To think it's U to make us stand all day?

[FedupofbeingtoldIcantusemyname]

I work part time in retail.

I've somebody various jobs before where standing and walking for the entirety of a shift (anything from 8-14hrs) is an absolutely necessity.

However, in my current job there is at least an a possibility that we could sit down whilst on the till but we aren't allowed - why?

The tills are in such an area of the shop that you could fit high stools behind the till area and no one needs to walk through so there is no reason why, practically, you couldn't have chairs there.

Aibu to think they are U to not allow us chairs? Me and several other colleagues have to work 9-10hrs shifts which is a long time on your feet

I worked in retail for a good few years and had the same argument as you about sitting down. I was told that they couldn't give you a chair becauise if so, it meant you were doing a more of an office job and therefore should be on a higher salary. Could be complete shit but still now, my husband (who works at the place I also did) still doesnt get to sit down other than on his alloted breaks. The only time I saw someone able to sit down on the shop floor was when they had a back problem and a letter from the GP.

As a customer it wouldn't bother me to see an assistant perched on a stool or whatever behind a till, though obviously seeing someone lounging around in a comfy chair would be a bit off-putting. I think its about having an air of being attentive to the customer.

Many moons ago I had a job that involved going to trade shows. Those stands where the reps were always on their feet looked far more professional than those where they sat around between customers.

My company insisting on people standing all the time you were in public, but they did provide a screened-off area with a chair.

They also didn't allow eating or drinking in public, and chewing gum was a disciplinary offence.

it's ridiculous my DH used to work as a hotel receptionist with a shit from 7am-3pm and he was expected to stand for all of this, with only a short lunch break, and most shops I go into have the staff standing behind the tills, I don't think wow they look so smart there standing behind that till... though the wilkinsons shop where I live all the staff at the till have swivel chairs to sit on and I don't walk in and think oh they look so unprofessional sitting. I personally cant see why shops don't provide either stools or chairs for staff to rest their feet for a while.

shift not shit typo error there.

YANBU
I am a fainter,and if it's too hot or I am stood in one spot for too long I faint.
I think it doesn't matter whether you are standing or sitting,as long as you are doing your job.

I know a few places where people at the tills sit in chairs, but not all. It tends to be supermarket style tills, not those where you may have to move around a bit or even between tills.

Do you have access to Occupational Medicine?

As a customer I'd like a list of shops where the staff can sit down and would go there. Support the right to sit, kind of thing.

YANBU.

I think the thing with sitting is that it doesn't look as if you are poised to help - and step away to help the customer if needs be.

No need for this in a supermarket as they have a runner on foot available at the ding of a bell to come help. In smaller shops and hotels there isn't such a person. So the cashier or receptionist has to be more mobile and look to the customer to be able to walk out and help.

Obviously those of us that do the job (me included) know it takes no more effort to move than standing up still but it can look to the customer as if you have to stay put.

What about waitresses and bar staff? There are plenty of jobs where you don't get a seat.

I've been a waitress, worked in a department store and been a receptionist - in all of them I had to stand all the way through the shift, but the worst was the one where I had to stand still. Waitressing is fine as you're moving all the time. Reception / standing all day at a till is more painful on the legs ime. Also, as a waitress I got breaks.

I worked on a till once where we weren't allowed to sit...or lean.

We were literally supposed to be stood to attention at all times, even with one customer in the building who was out of sight

Standing still at a till is a killer. Especially on a hard floor. Walking around, provided you can wear the right shoes, is quite a bit better.

Walking around is much easier on the feet than standing in one spot!

I work in a supermarket and only get to sit down during my break.

But I don't really notice because I am constantly walking around, I couldn't stand still for 8 hours. The checkouts have chairs here.

I used to work for a shop where we stood at the tills. A few years later I went back as a customer and felt a pang of jealousy that they now had chairs! Could the union make a case? I mainly used to work short shifts, 3.5 hours (because if you work 4 you get a paid break!) but 8-14 hours would have hurt!

I agree standing still is harder than walking around all day - and psychologically harder if you are standing knowing you could do your job just as well sitting but that you have to stand because your company policy is to be unpleasant to employees and ensure they are as uncomfortable as possible :(

I work in care atm and often don't get my break or a chance to sit on a chair, but it is not hard on the legs because I am always moving, and I do sit on the floor when helping residents with shoes and socks or caring for their feet - some of the residents feel sorry for me sitting on the floor but I am quite happy to have a minute's sit down :o I think officially we are probably meant to crouch, but it is certainly not enforced.

I've never noticed this! It is ridiculous and excessive control over employees to decree that they can't sit when they are doing a job where there is no practical or logical reason not to IMO. I've been thinking about it and where I live now, in Germany, every single supermarket I ever go into has seated cashiers on the supermarket tils - even Aldi where sometimes two ultra efficient staff sometimes seem to be running a whole large supermarket alone, with one on till one and the other rushing between manning till two and re-stocking as needed (everyone says with apparent authority that you have to be fit and energetic to work in Aldi, but that it actually pays quite lot better than the more expensive supermarkets - they still sit when on the till though, on a high swivel stool)

I've never even thought, as a customer, about the fact they sit til now - but I certainly agree with Paradise that now I've cottoned on I will pay attention and actively choose to shop where employees are treated with a bit of human decency and allowed to sit!

If you're doing stock and tills and must be available to help customers anywhere in the store at a moments notice the chairs are probably removed to discourage people from just sitting at tils. I worked for a bank that had a similar no chairs policy for meeting and greeting clients. Unfortunately it you don't like it the only thing you can do is leave.

YANBU. I can't understand why any shop would make people stand behind the till. They should be given stools. Standing up for long shifts is bad for people. I couldn't work in any job where I had to stand (back surgery) but most middle aged people would find standing all day exhausting. I would sign a petition for retail staff to be allowed to sit where practical.