Cashiers have feelings too!

Look, I get it. After an exhausting and stressful day at work, waiting in a long line at the grocery store is the last place you want to be. Believe me, if I had my way I would be on a beach somewhere in Southern California—instead, I am the cashier who is about to serve you.

So let’s get this out of the way first. I know you’re mad the price of milk has gone up—I’m sorry, but I didn’t invent inflation. I’m not a scientist, but there’s a hole in the Ozone layer and I assume the only way it can be filled is by charging you five cents per plastic bag. I know you think it’s aggravating to have the half-blind 102-year-old woman in front of you to take 17 years to count her change— and yeah, I think it’s annoying too.

The point is, despite the fact I happen to be near you as you experience these daily aggravations, none of these are my fault. I’m just the innocent middle-man between your office chair and your couch; there is no need to take out all your days’ frustrations on me.

As you may have guessed, I recently returned to my old stomping ground — the local grocery store where I resumed my post as a part-time cashier. Maybe it was the eight months away at school, but I had forgotten all about the daily verbal thrashing my ego takes from unsatisfied customers.

This experience is probably not unique to me. I would be willing to bet anyone who has worked in either the retail or service industry has had at least one unpleasant encounter with a customer. I don’t resent my job—in fact I think I have learned more valuable lessons working in retail than any class could ever teach me. So rather than take this opportunity to unleash four summers’ worth of pent–up rage, instead I would like to offer advice to customers and employees alike.

As fellow employees know, summer jobs can be a drag—especially when your pay cheque comes with a weekly bonus of abuse. But there are always positives you can take away from your job. For example, it is almost a fact of life that as you pursue a career you will encounter difficult people to work with. Learning how to effectively communicate with all kinds of people is essential. Although in the heat of the moment it’s tempting to tell someone how you really feel, it is much more satisfying in the long run knowing that you handled a situation calmly and had always remained the bigger person.

As a customer, though, you’re not always right. In fact, sometimes you’re completely wrong. Regardless of the outcome, there is no need to be rude. Most issues you have are most likely not the fault of the employee you’re dealing with. Even if it is, it was probably just an innocent mistake. I don’t come to your work and call your prices outrageous and throw money at your face or tell you you’re incompetent at your job. You could try to return the favour.

My plea is really quite simple: Be nice. I go to school for eight months of the year and receive enough criticism on my essays—I don’t need it at work as well. I simply want to go to work and make enough money so that I won’t be calling my parents begging for money until October.