posted
I really need to get this off my chest. Some of you may know I work at a small food store, and I do sort of like working there. But not last Friday. Besides it being close to being below freezing, part of my job is taking things to costumer's cars, I had a really bad headache and backache. We had a good number of service clerks that day, so I didn't go outside much. But near the end of my shift, I noticed that two of them were missing. As I took a costumer out, I noticed the two missing service clerks sitting in a car with another service clerk on break. As I looked at the car, the two tried to hide. When I went back in, I was really pissed and told our supervisor what was going on. So she (the supervisor0 went out and brought everyone in to talk to them about why there were not working. They didn't talk to me till the end of my shift, which I didn't mind since I really didn't really know them to begin with. But as soon as I walking out of the store, one of the cashiers that was friends with one of the girls that got in trouble yelled "snitching is wrong," or something similer to that. Even though everyone I work with is over the age of 16(and the cashiers being over 18), sometimes I feel like I'm working with children. Sometimes I just want to smack some of them
-------------------- i reject reality and submit my own Posts: 359 | From: Lansing, Michigan | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
You gotta love how when someone gets in trouble, they always turn it around on the person who told on them....
There was a girl at my work who was snorting drugs in the bathroom during her shift, and I had no choice but to tell the manager... and when she got in trouble (she didn't get fired because they had no hard proof that she did it), she told everyone I was a rat. Like what was I supposed to to, just go on letting her get stoned at work??!?!?!?!
posted
cubbie, if it helps, I think you did the right thing. I would have done the same. There's no excuse for people who are technically adults behaving like juviniles.
-------------------- "Silly customer, you cannot hurt a Twinkie." -Apu (The Simpsons) Posts: 2026 | From: 10 miles South of Boston | Registered: Oct 2002
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posted
You know, regardless of whether you told or not, it has really started to bug me that people, when caught doing something wrong, automatically assume that someone tattled rather than believing that their manager/supervisor has half a brain and can see what is going on themselves.
What you did was the right thing to do. They knew they were doing wrong and even tried to hide from you to make sure they weren't caught. Those that "support" them now don't seem to realize that if you let them get away with a few stolen moments now, in the future, those few minutes would have eventually turned into hours at a time that you as well as their "supporters" would have to cover for them.
-------------------- I swear, it was funnier in my head. Yeah, I used to be pink. vanilla_pink. Posts: 2493 | From: California | Registered: Nov 2003
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posted
thanks guys, i know I did the right thing. I told one of them yesterday that they are lucky that they work at this store, because at my other job (I waitress for my dad) that they would get fired on the spot.
-------------------- i reject reality and submit my own Posts: 359 | From: Lansing, Michigan | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
I had to "tattle" on the bag boy who was supposed to be helping me at the supermarket where I was working over one Christmas break. He was a kid, probably 15 or 16, but every time I turned back to the customer, he'd go off talking to his friend who worked a few registers over, or take an hour long break (supposed to be 15 minuteS), or basically just not do anything. I finally requested that I not get a bag boy when I'm on the register, since it was slowing me down (I can bag as I go, and then it's done a lot faster than waiting for someone who's not doing their job, and then having to bag myself after because he didn't do it ). She asked why, so I told her - nicely, but I told her what he was doing. Every time I saw him after that, he gave me the Look of Death. I don't know how people think they can get away with doing the bare minimum (or less) and expect to keep a job.
-------------------- It is, after all, the dab of grit that seeps into an oyster's shell that makes the pearl, not pearl-making seminars with other oysters. -Stephen King Posts: 481 | From: North Brunswick, NJ | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
When I worked at the animal shelter I caught people stealing donations -- they'd take the money, but not enter it into the computer.
The first couple times I saw it, I didn't see enough to be sure, but then I saw one guy take $50.00 for a euthansia request, and not ring it up. I followed him into the office where the money was dropped, and he felt forced to drop it. He knew I was wise to him though. Later that day I got pulled aside by someone else (who I'd suspected) who he'd asked to talk to me.
What followed was a whole lot of pressure not to tell, and a whole lot of twisted justifications for stealing from animals in need and grieving pet owners. I told them I would consider not telling. I did consider it -- for like, 30 seconds. There was no way I could live with not reporting it -- No Way.
