To wish supermarket staff were a bit more glamorous.

[SurferJet]

Obviously this is lighthearted - but strolling through Tesco earlier I thought how much nicer it would be if the staff had a touch of glamour about them - supermarket shopping is such a boring drudge isn't it, & I for one would be so cheered up if the staff were a bit more 'Hollywood' - obviously it doesn't have to be the full Audrey Hepburn or James Bond - but maybe a step up from dowdy overalls.

Anyone else?

As i said, the comment comes across badly. It wasnt your intent but the delivery. "Wouldnt touch with a barge pole" usually (ImE anyway) is about something that disgusts you. I know thats not what you meant but thats what the comment conjures up. To me anyway.

And i am not picking on you! It was that one line i quoted. I have no issue with you.

what a nasty thread!

Wrong? About what? Saying the line comes across badly? It does.

A woman working in our Tesco metro about the same time had FOAD tattooed on her knuckles

Muddha I was surprised to see a woman with similarly tattooed knuckles on the checkout in my local Sainsbury's. That wouldn't generally be allowed in a customer-facing environment. She was a more than acceptable member of staff. If they had a suggestion box, I'd congratulate her and them.

Customers don't want the staff to look better than them

limited can you expand on this a bit more? That's never really occurred to me, as a customer I aim to get in and out as quickly as possible without any fuss - I don't think I've ever noticed anyone or anything whilst in store.

I wear a Uniform (NHS not retail) but it's every bit as nylony and unglam (well the top is Polycotton and the trousers are M&S Limited Collection because I bought the trousers)

I have to work in odd, uncomfortable situations (and be Professional and smile)

I put a load of stock away (see, I'm multi talented)

What I didn;t appreciate was having a complaint made about me because I wasn't wearing a dress. Hopefully my manager told the dirty old git to FOTTFSOFATFOSM.

As a supermarket employee working on checkouts and costumer service I'm at this thread. Me and all of my colleagues are clean, tidy, we all wear our hair neatly up if it's long, some of us wear make up, some prefer not to, all our uniforms are clean and ironed, none of us are scruffy, we are all just well presented but the more important matter is we do our jobs and do it well.

We aren't cabin crew or beauticians ffs

limited that was a really interesting post re. the bank. I think you have a point.

MrsDV for what it's worth, I understood you.

I had a cotton uniform when I worked as a cook, and a polyester one when I worked as a waiter. The cotton was far easier to work in and clean. Polyester is sweaty and can't be put in a boil wash. It also melts (potentially burning the wearer) if exposed to flame. I get quite cross about polyester uniforms, if I'm honest.

I never knew that people who are happy to do MW jobs were viewed so lowly until I joined MN.

It depends on where you live etc if you can look 'glam' earning Min Wage.

You can also take pride in the fact that you're supporting yourself, less money doesn't mean less intelligent/capable people, who shouldn't have any standards.

I had some of my best working times, behind the counter of an off licence and as a kitchen hand/server in a small restaurant. The job entailed no mental stress what-so ever.

Im thinking of dropping out of Social Care completely, I downgraded as it was and I'm thinking about retail, when I go back to work after illness. The wages are on a par and you don't have the emotional worry about the stock when you go home.

I personally don't like glam looking staff, whether it's in a shop, or hospital, tbh.

I work in retail (now) and I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole if I didn't have to.

It's nothing to do with the staff - in fact it's my colleagues that make it bearable for me - but it's a physically demanding, low-paid, dull job.

Not offended that others wouldn't touch it with a bargepole if they didn't have to. Sounds like common sense to me.

My DS uniform is black trousers which he buys himself

That would concern me. Does his employer make him buy his own uniform or is it his choice? Sometimes the official uniform is unsuitable which makes workers customise it at their own expense - the British Army are still arguing about this about items of clothing, such as body armour, that soldiers thought unfit for purpose in warzones and so bought their own.

That's obviously an extreme reason why people might have a beef about cheap corporate uniforms, but the principle is the same.

I realise it happens, but that is not the hallmark of a good employer to dress staff in poor clothing. Last time that happened to me, I was at school and they were not my employers.

When I as a student (mentioned not so you know I have a 'better' job now, but to give you an idea of it not having been recently) I worked in maccy D's. My sister, who worked in Safeway, looked down on my shit(tier) part time job.

I had health and safety duties that involved doing audits to check everyone's trousers were baggy and unflattering enough.

What a fucking awful thread

In my local Tesco's, the staff are almost permanently in fancy dress costumes - but usually innapropriate for the season/holiday. My favourite was the zombie a couple of Christmasses ago. And the 1960s are a firm favourite amongst the staff, either hippy peace child or Vietnam style - complete with camouflage face paint, neckties worn around the head, Rambo style.

Baffling indeed, but I fit right in when they have onesie days.

My ds requested full white tie and tails, but it's a bastard to get spilt beer out.
Usual he has to buy his own trousers too.

YABU. A lot of shop work is actually quite physical, and the bloody thing gets covered in flour, alcohol, juice from rotting potatoes etc. It needs to be easily washed and easy to move round in.

Mind you he did refuse to wear the bright red T Shirt with a printed bow tie on it

DS works in well known supermarket chain (purple/orange ugh ugh but at least they get free trousers )

He shits a brick every rednosesportreliefchristmaseve in case anyone makes him wear deely boppers or reindeer antlers

limited can you expand on this a bit more? That's never really occurred to me, as a customer I aim to get in and out as quickly as possible without any fuss - I don't think I've ever noticed anyone or anything whilst in store.

Maybe you don't adrenalinefudge, and I'd hope that most people don't either, but lots of people do.

Retail is about persuading people to buy. That's not tricking them into spending money, but a lot depends on making them feel good about themselves. How many times have you heard people saying they don't feel welcome in shops because the staff are snooty? Are they really snooty? If so, don't buy there. But do people really mean: 'She gave off an indefinable air of being better than me and I didn't like it.'

I read things on MN and elsewhere where people have said they hate a shop because the assistant says: 'Good morning, Madam'. Most lately it happens on here when someone objects to a checkout person making small talk that makes the poster feel judged. It's an instruction from the company, no more, no less.

I've never worked in retail but I share body fluids with someone who does and I believe him when he says a career in international diplomacy is better paid and has nicer travel prospects.