Laws to protect retail employees?

[Flames66]

That is why I don't work in retail any more and have no intention of ever going back. After some woman decided it was my fault that she lost her glasses on the back of her head I knew it was not the job for me.

 

[mindlesspuppet]

The otherday a customer called me a retard and said I should be locked up in a mental institution and never be set free as I'm a burden of society. Over not having a coupon up front to just give to her.

I told my manager and she said to just deal with it.

I've had death threats, stuff thrown at me, been called ******, retard, white devil, theif.

And I'm told I have to deal with because if anythings done about it, the customer can go crying to corporate and be given a $100 gift card and I'll most likely be written up.

So I think there needs to be a law that says if you say anything insulting to an employee they have the right to throw you out and you can't go to corporate for it. Because as I see it, this is bullying.

It already is a law, it's called trespassing. Retail stores are private property, in which case they have the right to boot anyone they'd like off the premises, it's simply not their policy to do so: the customer is always right as they say.

Think you have it bad at retail, try doing telemarketing some time.

 

[Scars Unseen]

Depends where you live. But have a look over your contract, employee handbook and companies (company's?) policies. There's usually something to protect you from harassment, and I'm sure the employer has a duty of care, whether it's expressed or implied.

If not, then get one in there. Speak to a union rep or something.

Your top is so pretty in that picture ^^

OT: can't stand the heat? Get out of the kitchen! But really, you just need a thicker skin, not a law to stop people hurting your feelings.

Death threats and thrown objects do not necessitate thicker skin. Well okay, perhaps literally having thicker skin would help with the thrown objects. Regardless, the problem here is not the employee, nor is it really the customer. If customers are truly engaging in criminal activity against employees(death threats are often treated as coercion and battery can be a felony) and management is doing nothing about it, then the problem is the management. This is, of course, a difficult dilemma to get around, because the old advice of "quit your job" is not as sound in a shitty economy. In fact, it's often that very economic problem that compels management to ignore these problems in the first place.

On the other hand, while some customers are irredeemable, most customer interactions can be steered by the employee once you get a feel for your job. Different customers need different approaches. Some will relax in the face of a smile and some reassurance. Others see this as a sign that they will be able to trample over you in order to get what they want, and need a more firm approach. Kind of like a terrier. The worst possible situation though is when management really does roll over for those types that like to aggressively game the system in order to get action or compensation they are not entitled to. If that goes on, you're pretty much boned, because that means that your supervision isn't management material and have fallen under the idiotic impression that the customer is always right.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Working retail is like working at a restaurant: everybody should do it for at least 3 months in the hopes that it mellows people the fuck out. I don't know what it is that makes some people turn into slavering animals when dealing with retail employees but I feel your pain. I wouldn't say a law is needed but some kind of policies. Like, many big places have cameras at the check lanes. Maybe add a sound recording bit so as to monitor customer interaction during each transaction. Any customer being a ****-stomer can easily be called out and told to fuck off by a higher up. As a double-whammy benefit for the highers-up: monitor the guys working the registers!

Here's a more practical solution: if you're working in a big enough retail place see if you can get a different position. I work for Target and am lucky enough to work nights, stocking the place when the place is closed! Completely away from the god-damned, product-opening customers.

 

[RaikuFA]

I can't believe the last 2 posts said the same thing I said about a year ago. It should count as community service if you are arrested for something.

 

[EeveeElectro]

There should be company policy against it.
I've been screamed at and abused also. I just say, "I'm not serving you if you speak to me like that."

If your manager didn't do anything about it, you might wanna talk to the higher ups. Whenever I've had shit off customers, my manager has come over, heard what they were saying to me and told them to take a hike and not come back.
We have the right to work without abuse. I don't care how fantastic people think they are, you do not talk to shop workers like they're a piece of shit.

You do have to deal shitty customers sometimes, but your manager should have stepped in if they start getting like that. It's their responsibility to protect the staff from abuse, if she doesn't then maybe someone competent should have her job instead.

 

[The Mighty Stove]

-Snip-

I mean seriously, you can't comment on how it feels to work retail, unless you have worked retail. By the way, my favorite kind of customer is the one that puts the wrong product on the wrong shelf. If you don't like it, at least bring it upfront so WE can put it away. This was a problem at Toys-R-Us when I worked there. I remember this one time, a customer put half of there crap from the cart, on the ground....in the middle of the isle, because the shelfs were full.
D:

OP: No there shouldn't be a law against them. But I'm fairly sure you have the RIGHT to refuse service.