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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is ridiculous

192 replies

Sparkly212 · 06/03/2020 15:47

DS (18) works in retail at the weekends. He has had a hard time since he got This job last summer with his new manager who started a few months ago and another bitchy two faced colleague who thinks she is better than everyone else and who outshines herself to make her look the best.

Anyway, I’ll not get into that, DS has been told by his manager that as soon as a customer enters the shop, he needs to approach the customer and ask them if they’d like any help. AIBU to find this ridiculous?

I know myself that when I go to shops I don’t like the staff annoying me as soon as I come in, I’d expect them to give me a minute or two and if I’m still there and haven’t approached the staff myself, I’d have expected them to ask me if I’m okay and if I need any help.

DS’ manager has told DS that it is unacceptable to leave a customer for a minute or two when they come in as they may feel ignored and then leave. Yes nobody should ignore a customer - but is it really necessary to hassle a customer as soon as they enter? Surely that would piss them off more?

OP posts:
Zaphodsotherhead · 06/03/2020 17:24

Who told you he was 'only a minute late back from break'? Him? I suspect it was probably more like five, and it's incredibly annoying when you're on a till and need back up and your opposite number is stretching their break until it squeaks...

I'd suggest you stop taking any notice of what he says. He may, shocking as it may seem, not be telling you the whole truth.

12345kbm · 06/03/2020 17:24

I suggest you hire a helicopter and hover over the shop when he's working, now and again at show window level so they know you're keeping an eye on things. Shout, loudly through a megaphone if you see any infractions and cover him in a space blanket as soon as he clocks off.

HoffiCoffi13 · 06/03/2020 17:28

It doesn’t matter what you think about it, what he thinks about it or even what the customer thinks about it. That’s what his manager is telling him to do and that’s what he needs to do.

Dashel · 06/03/2020 17:30

It really doesn’t matter if 1000 people all said that they hated being approached as soon as they enter the store, all that matters is that your son does as his boss asks. It’s a reasonable request and other employees seem to do it. I haven’t always agreed with bosses and there is a time and place to reason with them but a first NMW job in retail isn’t it.

I would suggest he finds another job as this one doesn’t seem to appeal to him and you need to encourage him that unfortunately in this suituation it’s a do as his boss says and his opinions don’t matter.

ShrimpSymphony · 06/03/2020 17:30

I worked in retail for years and this was a requirement of the job. We hated it but had to do it

BobbyBlueCat · 06/03/2020 17:31

It's standard now in most shops (especially chain stores).

Firstly, it helps prevent shoplifting. If people know they've been acknowledged entering a store and that staff are proactively 'floor-walking' they feel more watched and it reduced theft.

Secondly, it's head office directed and forms part of their mystery shopper scores. If they do not acknowledge the mystery shopper on entry, they deduct points.
If your son wants a bollocking for fucking up that months mystery shop and dropping the ranking of that branch then crack on spouting shite to him. Because it won't endear him to any of his colleagues, that's for sure.

No, shoppers don't like it a lot of the time. But that's the nature of retail and the staff aren't doing it because they want to. It's part of their mandatory role in the store.

If he doesn't like it, he can get another job.

But I suggest mummy leaves the 18 year old to fight his own battles.

crosspelican · 06/03/2020 17:32
  1. It's his job, so he needs to pay attention to his manager's requirements, not what his Mum thinks is reasonable.
  1. "Bitchy" colleague is there to work and do well. He would do well to emulate or surpass her. She is setting the bar.
  1. Approaching customers when they enter the store is proven to reduce shoplifting, or at least that was the thinking a few years ago. It is a practical tactic.
Doubletrouble99 · 06/03/2020 17:32

I've only read the first page so I'm going back to the original question. As a former Retail manager of over 30 years experience can I suggest that if the manager told him he needed to ask customers if he could help them as soon as they walk into the shop then she needs her head examined.
The sort of thing he should say is ' Hi you alright? My names's James, if there's anything you need to know just ask'. No one is going to say 'no thanks, I'm just looking' to that.

SapphireSalute · 06/03/2020 17:34

We employ quite a few younger staff. We have actually had parents come on to complain about various aspects of their teens job

It happens!!

