Please Don't Let Me Inconvenience You!

My daughter just related a recent experience of hers, and since it is one of my pet peeves I decided to write about it.

Many people do not like to be inconvenienced by someone asking them to do something for them. They feel as if they are being taken advantage of. They have things they would rather be doing, so they are bothered by the person asking something of them. Understandable, you might say. My question for that person is, why are you working in the place of business I'm patronizing if you feel bothered by my questions? If you don't want me to make that purchase, or to find out about an item the store sells, quit and go home!

Yes, I am speaking of employees who cannot be bothered by people expecting them to just do their jobs. I'm not even talking about unreasonable customers who expect the employee to go above and beyond. I'm just talking about everyday business.

So, for those employees who do not want to be bothered, I have a few things to say to you:

1. If you really cannot handle doing your job cheerfully, and without making the customer feel like an intruder, quit and go home.  There are a lot of people who would gladly take your job.

2. If you really need or want your job, treat your customers the way you would like to be treated.

3. If you really want to succeed in your job, go above and beyond what is asked of you, and don't complain about it while you are doing it.

4. Get off your cell phone. Take private calls on your break.  I actually had a medical technician take a personal phone call while I was lying on the examining table.  There I was, one breast exposed for an ultrasound, and she is standing over me talking to her son about basketball!  I repeat, get off your cell phone.