I also told my boss that it would be BS if she let on that I told, because I really didn't need my job to be hell because I did the right thing. As far as I know, they might have suspected I'd reported it, but could never prove it. The shelter manager put signs up on the computers that advised people to talk to a manager if they did not receive a receipt, and eventually a couple of them were fired when there was more proof. As far as I know, the remaining people either really cleaned up their acts, or at least did so around me.
But yeah -- the person doing their job is often the one made to feel guilty. At that same job I was told (by a few people) not to work too hard because it would then be expected of others. Most people there were VERY honest, committed, and hardworking though.
posted
Last week I went to a big-box office supply store. The only cashier on duty was at their ink-jet island in the store. The 3 other employees on duty were not walking the store, but standing about 20 feet away, talking about their other (and obviously more lucractive) part-time jobs. They were ignoring everyone, and nobody opened up another register even with a long line. The store manager helped me find what I was looking for. Then when I went to pay, I told him about the 3 other employees, who gave me dirty looks because they were within earshot. One even had the nerve to say "Why didn't you ask us to open another register?" That's when I walked out. I only went to buy $8 of stuff, but had I gone there to buy, say, a new digital camera, I'd have been mighty PO'd at that treatment.
-------------------- "The fate of *billions* depends on you! Hahahahaha....sorry." Lord Raiden - Mortal Kombat Posts: 1587 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
At my last job I caught my manager, my friend, in several thousand dollars of fraudulent loans to herself. Of course, then she had to take out more fraudulent loans to pay back what she borrowed in the first place, and it just got into a vicious cycle. At first I hinted around that some things looked fishy, because I really REALLY wanted her to 'fess up, or pay it all back or something, but eventually I had to report her, and she was dismissed. Of course I lost lots of sleep about that, because I really don't have a ton of friends, but what she was doing was wrong.
The bad part was that they hired her COUSIN to replace her, and cousin decided that I needed to suffer. After two years of never getting a write up (and I had had three other managers) suddenly cousin is writing me up almost every day for little things (one day I wore socks instead of hose!), but would ignore the coworker who regularly came to work drunk.
I finally quit, and I hope to never be in that situation again. Whew. Sorry to hijack your rant.
-------------------- "I find in myself desires which nothing in this earth can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world." C.S. Lewis Posts: 57 | From: Texas | Registered: Sep 2006
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posted
My dad, who teaches college-level freshman English (wait, this ties in, I promise) tells me all the time about his students who do sub-standard work and whine about why they didn't get a better grade... some of whom even sic their parents on my dad to whine about why their son/daughter didn't get a better grade. He tells them all the same thing, that the grade reflects the level of work performed, and if they aren't prepared to take the work seriously, then they need to be prepared for the consequences of those actions.
How this ties in:
Yes, they are children. Even if they're only a few years younger than you, THEY are children, and YOU are the adult. Sad, isn't it? (Them, I mean, not you.) That they are as old as they are, and still they result to chanting "Tattle tale! Tattle tale!"
They deserved to get in trouble. If they're not prepared to treat the job with the seriousness it deserves, then they need to be prepared to accept the consequences. And if these kids' parents couldn't be bothered to turn out responsible citizens, then it's going to be THEIR burden to have to support them their whole lives (cuz you don't buy a house working the register at Mickey D's).
My advice... take the high road with the jerks at work... tell them the thing about actions having consequences, and this is the real, grown-up world where there are precious few do-overs, so it's a good idea to get it right the first time. Leave it at that. Then... call your parents, tell them the story, and thank them for doing such a good job of raising you.
-------------------- They just don't make crazed, beserk robots like they used to. --Sheen Estevez, Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius
If I manage to post something swipe-worthy that you would like to make your sig, you may do so with my blessing. Posts: 2486 | From: East Stroudsburg, PA | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
I have no respect for those who expect me to be a party to cheating. I couldn't stand that attitude from other kids when I was a child and I tolerate it even less from adults.
If someone is doing what they know is wrong no one is obligated to enable them to do so. If that person doesn't like me because I won't put up with me that's fine. They have demonstrated that they are not the sort of person who's opinion means something to me.
Stand your ground with slackers and cheaters. The less we permit such behavior the less we will encounter.
-------------------- So many books, so little time. Posts: 1192 | From: McDonough, Georgia | Registered: Nov 2005
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posted
This sort of thing reminds me of how much I loathe the phrase "You got me in trouble!" No, my narrow-minded, blame shifting numbskull, you earned put yourself into the situation that involved you getting into trouble. I simply pointed it out to proper authority. That's not to say I think every little slip-up is worthy of a "tattle", but if you're a) providing a poor impression to the customers b)compromising the integrity of the company or c) pissing me off/inhibiting my ability to do my job, then you'd better damned well believe I'm going to try to do something about it.
