I called in sick. My boss threatened, "Bring a doctor's note, or don't come back." I couldn't believe what I had heard. I returned with a note, but I'm so upset I want to quit.
A: You have a right to be hurt and angered by your boss's response. It sounds intentionally degrading. Some managers think all people are replaceable and treat them as such, despite the people's dedication to their jobs. Tell your boss that you were hurt, that you thought 17 years of service was valued. If no apology is forthcoming, you can start a job search, but quitting without a new job would hurt you more than your boss's attitude.
Have you been hurt by gossip? E-mail Lindsey Novak atLindseyNovak@yahoo.com with all your workplace questions. She answers all e-mails. To find out more about Lindsey Novak and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2011 CREATORS.COM
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