Customer service and creepy men

[Justamum36]

Anyone else in a customer facing job and totally bored of weird men who think they’re either funny or think you genuinely want to speak to them when you’re just getting paid to be at work?

I’ve had numerous men “jokingly” ask “why, are you going to meet me?” When I ask what time they’re returning (completely cost related and necessary question to make sure I sell them the right product at the right price).

I’ve had men stop and chat to me for a prolonged period of time where I have to be nice (because I’m at work and my job is in CS!). Some think I’m genuinely interested in them when I actually just have to be nice to everyone. No need to hang around that long when I have no choice but to be there. One was talking for almost an hour when a contractor working on site stepped in because even he could tell that’s not normal behaviour.

I’ve had fb requests from people I’ve no intention of having any contact with outside of work.

I’ve been asked for hugs.

I’m just so bored of it all and a bit drained. Would love another job but this one fits in well with childcare. A lot of stuff when written down doesn’t seem extreme enough to report to anyone but in the moment you can tell they’re trying to flirt, it’s always the least desirable people who are not particularly attractive, intelligent, interesting or they’re already married. Can men please stop trying to do this with women who are at work? I see it often with female colleagues too and I hate that they think it’s acceptable.

Can you have a signal, send a phone call to yourself or similar? Get a colleague to step in on a code word?

“Oh John, Bill rang for you earlier!”- code for, ring me on the work phone so I can get away from this customer.

Would you be okay with it if they were desirable, attractive, intelligent and unmarried?

I watched a programme the other day with Helen McRory playing a Wedding Events planner. The lead male mistook her friendly disposition during the wedding and was very surprised after all guests should have checked out the following morning that she wouldn't help him organise transport home. He said something along the lines of but you were so helpful last night and she replied yes but then you were a hotel guest and now you're not!

Nope, just strange to me that they don’t seem to realise they’re not attractive. I don’t think it’s a good idea to be attempting to flirt with someone when they’re at their place of work, especially when they’re in a job where they have to be polite.

I work in different locations and that is possible in some locations but at others I’m the only member of staff there and need to be visible in case customers need me.

So what if she would? I wouldn't because it's tiresome and I'm married. But men thinking they can monopolise women's time when they are undesirable, unattractive, stupid and married seems a reach. Even for misogynistic nobbers.

Men need to work harder if they want women to solve their loneliness. The bar is already underground.

I actually know of men who think that a woman being mildly pleasant (in a professional context) fancy them. Genuinely deluded old men who recking the 'are in there'!