Should we be kinder to supermarket employees?

[TheQuirkyMaker]

I saw a young girl in tears last night, I said if a customer had upset her she should report it, she said it was a supervisor who had had a 'go' at her. We had a chat, she explained they are all on short hours, no proper contracts, and are constantly harried by work apps (there is apparently an app that checks their picking rate).
Should we accept paying a little bit more to make peoples lives better?

Sorry I fell for it! Have the other threads been deleted then?

I've voted unreasonable....but only because in the example you gave her issue is not with customers being unkind but is with unrealistic and poor working practices. I'm always kind to everyone, but me smiling and chatting to them isn't going to help them in the longer time but directing your frustrations at the corporation might have more impact.

The parking one is still alive and kicking.

Hahaah, they apparently think the OP posted it on the wrong thread.

But strange to say the OP requested to withdraw the comment, based on an assumption 🤔

Maybe this is another one of those threads MNHQ are suspected as starting themselves for engagement.

Having worked on the supplier side for a large supermarket, if they treat their staff the way they treat their supply chain, 'being kinder' is not going to make one iota of difference. Their corporate culture was atrocious. From that day to this, I refuse to spend my money there.

Or she took the job she was offered because she needed money to live? I doubt it's her dream job.

If she was on benefits before hand I doubt many would take kindly to her turning it down!

I agree with the person who said we should be polite to others.

I do think that there is one area where the law could make one thing easier for retail staff in general. A complete end to zero hours contracts or any that are one in all but name. Shop hours are known and consistent, so shops can plan for staff properly.

Always am polite and say thank you, treat woth respect. Anyone who doesn't is an arsehole. Xx

I’m happy to pay more if it went to the right place. wtf should customers pay more just to increase shareholder profits?
It’s pure greed

Prices are already ridiculous, so no. The companies shouldn’t be as greedy. But that isn’t going to change.

I recently worked in a supermarket. You would not believe how many people are rude, demanding, superior and downright nasty to staff. It’s almost as if they think it’s ok because it’s seen as a low status job.

The majority of unkind behaviour came from respectable, middle class, middle aged ladies who should know better.

Maybe OP you could pay the supervisor a visit, bang on their car roof and tell them to fuck off.

😂

It seems the employee's issue was with the app not the customers but of course we should all treat others as we wish to be treated.
I have worked a zero hours contract for 4 and a half years and whether you get a shift is at the whim of the supervisors (it's a warehouse). The supervisor I normally work under was off last week and I only got one shift instead of 3! I'm 60 and naturally not as fast as a 20 year old but I've still got almost 7 years to retirement.

This is literally why unions exist
To stop employers from having shit conditions like zero hours contracts, picking apps, and being given shifts on the whim of a supervisor

Complain to your supermarket and tell them you'll be voting with your feet. If enough people did this then supermarkets would have to improve their working conditions eventually.
Unfortunately we'd also all end up boycotting all of them so we'd have nowhere to shop in the meantime as I imagine conditions are the same everywhere.

I try to avoid supermarkets and shop online where possible. If I go into them, I tend to use self serve. In the small interactions with staff, I’ll always be friendly. I don’t think I’ve ever knowingly been a bitch to a member of retail or hospitality staff. I used to do these jobs as a student and people are generally awful to you, they treat you like an inferior.