I don't even know what to write but I want to write. I'm so tired, worked today. Everyone thinks the department where I work is the best and easiest. It is, don't get me wrong. But the only time I'm working there WITH someone is one morning a week. The rest of the time, it's just me. I cover the employee breakroom in a supermarket and it's a nice one. But when it's just me, I have to stock everything, clean everything, get everything, do all the paperwork, and ring everyone up. BY MYSELF. When you're all by yourself, that's a lot to do. Especially when you get into a flow and then you have to break the flow to ring people up. Then you try to get the flow back, only to have to ring someone else up. And because most people think it's the easiest job around, they have no idea that every week, I get a new list of what I can or can not provide down there, as well as new forms and new rules about how to fill everything out.
So the point is: Yes, it's an easy job. But it's also a difficult job to do by yourself. Especially with a degenerative spinal condition that constantly leaves you in pain that you have to ignore because no one's going to help you bring all the shit down to stock.
I'm actually not complaining, even though it's coming across as such. I actually love my job a lot. All the friends I have here, all the people that I cherish, I made by working where I work. These people, whatever department they may be in, are good, decent people. They work their asses off for little pay and often even less respect. These are people that have families, bills, whatever and they work hard to have a decent life. Yes, there are assholes. You'll find them anywhere. But the majority of my coworkers are good, solid, decent people and I love them. To me, it's an honor to be part of them.
I'll take the annoying, twitty kids that don't understand shit, the cleaning up after everyone, the shifting rules, the constantly changing allowances, and the back pain for a while longer. Whatever I feel when I go home is nothing compared to the majority of them.
The next time you go to a supermarket or a convenience store or whatever place employs people for not much money, try to understand them a little through me. Whatever policies frustrate you, however long the lines may be or however high the prices, it's not us. We don't have any sort of power when it comes to that and Corporate doesn't much give a hoot what we think. We're just following the rules and regulations like you do in your fancy jobs. The difference is that we do what supports your fancy jobs for a hell of a lot less pay. We're just muddling along, trying to make the most of our various situations, trying to stretch out our paychecks and support our families.
Is it really going to cost you that much to bite your tongue when a cashier is training or to give a smile to a person collecting the shopping carts that you're too lazy to put in their proper places? No. And the joy and gratitude that we feel when you do treat us like a normal human will stretch a lot farther. Because circumstances can shift in the blink of an eye. One day, you may end up in my shoes. You say no but you don't know. And when that happens, you'll wish you had some good karma banked.
We're all human and we deserve to be treated as such. Who cares what our job is? At least we have one. At least we're being productive. And if we all went on strike, I guarantee you that you'd feel it.