-------------------- "I think I just had an evilgasm."-Xykon, OOTS
"Sacrificing minions: Is there any problem it can't solve?" -Xykon, OOTS
posted
That reminds me... I "tattled" on a classmate of mine a couple years ago. I had an intro to philosophy class my sophomore year, in a room with stadium seating. It wasn't a huge class, but there were enough of us that we went pretty far back into the room. I studied for weeks for the final exam, trying to remember every little thing that we'd gone over, and I took the exam and it paid off... as I was getting my things together to leave, I noticed that the girl in front of me was sitting sideways in her seat, reading her notebook on the seat next to her. I got so mad. I worked so hard to be able to pass the final, and here's someone just flying through it! I told the professor as I handed in my exam. He looked shocked - either that I was telling him, or that someone was cheating, I don't know. But I'm not going to let someone cheat when the rest of us worked so hard to get everything right.
-------------------- It is, after all, the dab of grit that seeps into an oyster's shell that makes the pearl, not pearl-making seminars with other oysters. -Stephen King Posts: 481 | From: North Brunswick, NJ | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
I had a job where I was manager of a warehouse. I left to go to a different job & my co-worker took my job. He became a friend of mine & I would stop by his place and hang out with him even after we stopped working together. Well, the company suspected that he was stealing, so they fired him & hired me back. Very quickly I started coming across all kinds of evidence that he was indeed stealing. He would handwrite invoices so he could take the cash, telling the customers that there were computer problems. He even went as far as telling customers that they only accepted cash, so he would receive less checks. Well, the bosses wanted me to collect evidence against him. Since he was a friend, I went to him & told him what was going on, and that I had to do what I had to do. Suprisingly, he totaly understood & didn't hold a grudge against me. I tell ya, I was shocked!
-------------------- I've got a pen in my pocket does that make me a writer? Standing on the mountain doesn't make me no higher. Putting on gloves don't make you a fighter. And all the study in the world doesn't make it science. -Paul Weller Posts: 199 | From: Kalamazoo, MI | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
I once went to a cell phone kiosk at an outdoor mall and wanted to get a car charger and a new case for my phone.
I got out my credit card, and he told me the machine wasn't working; cash only. Okay, so far. So I get the cash and he hands me a bag. I look inside and the charger and case are there, but no packaging. I'm like, "WTF?"
I tell him I want my packaging and he gives me this dirty look like I'm asking for the moon and pulls open a drawer and gets the packaging. There must have been 8 or 9 sets of packaging for other items in there.
It wasn't until I walked away that the lightbulb went on and I realized he was probably trying to pocket the $$$ from sales; if he had the cash in his pocket and the packages he could declare the items "stolen" either to his manager or to the headquarters. Could only get away with it so often, but probably lucrative when he did.
Amazing what people will do.
Anyway- count me on the list of "you did the right thing" I used to HATE when I worked retail and would be working my butt off and people were hiding/messing around in the back room.
Kathryn
-------------------- Keeper of the American Idol Pool 2006
posted
Some what of an update, I was working with one of the kids today for the first time since last week . He tried to get me in trouble today by telling a supervisor I was spending WAY to much time in the bathroom, but luckly she caught his bluf cause she knew I was in there for awhile for a reason. I was in there cause I got cut from a glass bottle and was cleaning it up.
-------------------- i reject reality and submit my own Posts: 359 | From: Lansing, Michigan | Registered: Nov 2005
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quote:Originally posted by cubbie: Some what of an update, I was working with one of the kids today for the first time since last week . He tried to get me in trouble today by telling a supervisor I was spending WAY to much time in the bathroom, but luckly she caught his bluf cause she knew I was in there for awhile for a reason. I was in there cause I got cut from a glass bottle and was cleaning it up.
Nice. "I'm going to make you sorry you tattled on me!" Nice. You sure you're not working with a third grader?
-------------------- "I have never in my life been more disappointed by a politician I voted for than I have been with George Bush. He is a total liberal."- overheard by me on the shuttle to the U of A game on Nov. 11th. Posts: 3878 | From: Tucson, AZ | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
I also hate the "It's your fault because I got in trouble" way of thinking. Obviously their parents did not teach these kids to take responsibility for their acttions. I agree you did the right thing by turning in these slackers.
