Work complaints, you know.
Some issues I didn't know existed have cropped up in my work. Actually, I knew they existed but I haven't had them challenged in a while.
1. I do not like strangers touching me.
Two older men touch me at work. It's nothing inappropriate, but it still makes me very uncomfortable. One is my general manager, and he pats everyone on the back. What makes this exceedingly uncomfortable for me is that he does it even when I'm already walking away, so he has to actually reach and make an unnatural motion just to pat me on the shoulder. It disgusts me and I don't like it at all. The other...I think it's just his thing to try and get in everyone's pants. Larry said I should talk to my general manager about how uncomfortable it makes me that the second guy touches me, and he got pretty annoyed when I laughed at him.
Some of my coworkers gently put a hand on my back or shoulder when they're coming up behind me and want me to move. That's okay. I've known them for a little while and recognize it as a friendly, "Hey, get the fuck out of my way." There aren't ever any creepy overtones. When someone did that the other day and I didn't freak out, I realized that my problems with my GM and the other coworker are more serious than I thought.
2. I don't respect any authority that doesn't deserve it.
Again, talking about my GM. He is a condescending, smarmy bastard. Last week, I was working the lunch shift. He and another woman from the office (sales, I think) sometimes have people for lunch when they are trying to sell them things. I tried to bring them menus, and he shook me off with a, "We're fine, hon" and wave of his hand. Not five minutes later, he sat down at a table with another man. About five minutes after that, I heard an annoyed, "Rachel, could we have some menus, please, hon?"
They didn't get me a nametag for about two weeks. And since I only have one work shirt, clean laundry is hard to come by when I have a wonky schedule like this week. As he walked by me today, he said, "You know, I got you a nametag." I said, "Yeah, I did laundry and forgot to put it back on. I'll get it tomorrow." "yeah, okay, just make sure you wear it." We BOTH started walking away, and then he reached out and patted my shoulder. UGH. I actually shuddered when he did that.
I'm also starting to have this problem with my manager, as well. She just got the manager position a couple weeks ago. She has a tendency to disappear, walk into a situation, and start criticizing everything you're doing wrong. Most of the time, these wrongs are on their way to being corrected, or they aren't entirely my fault, or they aren't my fault at all.
A week ago yesterday, she sent my friend and coworker home early because we were dead. I really didn't want her to go; it was 9 am on a Sunday morning. I figured we'd get slammed at 10...when church got out. And we did. My manager had told me to come find her if we got busy. We got slammed and I went looking for her and couldn't find her, so I started taking care of everyone myself. About 10 minutes later, as I was carrying a tray of food out, she said, "RACHEL! That table hasn't even gotten their drinks yet! Why haven't they gotten their drinks yet!?" I looked at her and said, "We got really busy and I went looking for you for help and I couldn't find you anywhere."
Kind of like the time she lectured me for not carrying a tray. I am hypoglycemic. It is very mild and is very manageable. I just have to eat regularly and take care of my body and I'm good to go. She got mad at me for carrying two plates (one in each hand) and going back for the third instead of carrying them on a tray. "Why aren't you carrying a tray? Isn't the kid eating?" "I have shaky hands and I would have dropped their food!" again, on the way out of the kitchen carrying things.
Probably I'll get a lecture on not being respectful enough soon. Cool. My job is run like a madhouse. If I didn't like the people I worked with so much, I'd quit.
Oh, and I sprained my wrist a few days ago and haven't had the chance to really rest it. So I'm doing this all on an increasingly aggravated injury.
Any advice for any of these problems?
1. I do not like strangers touching me.
Two older men touch me at work. It's nothing inappropriate, but it still makes me very uncomfortable. One is my general manager, and he pats everyone on the back. What makes this exceedingly uncomfortable for me is that he does it even when I'm already walking away, so he has to actually reach and make an unnatural motion just to pat me on the shoulder. It disgusts me and I don't like it at all. The other...I think it's just his thing to try and get in everyone's pants. Larry said I should talk to my general manager about how uncomfortable it makes me that the second guy touches me, and he got pretty annoyed when I laughed at him.
Some of my coworkers gently put a hand on my back or shoulder when they're coming up behind me and want me to move. That's okay. I've known them for a little while and recognize it as a friendly, "Hey, get the fuck out of my way." There aren't ever any creepy overtones. When someone did that the other day and I didn't freak out, I realized that my problems with my GM and the other coworker are more serious than I thought.
2. I don't respect any authority that doesn't deserve it.
Again, talking about my GM. He is a condescending, smarmy bastard. Last week, I was working the lunch shift. He and another woman from the office (sales, I think) sometimes have people for lunch when they are trying to sell them things. I tried to bring them menus, and he shook me off with a, "We're fine, hon" and wave of his hand. Not five minutes later, he sat down at a table with another man. About five minutes after that, I heard an annoyed, "Rachel, could we have some menus, please, hon?"
They didn't get me a nametag for about two weeks. And since I only have one work shirt, clean laundry is hard to come by when I have a wonky schedule like this week. As he walked by me today, he said, "You know, I got you a nametag." I said, "Yeah, I did laundry and forgot to put it back on. I'll get it tomorrow." "yeah, okay, just make sure you wear it." We BOTH started walking away, and then he reached out and patted my shoulder. UGH. I actually shuddered when he did that.
I'm also starting to have this problem with my manager, as well. She just got the manager position a couple weeks ago. She has a tendency to disappear, walk into a situation, and start criticizing everything you're doing wrong. Most of the time, these wrongs are on their way to being corrected, or they aren't entirely my fault, or they aren't my fault at all.
A week ago yesterday, she sent my friend and coworker home early because we were dead. I really didn't want her to go; it was 9 am on a Sunday morning. I figured we'd get slammed at 10...when church got out. And we did. My manager had told me to come find her if we got busy. We got slammed and I went looking for her and couldn't find her, so I started taking care of everyone myself. About 10 minutes later, as I was carrying a tray of food out, she said, "RACHEL! That table hasn't even gotten their drinks yet! Why haven't they gotten their drinks yet!?" I looked at her and said, "We got really busy and I went looking for you for help and I couldn't find you anywhere."
Kind of like the time she lectured me for not carrying a tray. I am hypoglycemic. It is very mild and is very manageable. I just have to eat regularly and take care of my body and I'm good to go. She got mad at me for carrying two plates (one in each hand) and going back for the third instead of carrying them on a tray. "Why aren't you carrying a tray? Isn't the kid eating?" "I have shaky hands and I would have dropped their food!" again, on the way out of the kitchen carrying things.
Probably I'll get a lecture on not being respectful enough soon. Cool. My job is run like a madhouse. If I didn't like the people I worked with so much, I'd quit.
Oh, and I sprained my wrist a few days ago and haven't had the chance to really rest it. So I'm doing this all on an increasingly aggravated injury.
Any advice for any of these problems?