Am I wrong, or am I entitled to choose not to disclose personal information to customers? When perfect strangers come in and ask where I live, how many hours I work, what days I work, how much I’m paid, etc. Is it not perfectly reasonable that those things are none of someone’s business? I’m asked these questions regularly. I’m a private person, I don’t think working customer service means I have to be an open book and discuss my schedule with people because they see me a lot and want to know why. Would anyone go into a lawyer’a office and say “Geeze you’re here again? They’ve got you working a lot. You must live nearby. How many hours do you work a week? Whadda they pay you? Better pay you for that!” It’d be inappropriate right? So why is it okay to ask that of a cashier? Why am I called a bitch for being 26 and thinking that my work schedule is my business and doesn’t require discussion with a bunch of strangers? Correct me if I’m wrong, it just seems like I’m entitled to politely not answer questions that most people don’t have to answer at their jobs. —Opinion curious.
This article appears in Feb 26 – Mar 4, 2015.
It may have happened once that sosomeone asked you a personal question which you found offensive. You now have extrapolated this into people coming into your place of work and asking you these questions consistently and constantly. The likelihood of your experience being exactly as you described is about 1%. Please don’t bother us with your neuroses.
I believe this bitch to be valid. I no longer go to stores at the end of the month when the seniors and government hand-out folk get their loot. To them, this becomes their only social interaction for the month and they will linger and chat with customers and staff in the aisles. The check-out becomes their last hope for human contact and they comment on items being purchased, the weather, the latest news item, anything at all just to hear their own voice and someone to respond. It is too sad to witness.
The convenience store clerk interacts with those within the neighbourhood and a sense of familiarity removes barriers people normally have with strangers. The customer believes the clerk knows them well enough because they frequent that business regularly.
Tim Whoreton’s is yet another another prime example of this banter where human sadness abounds.
Those people are assholes. Valid Bitch. Also, I suggest putting a fake or variation of your name on your nametag if you’re stuck wearing one. People can find stuff really easy on the Information Superhighway/FaceitBook.
I agree completely with you, OB. It’s none of their business and they are certainly not entitled to know ANYTHING about you that you’re uncomfortable telling them. Some people seem to like to ask person questions for some reason, and in a work situation, I’d just be firm but polite.. give a vague answer if you want, or just be honest and tell that that it’s private. There’s nothing rude/bitchy about politely informing someone that it’s private.
need more info op. is it old people doing this? or all ages?
it doesn’t sound like banter if there is sadness involved.
“I’m sorry, I can’t answer your questions because I have a contagious, degenerative neurological disease.”
I’m a mid-level office worker and I’d be ticked if I had to answer these inane questions all day. I’m also an introvert and shudder at the thought of divulging personal details to strangers. Valid Bitch.
Don’t get pissed,OB. Have some fun with it! I’ll assume you work in a grocery store.
Q:”Do you live near by?”
A: “Actually, I live in the store. They let me sleep on a cot in the back room. I’m allowed to use the grill in the kitchen and I keep my clothes on a hook in the meat locker.”
Q: “How much do you make?”
A: “$20 dollars an hour and all the overripe bananas I can eat. I eat about 10 a day and I’ve never been able to climb trees as well as I do now!”
Q: “How many days a week do you work?”
A: “Seven days a week, twelve hours a day and it’s still not enough!.” *Clutch hand to heart and shed fake tear* “Groceries are my life! My Passion! Without groceries I am nothing!”
a. people are fucking idiots.
b. freeze em out.
It’s a sad time we live in. I go nary a day without encountering people performing common, everyday tasks completely wrong and inevitably slowing me down.
I mean, how hard is it to use an elevator?
No “oops, not my floor”. No “oh, I hit the wrong button”.
It’s a fucking elevator. Pay fucking attention for a mere 2 seconds and you won’t look like a complete asshole.
How hard is it to use public transit?
Can’t operate a door WITH INSTRUCTIONS WRITTEN ON IT?
you should be wearing a fucking helmet.
And they already always stop at terminals, people… that’s why there are terminals.
Ya don’t need to tell it to stop where it already mandatorily does.
How about waiting for your number to be called?
You can’t remember a number? Really?
How the hell do you manage to even tie your god damn shoes in the morning?
Oh,… you’re busy talking to someone or listening to someone ramble on and on about nothing important. Uh, You’re the one waiting… so pay fucking attention.
I could go on but I think it’s safe to say…
People are fucking idiots.
Then there’s the fuckers that can’t count how many items are in the god damn cart. 10 items or LESS, assholes!
You are right.
“Then there’s the fuckers that can’t count how many items are in the god damn cart. 10 items or LESS, assholes!”
My idiotic friends and I are sick of seeing the smug look on the faces of you express-laners with your carefully counted 9 items in a tidy,convenient basket. We’re going to charge the express lane with our double-wide carts and nobody can stop us! #BreakTheTyrannyOfTheExpressLane
This will be our theme song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sd5ZLJWQmss
This is what I mean when I say this “friendly” culture of ours is just thinly veiled entitled nosiness. Not everyone owes you a smile and a conversation.
You’re right OP, it is nobody’s business. Just smile and go on with your work divulging no personal information.
You could ask them how their STD test went or if their spawn was finally released from prison etc.
I hate it when people stick their noses where they don’t belong. Good bitch. Pretend you are deaf when the questions come and just smile, not looking at them and regain your hearing when they ask you a relevant to the task at hand question.
Yours truly.
OB, has it ever occurred to you to have fun with it ?
Where do you live ? Why I live in Antigonish, it’s a 2 & a half hour commute each way, but I do love driving so it’s worth it.
On how long you work, say never more than 16 hours a day !
How much do you work, only 6 days a week, you only work 7 days in a row when you luck into an extra shift.
So have a nice day OB, enjoy your commute, & try to have fun with the idiots who piss you off 😉