I may talk about this constantly, but I believe service workers don’t get treated with the type of respect they deserve, most times. I understand some of them deserve a little of what they put out there but not all of them.
There are so many stories I could tell, when it comes to working in a service position. I think I’m going to be letting a little bit, scratch that a lotta bit out. I have been working in public service for over twenty years. I know how to do service with a smile pretty well. But there are still people who want to tell you how to do your job. I’m not here for it, at all. For the most part I’ve been very kind, polite, nice and what every other words can be thought of to describe niceness. I’m tired of giving A1 customer service and most people don’t care what they say or do in front of you or to you because you’re there to serve them or so they believe. Truth really be told, initially I’m here for a pay check. Serving you, the public was an after thought. I’m sure there are going to be other people out here saying I should be happy to have a job, but not when you get treated like crap most of the time you work there. Not just by the customers either, there are managers who believe they are high and mighty because of the position their in and like to throw their weight around. Fellow co-works who like to micromanage you because they have nothing else going on in their life. Then you have the customer. I know you shouldn’t carry a lot of emotional baggage with, but that is a treat I have. Most times I feel when other people are going through something. I don’t know how, I just do. Sometime I wish I could turn it off. But I can’t help but really want to know how someone really is. Looking back on this, it looks more like I need to change careers.
Don’t get me wrong I really use to love coming to work, but the constant disrespect starts to chip away at you. I’ve had things happen to me and friends I’ve worked with. I’ve had people through books at me. A co-worker of mine had someone grab her by her collar. She’s a small girl, and this was a big 6’2 man who did this. All because he wanted her to ring him up, and she politely told him she was closed. There are so many things people who work in public service go through on a daily. Those are only two examples, but I definitely have way more stories to tell. I guess you can say I’m writing this as a therapy to myself and also to let others know: When you see a cashier that’s either being rude or closed off, most times it’s because of the treatment they encountered while at work. I’m not saying to give them a pass for being rude. I’m just letting you know a little of the back round to understand why we operate the way we do.
I never realized it, but jobs change you. I’ve always been up beat and positive, but I think I’m changing because I’m getting older and starting to realize people are going to treat you how they want too. Most times regardless of how you treat them. It’s getting really exhausting being kind when you don’t have many others who reciprocate that. But that isn’t something I can stop doing because that is the type of person I am. So I’ll never change that.
If you made it to the end, I thank you for reading this long rant. If there’s anything else you would like to see on here, please let me know and I will definitely make it happen.
Shads Short Stories 