..in which we stand up for ourselves.
I've always been very passive in a work environment. It usually take me a long time to do somthing about a situation that's bothering me. Especially if I'm in a new(ish) job situation, part of me is afraid I'll be labled as a complainer, and thus get less hours.
Today I changed that habit.
At Sears, I've mostly been working in the Tools department, I know nothing about tools, but the customers always assume that whoever is there will have the answer to whatever question they have. Now there are employees who's job it is to "know about tools". However they are often off in various parts of the dept helping customers, while I am generaly standing at the register. It is also a fact about retail that people come in waves. It is not uncommon for several people to show up all at once, all needing help. So I will often (at least 2-3 times an hour) have several people asking me (simultaneously) for things that I can not help them with, and then getting upset when I either; try to find someone who can help them, or answer as best as my knowledge will alow.
So today I told my boss all of this and said that I would rather not work in the tools dept. anymore. I did say that I would work there if they really needed me to, but that I really wasnt comfortable there.
She seemed very receptive to my issues, which I appreciated. Of course this may still result in a loss in hours, but I still have the Games by James job, and it's still early enough in the holiday season that if (worse case scenario) Sears cuts me back to practically 0 I can still find a replacement 2nd job
Today I changed that habit.
At Sears, I've mostly been working in the Tools department, I know nothing about tools, but the customers always assume that whoever is there will have the answer to whatever question they have. Now there are employees who's job it is to "know about tools". However they are often off in various parts of the dept helping customers, while I am generaly standing at the register. It is also a fact about retail that people come in waves. It is not uncommon for several people to show up all at once, all needing help. So I will often (at least 2-3 times an hour) have several people asking me (simultaneously) for things that I can not help them with, and then getting upset when I either; try to find someone who can help them, or answer as best as my knowledge will alow.
So today I told my boss all of this and said that I would rather not work in the tools dept. anymore. I did say that I would work there if they really needed me to, but that I really wasnt comfortable there.
She seemed very receptive to my issues, which I appreciated. Of course this may still result in a loss in hours, but I still have the Games by James job, and it's still early enough in the holiday season that if (worse case scenario) Sears cuts me back to practically 0 I can still find a replacement 2nd job