- bad day in the store

[Guest guest]

,

I can so relate to your stories about losing it at the store. You

haven't said what kind of store it is but it sounds like a

convenience store. Is it? I worked in several of them for a couple

years. They are awful, especially during rushes. Do you not get

breaks? I think there are laws about how long you can work without

a break (i'm sure it varies by state). We were supposed to get two

15 minute breaks and a half hour lunch, but I used to have to be

pretty assertive to get to take them. My managers preferred to take

my breaks themselves! I couldn't leave when there was a customer at

my register, which could go on for hours if the manager was off

doing something else. (frequently smoking or visiting with customers

out of sight of the cameras) but as soon as there was a break in the

line, or the manager made the mistake of wandering behind the

counter, I would head for the bathroom like it was urgent. It was -

just not what the boss thought! Not the nicest place to take a

break, but better than nothing. I'd come back relaxed and ready for

another rush. I knew that they had trouble keeping employees, and

all the other stores in town had Help Wanted signs in their windows

too, so I could cop an attitude - fire me, make my day! I was a

good worker, worked my butt off, so they weren't about to do that.

Do you think your boss is a good manager? My theory is, most people

with good managerial skills and talent are managing something better

than a convenience store. Some of my bosses were just not very

good, but a couple were terrible. One I used to call Attila the

Hun - when I saw the bumper sticker that says " Graduate Cum Laude of

the Darth Vader School of Personnel Management, " I knew they were

talking about him! I'm rambling, but I guess my points are: 1.

Maybe it's not you (or not all you) it's your boss, and 2. There's

nothing wrong or abnormal about needing a break in that kind of

job! Maybe your boss has learned something - maybe next time you

say you need a break, your boss will give you a break.

Wishing you a better job in the near future,