God, some people are LOVING this, aren't they?...

[Miljea]

They're, for example, the local Tesco queue 'managers' who are actually doing this ✋ in people's faces, well within 2m of them, eyes ablazing, missionary zeal within their hearts- who are using zero common sense, when everyone is already doing the best they can in a Tesco Local, to stay apart.

You invaded my space (and that of the 'one out' I was about to replace by being 'one in') in dashing out 🤚 and stopping me entering your store because I stepped forward to wipe the handles of my basket. A good 2m from anyone, except you. As invited to do so, by your big sign.

You stood in 4 people's space. Me, you, the couple exiting the shop.

Use your intelligence. Like stand outside the store door, like your colleague suggested to you, under a balcony, on a beautiful day. And like the usual security guard manages.

We're all under pressure. We're all stressed. And in classic MN fashion, I PPE up close to actual Covid patients, every day.

So don't be a dick, Tesco assistant.

I wonder if the supermarket guy was stopping you from going in because there was someone heading down Aisle One to replenish and he wanted to keep you away from them. 'One in one out' might not work if they need a bit of a gap between people for any reason.

We actually have to close the shop for half hour periods during the day in order to get stuff on the shelves because we can't restock with anyone in the shop!

Let's say he was enjoying it. What does it cost you to let him wave you in? Bugger all.

You wait, go in when waved at, shop, go home. Never think of it again.

I really don't think anyone in retail is enjoying this at the moment, to be honest.

I was collecting my shop today (retail worker but off work due to being vulnerable) and saw a man giving this poor worker a tonne of abuse outside the shop. I went over and tried to get her away from him by pretending I needed help but she offered to get someone else so I said it was okay and not to worry. He was absolutely furious I dared approach him while he was ranting and raving. I just feel bad she was actually being very professional and didn't 'take the bait'.

Some people are behaving like deranged animals and I honestly can't blame staff members for making mistakes or losing their patience. It's horrendous.

I think they’re probably just sick to death of having a mind numbingly boring and repetitive job combined with stress of the whole situation.

I got mildly told off by the cashier in m&s yesterday for not standing on the line (didn’t see it) but I was able to apologise and laugh about it - she was clearly very on edge and not enjoying her job atm.

I wonder if this is Tesco specific.

The 'queue manager' at my local Tesco is absolutely loving the power he's suddenly found himself with, including barking - yes barking - at the woman in front of me to move up queue and get directly under the arrow, despite that taking her closer than 2m to the person in front of her.

I could see the flecks of spit flying from his mouth in the sunlight as he shouted, and landing directly on her.

Fucking bellend.

They have a very difficult and boring job. I always say thank you as they wave me up the travelator and on my way past on my way out. A smile and a word of appreciation costs you nothing

All supermarket workers are doing a great job. In my local supermarket they are being so friendly and they're troopers. OP, it's really hard for anyone to keep the distance in the supermarket, in my local everyone seems too busy shopping than bothering how close they stand to anyone. I don't get angry at people if they are close to me as there's simply not enough space to spread out. This guy managing the queue had probably had a rotten day with people being off hand with him. Or maybe he's just an baffoon.

@Miljea poor bloke, fancy having to not stay at home and risk his and his family's life just to keep you fed.

Remember the old adage, if you ain't part of the solution, you are part of the problem.

My experience of going to the shops (3 times so far) is that a lot of the staff seem to be very lax about the rules when it comes to distancing. Everytime I've been to a supermarket, I've had at least one member of staff walk right up next to me while picking something off a shelf.

A friend of mine has to do this at Waitrose and hates it. She’s so stressed. Says she spends her entire shift telling people to get back because they’re not respecting a 2m space from her. They distance from each other but seem to treat her like some sort of insignificant person and dash forward to grab a basket/trolley as she’s still wiping them.

Op, you said yourself you weren’t 2m from the Tesco employee when you stepped forward......they obviously felt you were too close. Why did you think it was ok?

Neighbourhood watch are loving it. People who take it up themselves to be interim police officers are loving it (we have a man with a clipboard round here!!).

Key workers are not loving it. They’re scared and they’re keeping our weird world turning at the moment. Slagging them off on mumsnet is absolutely not in the spirit.

In any situation there will always be some staff that haven't the confidence to enforce necessary rules, some who seem to relish a bit a power and others who can communicate well.

Sometimes it's easy to mix the first two up. The one that is stood back may not have the confidence to step forward OR maybe doesn't care. A good customer will always behave as though it's the former.

The one in your face could be someone who (at minimum wage) is relishing a bit of power. Or may have been given strict instructions, be feeling scared (already having been verbally abused by customers) and is trying to get it right. A good customer always acts as though it's the latter.

The one who gets it right, enforces the rules but exchanges good wishes, a bit of banter and has an easy smile - won't be in that job long (unless they love it) because they are lucky enough to have that 'something' that means they will get to where they want to be.

Don't be the dick that makes their job harder - and if you do happen to meet the wrong person then just accept that they are having a bad time/day/month and smile and do as you are told.

You don't know - they may just have lost someone close to them

I get your point went to petrol station shop empty cashier behind screen and a desk type of thing so you are about a metre form the screen SHOUTED card down and back behind the line . Then SHOUTED wait then waved me forward to enter pin number.
It was the power crazied attitude and shouting the screen was free standing and a more square metre didn't block any sound out he wasn't deaf as heard me speaking ok .

Omg, give the OP a break. I work on a critical care Covid ward and find that less stressful than going to Tesco at the moment. The levels of policing are bordering on hysteria.

I’m with the tough job pp can’t be pleasant atm.

I haven't seen any supermarket queue managers enjoying it. They seem quite stressed to me.

Thankfully most customers round here seem to respect them, although I have seen a couple of dickheads.

My DD is currently working in Tesco as a picker for home delivery. It is an odd atmosphere there at the moment. Not at all easy.

This is because someone put their hand up to signal for you to step back?

op....i'm pretty sure you can do better at your job.....so do it

I feel sorry for retail staff and although the guy at my waitrose means well, he stands behind me at the self service checkout and repeats everything the automated voice says
"put the item in the basket"
"please select your payment type"

He must do it because the machine must confuse people... makes me laugh.

I was speaking to one of them and she was telling me about the abuse they get e.g someone shouting at her telling her she's disgusting cause she wasn't wearing a mask... People are mental, glad I don't have to deal with the public.

Not my experience at all- I have found retail staff - especialy in Tesco- to be professional and respectful.

It's a pretty tough job they are doing.

Christ. Imagine being the poor sod that morning clocking on & heading down to the checkouts to be told “you are on queue manager duty this morning”
Your heart must sink, especially when you then have some people shouting at you in public & others bitching about you online.

Wind your neck in OP. That poor person has hundreds of people getting close to them every shift.
the 'one out' I was about to replace by being 'one in'
For future reference you wait to be waved forward rather than taking it upon yourself to go forward when you see another person leave. Haven’t seen any other store do otherwise so if you weren’t waved forward you shouldn’t have gone, regardless if it was just to prep the handle in advance.

I do think it’s up to the people not having to work to be particularly nice to essential workers. Must be hard to be up against it all with the public.

Actually the two-metre guy in my local branch today was a friend's son and he was doing a great job. You sound like a misery.