There is one thing that holds true when working in a grocery store and that is, that each day can be a learning experience. No matter what department you might work in, each day can provide one with new challenges, experiences and, dare I say it, frustrations. And the reason for this is, you are dealing with the public.
Each person, in this line of employment, maintains many positions in one. They are the public relations, the information center, knowledgeable experts of the products of which they handle, the enforcers of corporate policies and they straddle the line of legal responsibilities. And the one department where this is most evident, is that of Frontlines. This is where everything seems to come together.
To be a cashier, one must be knowledgeable in all facets of the operation and be able to handle any situations that may arise (with diplomacy), be able to multi task at any given moment, handle multiple personalities, maintain company policies, uphold legal responsibilities and be able to use good judgement. In other words, be able to handle whatever is thrown your way - no matter what. To quote a former employer of mine, 'you gotta go with the flow.' And for some reason, even with all of this responsibility, along with the uncertainty of what to expect, one will clock in and begin their shift every day.
But the one thing that we, as customers, seem to forget is that should this employee/cashier not follow the policies and responsibilities then it could mean the end of their employment. This is a lot to shoulder and sometimes puts an employee in the middle, between what a customer wants and what an employee is supposed to do. And yet, somehow these employees still manage to follow through and most generally they will handle whatever the complaint that follows.
Handling a complaint is difficult for any employee and no matter how hard one might try to 'brush it off'', it still manages to stay with you. Over the years, I have witnessed many incidences where cashiers have had to take a verbal hit over sales, policies, legal procedures, lack of assistance, product selection and yes, even coupons. Which just shows, that when we become customers we are more inclined to think that things should be done our way and in the process we fail to realise that this person, waiting on us, has no control over procedures - only personality.
So when an incident occurs, as it does from time to time, I have often found, ironically, that it will generally be the customers that end up being my salvation. For even though there will be one customer that will provide me with a situation that might be hurtful, or stressful, it will be ten other customers that will ultimately bring a smile to my face. And in the long run, it is the customers that have taught me how to be a better consumer - either by how I may spend my money, or how I may treat others when I go shopping. Either way, it is the customers that so many times make a positive impression on me.
Talk at ya later!
Each person, in this line of employment, maintains many positions in one. They are the public relations, the information center, knowledgeable experts of the products of which they handle, the enforcers of corporate policies and they straddle the line of legal responsibilities. And the one department where this is most evident, is that of Frontlines. This is where everything seems to come together.
To be a cashier, one must be knowledgeable in all facets of the operation and be able to handle any situations that may arise (with diplomacy), be able to multi task at any given moment, handle multiple personalities, maintain company policies, uphold legal responsibilities and be able to use good judgement. In other words, be able to handle whatever is thrown your way - no matter what. To quote a former employer of mine, 'you gotta go with the flow.' And for some reason, even with all of this responsibility, along with the uncertainty of what to expect, one will clock in and begin their shift every day.
But the one thing that we, as customers, seem to forget is that should this employee/cashier not follow the policies and responsibilities then it could mean the end of their employment. This is a lot to shoulder and sometimes puts an employee in the middle, between what a customer wants and what an employee is supposed to do. And yet, somehow these employees still manage to follow through and most generally they will handle whatever the complaint that follows.
Handling a complaint is difficult for any employee and no matter how hard one might try to 'brush it off'', it still manages to stay with you. Over the years, I have witnessed many incidences where cashiers have had to take a verbal hit over sales, policies, legal procedures, lack of assistance, product selection and yes, even coupons. Which just shows, that when we become customers we are more inclined to think that things should be done our way and in the process we fail to realise that this person, waiting on us, has no control over procedures - only personality.
So when an incident occurs, as it does from time to time, I have often found, ironically, that it will generally be the customers that end up being my salvation. For even though there will be one customer that will provide me with a situation that might be hurtful, or stressful, it will be ten other customers that will ultimately bring a smile to my face. And in the long run, it is the customers that have taught me how to be a better consumer - either by how I may spend my money, or how I may treat others when I go shopping. Either way, it is the customers that so many times make a positive impression on me.
Talk at ya later!
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