I witnessed a retail employee being absolutely vile to an elderly man today

[Greenfinc]

This afternoon in a small branch of Lidl at the self service checkouts. Nobody was on the actual tills so no option to use them instead.

An elderly man needed some help scanning his shopping and was explaining to the employee overseeing the checkouts that he was partially sighted and was struggling to find the bar codes.

The employee was absolutely horrible to him saying being partially sighted doesn't mean he can't see and that there's a difference between being partially sighted and blind. Her attitude was vile.

She begrudgingly scanned his remaining items, as though he'd asked her to pay for them herself, and as he was collecting his change from the machine she sarcastically said "oh you managed to see that well enough did you"

I asked him if he needed any help and if he was ok and he explained that he'd had two surgeries on his eyes and couldn't see very well, and that he was only able to get about to the shop on his own as he knew and was used to it but struggled with the bar codes.

I told him I'd heard everything that woman had said to him and that I'm going to contact the head office about her and report exactly what I'd heard. He said he didn't want to make a fuss and that she was clearly just looking for an argument.

WIBU to report her to her employer regardless? I feel really sad about it and don't think somebody like that should be in a customer facing role working with members of the public. Horrible bully.

Can't believe you didn't call her out immediately!

I would have intervened and definitely alerted management to what a vile women they had working for them.
Poor man 🙁

Op might not have wanted to embarrass the man by saying something on the spot but my good I would def report, what an arsehole!

I've made a report through the Lidl website but I'm not sure where exactly it'll go so I will go back tomorrow and ask to speak to the manager there personally.

I actually took a picture of the employee as her name badge was half rubbed off so wouldn't have been able to identify her properly otherwise.

If she behaves like that at work then I dread to think what she's like when she's not.

As to why I didn't say something to her at the time, I'm not completely sure to be honest. A few reasons. I had my children with me and chose to speak to the man instead rather than cause a scene. The security guard was stood within earshot he must have heard some of it but said nothing at all 😔

I'm amazed you managed to hold back at the time. I'd have bollocked her and reported her afterwards.

It sounds like my nearest branch which I avoid because the staff are awful, mainly the manager who is always rolling her eyes and huffing.

Report her, that poor man.

It's not necessarily the right thing to do to call out the behaviour at the time as the victim might be mortified and further upset by that.
Speaking to them and comforting them, and complaining through the correct channels afterwards, is absolutely the right thing to do.

How upsetting. I witnessed a young man being absolutely vile to an elderly lady at the till of a garden shop cafe and it really stayed with me so I understand how it made you feel.

I've made a report through the Lidl website but I'm not sure where exactly it'll go

If you gave enough detail about her they will do something.

I reported a couple of issues at my local store early one morning. I happened to go back later the day and both issues had been resolved.

This afternoon in a small branch of Lidl at the self service checkouts. Nobody was on the actual tills so no option to use them instead.

Not the point of the thread, but for future purposes, if you do need/want the actual tills: there's usually one with the number lit up in green that is supposed to be open. A member of staff comes over if a customer goes there and starts laying their shopping out.

Hi @Greenfinc I would tweet them as well. That would probably the fastest way to solve the issue. The staff member sounds awful.

I have been him - a couple of years ago I had surgery on both eyes, and struggled with my sight afterwards. To be fair, I'd have firmly put the women in her place even then, but yes, you should complain. I have been the disabled person in a shop (looking at you Tesco's, TWICE - which is why I don't shop with them at all now) when I have literally been abused for having a disability and not one person, staff or customer, stepped up to support me. There are still some bloody awful people around and they should be challenged. It isn't just about being assertive - sometimes you get so very fed up of having to be, when so many people turn away and won't get involved. Well done you for stepping up, and do report her.

That is absolutely disgusting, I hope its taken seriously

FWIW I don't think you did anything "wrong" by not approaching her there and then. He may have been embarassed or upset if someone interjected and it escalated. The most important thing is the support for him, not an altercation with her. Her employer can deal with that.

Appalling behaviour, but Lidl dont seem bothered about customer service full stop. Even at checkouts stony faced staff throw shopping down faster than the speed of light, and demand money rudely whilst your still trying to pack. I refuse to shop there, your not made to feel welcome.

Twitter is a good idea. I've just sent them a tweet.

[email protected]
Is the CEO. Thats where I'd be sending my email.

Thank you that's very helpful, I'll forward the complaint to him now.

I would absolutely report her.

My dad is registered blind but still retains some very poor partial site. Glaucoma.
I have taken over doing the supermarket shop for him because he finds it exceptionally difficult.
Id absolutely do my nut if I thought someone treated him like that, or anyone under those circumstances actually.

She doesnt deserve your the protection of silence. Little cow.

Sorry - the protection of silence / your silence.
My annoyance screwed up my sentence!

Good for you for reporting her.
I'd have confronted her while she was doing it - but that's me and not everyone is like me.
Absolutely vile woman.

REPORT HER. Did you get her name? Record all details (time, place, etc) so that she is easy to identify - describe her and put in her words verbatim.

As a there and then you did the right thing in not causing a fuss so as not to upset the gentleman, after all for all we know if you had of said something he may have spent time this afternoon worring about it.

But, yes you've definitely done the right thing in reporting her, while no shop worker is a servant to any customer they are 100% there to serve them, and she failed in that respect.

He said he didn't want to make a fuss and that she was clearly just looking for an argument.

and presumably you have no way of contacting him

So zero evidence and the victim isn’t reporting.

It won’t get anywhere oP.

Yes please report her. That poor man, things are difficult enough for the elderly. That could have been one of my parents. Hopefully a comaint won't make it worse for him. Poor soul. What an evil bitch.

I’d have reported her after blasting her myself. If I ever see rude employees I always call them out immediately I can’t help myself, I do the same if it’s a rude customer too.

Thankyou for reporting her. I hope Lidl respond appropriately.

I've just had a look at the main blindness charity websites none of them seem to have an option for reporting discrimination, which is a shame. The Guide Dogs has one for access refusals and, if required, escalates them further via training / reports to council etc. So I assumed others may do something similar.

What exactly does this mean?