It IS real.....

[LDAHL]

I’m reading a number of states are shutting off the enhanced unemployment benefit early in the hope of goading people back to work.

[catherine]

Giving you three examples of a reason that people don't want these jobs. Abuse by customers is a really serious issue that no one is addressing.

At a local pizza supplier, a customer ranted and raved about his rights to not wear a mask in the store. He would have ordered online as I did and could have had the order delivered to his car for pick-up or to his home. The staff have to follow the law! I was exhausted just listening to him and other customers were getting annoyed at his abusive behaviour, the staff were apologizing to each of us for the situation. We were trying to support them.

At a local pharmacy, a long-term staff member that I chat with regularly as I pick my weekly milk supply advised that she has had it with abuse from customers. She fully understands that people are stressed due to the covid situation but to to take it out on staff is draining for all the staff and their morale. She is taking early retirement but may return when the public's frustrations abate. She loves her job, meeting with regulars and helping them but she said so many staff are totally beat at the end of each shift.

A small horticultural business offering really unique items and services was lamenting that customers come in, take a look and ask," is this all there is?" He got the impression that people were looking for a Disney-level experience in a garden as they were out for a drive and complaining that the business didn't deliver to their expectations. It is disheartening.

Local municipal employees receive complaints from the public because the grounds at a cemetery are not at the level of their perfect private lawns but the municipality facing huge expenses with covid services in health, alternate buildings, work schedules, etc., don't have the usual extra summer staff so do the best that they can with a skeleton crew. Budgets govern decisions. Complaining and grumbling to staff who are doing their best is draining.

Listen to SLF members who have posted about their experience with abuse at work and hear what they are saying.

Thanks to each and every member and worker who delivers a parcel to my home, carries my purchases curbside and answers my queries is key to my generally positive experience.

More that one person has said, " I don't need this ****". A worker is not someone who is available for another to abuse, no matter what work they do.

What covid has done is exposed how much we, the public, need every worker regardless of which field they work in.

There, I have now ranted on this topic because it has been concerning me for some time.

There was an article in the NY Times that I sent my son a couple of months ago that talked about this--how horribly servers are treated--and even worse because they wear masks (especially females). Specifically because they wear masks and the customer "can't see their face" they don't get tips!! Such unreasonable, unfair behavior. I don't understand humanity sometimes.

My son, before he left for his Nashville trip, during the time he was working during COVID, said that people were nastier, and the work was much, much harder--with sanitizing toilets during downtime and moving heavy tables inside and out every day so people could eat outside. Then taking abuse from the patrons. And because of the low volume driven by distancing requirements he would work all day for $30.

[KayLR]

Giving you three examples of a reason that people don't want these jobs. Abuse by customers is a really serious issue that no one is addressing.

At a local pizza supplier, a customer ranted and raved about his rights to not wear a mask in the store. He would have ordered online as I did and could have had the order delivered to his car for pick-up or to his home. The staff have to follow the law! I was exhausted just listening to him and other customers were getting annoyed at his abusive behaviour, the staff were apologizing to each of us for the situation. We were trying to support them.

At a local pharmacy, a long-term staff member that I chat with regularly as I pick my weekly milk supply advised that she has had it with abuse from customers. She fully understands that people are stressed due to the covid situation but to to take it out on staff is draining for all the staff and their morale. She is taking early retirement but may return when the public's frustrations abate. She loves her job, meeting with regulars and helping them but she said so many staff are totally beat at the end of each shift.

A small horticultural business offering really unique items and services was lamenting that customers come in, take a look and ask," is this all there is?" He got the impression that people were looking for a Disney-level experience in a garden as they were out for a drive and complaining that the business didn't deliver to their expectations. It is disheartening.

Local municipal employees receive complaints from the public because the grounds at a cemetery are not at the level of their perfect private lawns but the municipality facing huge expenses with covid services in health, alternate buildings, work schedules, etc., don't have the usual extra summer staff so do the best that they can with a skeleton crew. Budgets govern decisions. Complaining and grumbling to staff who are doing their best is draining.

Listen to SLF members who have posted about their experience with abuse at work and hear what they are saying.

Thanks to each and every member and worker who delivers a parcel to my home, carries my purchases curbside and answers my queries is key to my generally positive experience.

More that one person has said, " I don't need this ****". A worker is not someone who is available for another to abuse, no matter what work they do.

What covid has done is exposed how much we, the public, need every worker regardless of which field they work in.

There, I have now ranted on this topic because it has been concerning me for some time.

So disheartening. I'm ashamed at what we've become. So entitled.

[happystuff]

Originally posted by razz: Thanks to each and every member and worker who delivers a parcel to my home, carries my purchases curbside and answers my queries is key to my generally positive experience.

One thing I will credit to this warehouse job is truly understanding what it takes to go from sitting comfortably at home, clicking the computer for an item(s), waiting (usually impatiently and then complaining after 2 days), to opening the front door and picking up the package. I totally understand why these warehouses usually have a huge turnover of employees. Right now (not even full into summer temperatures) - besides the already various degrees of being physically demanding - it is hot and sweaty, there is no reduction in quotas, and mandatory OT - which just adds "tired" to the previous list on the employees.

So disheartening. I'm ashamed at what we've become. So entitled.

Having processed returns gives an eye-opening idea of the sense of entitlement *some* people have. Most wear gloves for that job because you never know what is in the return bags. I've had dirty, smelly clothes returned that have obviously been worn, are well passed the return period, but the customer still expects their refund. We get stuff that doesn't belong to our company that the customer swears it does. One girl opened a package and it was full of both live and dead ants!!! I could go on, but won't.

I agree with KayLR - very disheartening.


Edited to add the physically demanding part.

[Teacher Terry]

My DIL was laid off for a year and went back to work once she was vaccinated. She is a cocktail waitress at a casino. She is getting huge tips and customers are so happy to be out that they are very nice. She is still wearing a mask although she doesn’t have to. Also Californians are tipping way more than locals. The ones who moved here commented on how cheap things are when really our COL is high.

[iris lilies]

My DIL was laid off for a year and went back to work once she was vaccinated. She is a cocktail waitress at a casino. She is getting huge tips and customers are so happy to be out that they are very nice. She is still wearing a mask although she doesn’t have to. Also Californians are tipping way more than locals. The ones who moved here commented on how cheap things are when really our COL is high.

That is good to hear this positive POV.

[Yppej]

Catherine I tip extra if they have to wear a mask because I feel sorry for them.

[frugal-one]

DH and I have started going to eat in restaurants. We have been "big tippers". It is heartwarming to see the servers response. This is the way we plan on spending our COVID relief money. Restaurants here are having to restrict hours because they cannot find help. September the extra $300/week COVID payments stop. It will be interesting to see if this makes a difference???

ETA_ I could care less if they wear a mask or not....

[catherine]

Catherine, that’s great that your son is trying for what he wants to do. I wish him the best of luck.

Thank you, Terry!

Catherine I tip extra if they have to wear a mask because I feel sorry for them.

On behalf of my son, and all the other servers out there, thank you, Jeppy.

[iris lilies]

During Covid I tipped a couple times in amounts so large that my credit card company contacted me via auto contact, to see if I had really tipped that much.