<p>I’m a cashier at Walmart, and have been for the last six months. Overall, I enjoy the work and the atmosphere. The other cashiers and coworkers I work alongside are great and supportive. The only problems I have are the fact that I have bosses and people over me that are unsupportive, and it’s making me unhappy at work.</p>
<p>I’m a college student in my early twenties and I have managerial experience. I started working as a sophomore in high school, and I’ve held part-time work consistently since then. I took the cashiering job at Walmart because I wanted something simple, and to do work that I wouldn’t have to bring home with me, if you know what I’m saying. The shifts fit my schedule perfectly and while the work is dull, it’s fairly simple and keeps me busy.</p>
<p>I consider myself great at customer service, but I work at a Walmart that serves a high volume of customers, customers that are usually angry and have an agenda. Food stamps, WIC, price matching, and just, in general, customers with an attitude. it can often times be very frustrating.</p>
<p>A lot of times I am put on the 20 items and under register, since I have a high IPH. People constantly bring a hoard of items (waayyyy more than twenty) into the line. We’re not supposed to turn them away, and I find that stressful and annoying. The lines and trolleys aren’t built to pack that many groceries, it takes forever, holds up the line, and the whole process ends up being so counter-productive, it’s crazy. Other customers end up getting annoyed, and they take their frustrations out on me, instead of the customer who wasted everyone’s time. Really though, I can’t blame them… Most of them only have one or two items and they end up getting trapped behind someone with 400. It’s unfair all the way around.</p>
<p>It’s summer and I’m out of classes until fall, so I’ve been getting more hours. I worked 9 to 5:30 today and I nearly quit. I was at the twenty items and under lane, and this older woman came up with two baskets filled with groceries. I politely mentioned that she had over twenty items and she started in on me, saying that my manager said it was okay for her to be there. I started to ring up her groceries and then another CSM and my manager came over. </p>
<p>The lady I was checking out explained her situation to my manager, saying that another cashier had kicked her out of her line because she had too many items. The lady then proceeded to throw me under the bus and say that I had given her the same response. my manager turned and reprimanded me right there, scolding me and telling me, “We ALWAYS check out the customer, no matter what. You can’t just turn them away like that.” My manager then proceeded to kiss the woman’s behind, apologizing profusely and leaving me to check out this woman’s groceries. The process took twenty five minutes, due to lack of room, bags, price matching, and other issues. All the while, the customer gloated and bashed me for the remainder of her time with me.</p>
<p>I’m frustrated with the lack of support… I understand that Walmart is a huge corporation, and that their goal is to make money. I realize that this is the goal of most, if not all, businesses. I’m fully aware that the “customer is always right” mantra exists for that reason. But, am I naive to think that there is a line? Surely yielding to every customer cannot possibly be the way to go. It was absolutely embarrassing watching my manager and the CSM bow down and kiss this woman’s feet when she was being disrespectful, making a scene, and being unreasonable. </p>
<p>She also insulted and berated me. I failed to stand up for myself, something I regret… I guess I feared losing my job. And also, in the back of my head, I was thinking that even if I do quit, there will be so many willing to take my place. </p>
<p>The manager in me just wanted to scream today! In the store I previous worked in where I held rank, we would have never allowed a customer to act that way or talk to an employee that way. I personally would have asked them to leave the store, especially if I would have witnessed what I did today. It was insane.</p>
<p>I’m thinking about returning to my old manager’s job. I quit due to a work-place fling gone bad, but even that “drama” seems tolerable in comparison to this horrendous treatment. Jeez. But I’m just not sure, because that position would require a lot more responsibility, and flexibility on my part, something that I don’t have when classes are in session. The cashiering job was working out so well because it fit in with my schedule.</p>
<p>Also, I graduate from college next May. I’ve been working part-time jobs this whole time, so that I can save up money for a month long trip I want to take to Europe after graduation. I also planned on buying a used car, cash. I worry about quitting because if I am out of work for a few months, I may have to sacrifice one of those things. Jobs around here are pretty scarce, and I can’t predict when i will find another or if I will get hired.</p>
<p>I’ve only held three other jobs other than this one, two out of those three were management level. And they were at well known, popular retail chains. My experience is limited, but here is my question: am I naive, or do a lot of businesses run this way? Not just fast food and retail work, but jobs and corporations of all levels. Is the lack of support from upper management this horrible everywhere? Is it dependent on the place? Is it just the corporation I am working for, or am I just naive for wanting support from my boss?</p>
<p>Should I just suck it up and get used to this? Is it the norm? I’d like to know if my expectations for support are unrealistic.</p>