We recently had a Dad accompany his 8 yr old did to interview and was most put out to not be allowed

We get parents ring in sick for them too. It’s embarrassing

Doggybiccys · 06/03/2020 17:35

@BobbyBlueCat has nailed it. My DS did hollister for a bit and was told the same. Also had to suggest things eg customer picks up t shirt - DS - “these jeans would look great with that” (said in uplifting tone). I hate it too but retail is a tough gig now - my DS now works in a bar and loves it.

Doggybiccys · 06/03/2020 17:36

@SapphireSalute - 8 - hope that’s a typo Grin

MadameButterface · 06/03/2020 17:36

Yikes

Sparklypurpleunicornsaremyfav · 06/03/2020 17:38

I work on retail, we have to acknowledge a customer within 1 min of them entering the store. Doesn't mean we harass them, we just usually say let me know if you need help, most customers are happy to know we've noticed them 🤷🏻‍♀️

JudyCoolibar · 06/03/2020 17:38

I agree that I absolutely hate being hassled by store staff, more so if it's as soon as I step through the door - if anything it's guaranteed to make me turn round and go out.

However, if that's the instruction it does seem to me that your son needs to suck it up and comply. Being expected to comply with instructions like this isn't bullying.

WorraLiberty · 06/03/2020 17:39

I've only read the first page so I'm going back to the original question. As a former Retail manager of over 30 years experience can I suggest that if the manager told him he needed to ask customers if he could help them as soon as they walk into the shop then she needs her head examined.

Irrelevant, because he still needs to do as his manager says.

WalkingDeadTrainee · 06/03/2020 17:41

I always wondered where do these "You are bullying me!" after simply asking them to do their job people get it from.

You are not doing him any favours there. He needs to learn to respect authority other than yours and that company policies are to be respected unless ridiculous. It's not like they are asking him to slap people.

I also get where the company gets this "greet and acknowledge immediately" from. You wouldn't believe how many people get in a huff and actually complain to HQ that they were ignored if they are not taken care of as soon as they get out of the car in a car park🙄

scotlandtobali · 06/03/2020 17:41

No offence but you need to step away and let him worry about it. I think it would be a bit overbearing for my mother to be so involved in a job which is presumably not going to be his long term career. Does he tell you every single detail about his 8 hr shift? Just the usual 'how was work son'? 'It was good thanks Mum, busy though' should be the extent of the conversation. I wouldn't even tell my mum if my boss had asked me to do an element of my job which is pretty standard - customer service in a customer service role. Sorry I find your investment in this matter quite bizarre, surely there are other things to debate over. Is your son happy that you are posting on mumsnet about this and asking people if his boss is being unreasonable? She probably got the instruction from higher up that all staff should greet customers when they enter shop.

Toybox88 · 06/03/2020 17:41

It's nothing to do with you

WorraLiberty · 06/03/2020 17:44

The only one doing any bullying was the OP's son, who was messaging a new starter to tell them he thinks his colleague is a bitch.

He'd better pray those messages have been deleted.

CalleighDoodle · 06/03/2020 17:45

When i worked in retail one person was always rotad on the door. we greeted all customers at the door with a good morning / afternoon / hello. Goodbye when they left. Always smiley.

JRUIN · 06/03/2020 17:45

One of my pet hates is being pounced on as soon as I enter a shop, but if that's what your DS has been told to do then he's just going to have to do it isn't he?

ShesCurly · 06/03/2020 17:48

Hopefully from the responses on here you can see that you were being very unreasonable to think your son doesn't need to adhere to the rules that exist to everyone at work.

From your other thread he has behaved far worse than her, by your own admission after leaning on a colleague he then calling her a bitch to other people online when he decided he doesn't like her after all. The cheek of her, not wanting to cover the extra time he might want to spend on breaks!

You're the gift that keeps on giving - tell him to put his hazards on Grin

viques · 06/03/2020 17:48

she has no right to gossip about him

Quite right, gossiping and bitching about staff at the shop where your son works is your job OP, and what's more they they ought to be damn grateful you are prepared to do it for free and on your own time.

Tossers the lot of them.

myrtleWilson · 06/03/2020 17:49

I'd quite like to outshine myself... it sounds like the creation story for a new Avengers character

Howmanysleepsnow · 06/03/2020 17:50

The owners are paying him to do a job. Part of that job is to approach customers. They will have put thought into their policy on this and decided on it for a reason. It is neither your company, nor your son’s, so your views on how best to run it are irrelevant.
If your son wants paying to do a job, he needs to do the job. He can’t choose to just do the 75% of the job that suits him for 100% of the money.