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Dd wants to stop working because of rude customers

204 replies

Dricol · 27/08/2024 12:23

Dd (16) is a lovely girl, hates confrontation and is a people pleaser. She has had a part time job for a few months. Enjoys it for the most part but really struggles with rude customers. So much so she now wants to quit. Dh is okay with this but I’m hoping these experiences will toughen her up.

For example, yesterday she had a less than perfect experience but nothing to get upset over. A child had dropped a plastic toy that looks like a doctor’s instrument set. Dd rushed over to help pick up as she thought it was real and said something like “oh phew, I thought it was real.” Which made the 5 or 6 year old child burst out crying and the mother saying something like “well it is to her”. Apparently this child cried for 20 minutes and kept pointing at her. Anyway this upset dd. She says her cheeks were burning red the entire time they were sat in the shop. Her place of work is in a hospital.

She often has people asking her to let her off money that goes over whole pounds. We found out she was eventually saying yes and the putting in 5p/2p from her own purse! It’s a charity so dd felt obliged and felt awkward as some adults were really pushing her to the point she decribed it as “borderline begging”. For the sake of pence. She said it shocks her how tight some of the customers are.

Anyway, should we let her quit because the experience can occasionally be unpleasant. I’m against it. Dh thinks she’s given it a go. We’re proud she has been able to get up very early, transport herself to work and just generally get on with everything with minimal fuss.

I'm conflicted as I would love her to address her people pleasing ways.

OP posts:
DefyingDepravity · 27/08/2024 12:38

Great damage can be done by forcing people to remain in situations they find upsetting and that they do not yet possess the skills to cope with - and the 'yet' is everything.

She can build on these skills but from what you've described, she is not able to manage this specific environment: hospitals are very tough places where you're constantly dealing with the best and worst of people, usually on the best and worst days of their life. It is not for everyone.

I would let her get out as soon as possible with no shame. Then, I'd look for a much more sheltered job opportunity to help her rebuild her confidence, gain some self esteem, and to work on her skills.

TonyeKnausgaard · 27/08/2024 12:33

I've trained a lot of newbies at customer service in my life. Some people can deal with horrible customers and some people find it soul destroying. You can learn to toughen up, of course. But I believe it's a natural gift for being able to handle nasty people. Some people are just not cut out for it.

Which is understandable because the general public can be borderline evil at times.

cupcaske123 · 27/08/2024 12:29

I think it's a great opportunity to help her.

I suggest acting out some of the scenarios she's encountered and working out some assertive strategies to deal with them. For example, she could learn some polite stock phrases to deal with the tight customers so she's not left floundering for something to say.

CaptainMyCaptain · 27/08/2024 12:25

I think it's up to her if she wants to give it up. Don't force her to stay but if she wants to help her with strategies to say no to CFs.

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