Ever notice how we always fall in love? We never climb gently in to love, or step lightly in to love. If love is such a good thing than why is it described as a fall. Posts: 918 | From: La Salle Illinois USA | Registered: Sep 2003
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Tom o' Bedlam
I'll Be Home for After Christmas Sales
posted
Ah, I dunno if I'd be quick to blame the parents. These are, after all, adults we're talking about, and I think it's entirely possible for people to grow up to be irresponsible despite any efforts to the contrary in their upbringing.
-------------------- Still I sing bonny boys, bonny mad boys, Bedlam boys are bonny, For they all go bare and they live by the air And they want no drink nor money! Posts: 107 | From: San Diego, CA | Registered: Jul 2006
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quote:Originally posted by cubbie: Some what of an update, I was working with one of the kids today for the first time since last week . He tried to get me in trouble today by telling a supervisor I was spending WAY to much time in the bathroom, but luckly she caught his bluf cause she knew I was in there for awhile for a reason. I was in there cause I got cut from a glass bottle and was cleaning it up.
See, this is the time to use menstruation to your advantage. If the @$$hole tries it again, just come out and very loudly start talking about clotting and sloughing and the terrible mess you had to clean up. If he's as childish as the "I'll make you pay for tattling" bull, he'll be extremely squicked out by any mention of a period, maybe the details will make him physically sick.
-------------------- Get used to his bad habits and decide whether you can put up with them...the rest of your life. 'Cause if you don't, then one day, you find yourself in the shed, sharpening the axe and idly wondering how thick the human skull really is. -ChickyBee Posts: 64 | From: Bristol, Rhode Island/Columbia, Maryland | Registered: Dec 2006
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posted
I'll join in with the group of "Don't blame me for getting yourself in trouble."
I don't know how far you want to go with talking to the little brat, but I enjoy cross examining people. Probably cuz I'm in law school. Anyway, you can ask him, "Well, did you do it? Did you do it on purpose? Okay then, end of story."
Seriously. Anything you do about his screwing around is his fault. You didn't drag him out to the car and lock him in there.
posted
When I was in retail, my friend and I worked together in the same department, and my friend was pregnant. A new girl got hired, and things were OK for a little while until she'd come back from her lunch hour absolutely reeking of perfume (enough to make my friend nauseous) with bloodshot eyes. The speculation, of course, was that she was smoking pot during her lunch break. One day, as my friend was coming in from her lunch break, she saw the new girl sitting in her car smoking a joint. We debated about it, but did end up telling management. She wasn't getting much work done high, and she wore enough perfume to cover up the smell to make you gag.
At another retail job, the manager had a very high maintenance wife and used to "borrow" petty cash to take her out to dinner or buy her jewelry. Needless to say he got caught and fired.
I hate the type of people you're talking about, Cubbie. The update makes me laugh even more, because now it's "you tattled on me, I'm going to tattle on you." I wouldn't even give them the benefit of assuming they're in third grade. More like kindergarten.
Posts: 384 | From: Iowa | Registered: Feb 2004
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Mr. Furious
Ding Dong! Merrily on High Definition TV
posted
Gah, this brings back bad memories. Many moons ago, I was a production supervisor at my first job out of college. I'd started as a regular worker, but was moved up to management after a couple of months because I had a degree and displayed an aptitude for it. I still had friends among the workers, but it wasn't a big deal because I didn't directly supervise them.
Anyway, apparently three of them liked to go out during their lunch break and drink. One of the other supervisors reported this to our manager, and all three were fired.
What killed me was that the story got twisted such that everybody thought I was the one who reported them, which made all three of them hate me.
Truth be told, if I'd caught them, I would've simply given them a warning, not fired them outright. They were all good workers, and had I not heard about their drinking, I never would've suspected. While I don't know for sure, my guess is that each of them had one or maybe two beers, which is something that (AFAIK) is accepted in some other countries.
posted
I agree with you Ica. I think most of the kids I work with act like this because the store I work in is in a town where people make a higher income than the town I live in. And alot of the kids that work with me are from this town and only got the job because mommmy and daddy aren't giving them enough spending money. I got the job through school (they gave me the cerdit so I could graduate on time) and because we needed the extra money at home.
-------------------- i reject reality and submit my own Posts: 359 | From: Lansing, Michigan | Registered: Nov 2005
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