Someone Smack That Bully

Yesterday at work, a customer was very rude to Mandy. Mandy is seventeen and works as a cashier at a local grocery store. She was working away and between customers she turned to ask her manager a question. Her manager was in the middle of something so Mandy paused for the merest of moments to try and get her manager's attention and the next customer in line became irate.

He started to scream at her. He leaned over the counter and got into her face to tell her how rude she is. As she checked him out he became louder and meaner, telling her what an awful rude person she is. He paid and told her he was going to find her manager and tell everyone how rude she is. He walked screamed to everyone in the store how rude Mandy is. And then he left. The entire time the floor manager never came over to help Mandy or the customer. I hate this grocery store.

Mandy was in shock at first but after two more customers she started to cry and had to ask her manager to allow her to go to the bathroom and compose herself. I guess the manager finally showed up two customers later. Mandy has been contemplating quitting for some time. I wonder if this will seal the deal.

Whenever these things happen I tell her about the difference between jobs you get with a college education and jobs you get without one. I feel that when you are working class you are easily replaced and the employer doesn't go to extra lengths to allow you to enjoy your job. When you have a specialized skill you are needed and therefore the employer goes out of their way to make sure your treated well. Luckily Mandy also had the opportunity to work in a hospital admin position one summer and was able to see how she was treated in that position as opposed to being a cashier at at a grocery store.

I often get frustrated with cashiers who are slow or don't say hello etc. I am sure glad I have kept that frustration to myself. Cashiers are people too. They work long hours and if they are robotically fast for you, hopefully next time you will think of Mandy and offer a smile and some kind words instead of being a big fat bully toward a young girl.