Retail Workers....how are you all doing?

[GirlCrush]

we have been told to go back to being as strict as we were when we reopened to the public back in April/May

things had become a little easier but the spread is increasing so its back to enforcing things a bit more seriously. Not had queues outside for months so doubt we will be popular with the weather being wet!

I think the abuse will return soon....its been quite calm lately.

hows everyone?

I'm off this week but back next week, when Wales has its lockdown. Wondering if we'll have to have someone on the door again limiting it to 1 customer per family. It was fun the abuse we got with that🙄

yes i'm wondering that too. that was tough. we still have a door marshall ensuring masks are worn but thats not anywhere near as difficult as the moaning in the queues and restrictions on numbers

I'm tired.
April to June I had just 6 days off over all I was a part timer doing 45+ hours a week at least as there was just not enough staff.

It's only really gone back to 'normal'for us since october and it feels like it's rolling back.
I'm sick of rude people,cleaning and working alone to protect the store.

But we all got a bonus, a big thank you for staying open busting our bums and not seeing our familys.
£20 in-store voucher and chocolates between the team.we were chuffed till we learned Management, wfh headoffice staff and hr got an extra weeks holiday and at least £150 cash bonus.
Yep. Ouch

Wankerchief that sounds like hard work! We employed a lot of extra staff over the summer(we usually employee a few students anyway cause we get seasonal tourist trade). So our overtime only lasted a few weeks.

We also got a bonus/money on our store card and an extra days holiday, we all deserve it for working through this and being at risk. No idea if top boses got any extra but I hope not. We're the ones that had to deal with the abuse and chaos, while they sit in their cosy offices or work from home drinking coffee.

I know how hard it is in retail currently and during lock down. I worked for a supermarket and it was horrendous. The abuse we got there by customers is worse than ever. I left retail as I couldn't stand it anymore and managers not giving a dam and keep cutting hours and staff. I have a new job not around the public and more happy now.

Fucking knackered

In astonishment at the Welsh government and how stupid their rule is about shops only being allowed to sell essential items - fantastic - more abuse as we try to stop people buying pants or pyjamas. They are fucking morons.

Starting to feel really drained by it all, I work in a shop that was closed during lockdown as non essential, but the weeks leading up to that made my anxiety go through the roof. I'd finally recently got to a stage where I was feeling ok about being back, but it's starting to slowly creep back in.

People don't want to comply anymore, more people not wearing masks (not that they wear them properly anyway & yes I know lots are exempt but it does seem to be increasing the amount not wearing them), people don't want to wait outside any more till people leave.

Social distancing between customers is almost non existent, they don't seem to care anymore.

I'm worried about having to close and be furloughed again, but on the flip side I'm also worried about my anxiety if we go into a lockdown and non essential retail has to stay open..

Forgot to add.. all the extra cleaning and the risk assessments that seem to change weekly, is just mind boggling too at the moment.

I'm not in retail, all my immediate family are, and I just wanted to say I'm sorry for all the abuse and crap ppl are getting 😕 my current job is nothing special. Whenever I go to the supermarket I always make a point of chatting to the person who's checking out my shopping and asking how they are, we always ending up having a good chat about the current situation and it genuinely brightens my day.

Thanks @WhiteChocTwix I know some people can be a bit funny about till point conversations, and I do understand they can be awkward and samey.. but as someone behind a till most of the day, it's one of my perks of the job, I love chatting to customers.

i'm a shop floor manager and always support our till staff, they definitely get the brunt of it all and i tell them to call me if theres any aggro

now i just remain at the tills at weekends as its non stop tutting, refusing to stand back, pulling masks down to speak and throwing strops as we have a dedicated cash till which takes longer to get served at

we are non food, essential retailer......our stock levels are low.i get eyerolled when i explain we are out of stock due to suppliers being furloughed, and the supply chain is now interrupted. its not an instant thing to restock! not good enough i'm told!

@WhiteChocTwix we need more considerate customers like you! the staff are emotionally worn down

My previous job was in retail and whilst I did absolutely love my job at times I wish we could have told customers to "fuck off and get out the shop! "
Some people are just damn right rude and think because you work there you make the decisions on any rules or regulations when in reality you are just a mere minion on crap wages doing as you have been told too

Rubbish to be honest. Customers getting quite wound up about things like not being able to try on clothes or being asked to follow a one way system. It's so hard because we shop assistants actually have nothing to do with why these rules are in place in the store, but we're the ones the annoyed customers have a go at.

non stop tutting, refusing to stand back, pulling masks down to speak and throwing strops as we have a dedicated cash till which takes longer to get served at

And the shopaholic browsers, getting in everyone's way, clogging up an aisle for 20 minutes, for some tat they dont really need or even want

Yes to PP about trying clothes on, that's a nightmare at the moment.. people just trying stuff on anyway, or saying 'well such and such across the road let me try stuff on so why can't you??'

I work in retail but across many shops. I'm sick of the aggro, sick of the abuse, sick of propel wearing masks under their chin and sick of unsupportive managers refusing to back up their staff. In my favourite shop the store manager stays by the tills. If any customer gives a member of staff abuse/refuses to comply he intervenes and asks them to apologise. If they don't want to apologise he asks them to leave the store. That's the shop I get the least abuse in as he supports his staff in complying with the govt issued rules

I guess I'm lucky that in the medium sized supermarket I work in we are a good team. If a customer is giving anyone abuse the managers are happy to come and deal with it straight away, it is not tolerated. We have headsets so can contact one at anytime.

@CeeJay81

Wankerchief that sounds like hard work! We employed a lot of extra staff over the summer(we usually employee a few students anyway cause we get seasonal tourist trade). So our overtime only lasted a few weeks.

We also got a bonus/money on our store card and an extra days holiday, we all deserve it for working through this and being at risk. No idea if top boses got any extra but I hope not. We're the ones that had to deal with the abuse and chaos, while they sit in their cosy offices or work from home drinking coffee.

Really weird attitude. You assume commuting then working from an office is particularly "cosy" and begrudge those at home drinking coffee? Wouldn't you want everyone to share in a bonus?

@muddledmidget that sounds hideous!

as a manager i try to be supportive and take on the abusive customers....i'm getting quite good at it! sometimes its older people who are scared and confused, those are the times where i have to take a deep breath

its horrible

the retail trust have some good, free advice