Read the story of one IPFW student who is homeless this holiday but not hopeless.
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Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Vol. 41 Issue 14
www.ipfwcommunicator.org
WORKING DEAD THE
Christmas Season Brings Out Zombie-like Shoppers and Workers
A
s you pass by a frosted shop window full of Christmas décor in the coming weeks, you may catch a glimpse past the glitter and plastic trees to the pitiable, overworked, and often underappreciated sales people that slave away this “most wonderful time” of year. From screeching children tearing apart meticulously festooned displays to irate customers brandishing expired coupons, the holidays in the world of retail can be hell. At times, service with a smile is about as easy as getting all that glitter that mysteriously appears when December hits out of the store carpet. Even through stark rudeness, impossible requests, and unreal characters, retail workers have to try to keep the age-old lie of “the customer is always right” in mind. There is a blanket of crazy that descends upon many shoppers around the holidays, one that insists they must find the perfect gift for everyone. Should the occasion occur that the perfect gift is no longer in stock? Take cover. “I had a customer throw a book at me,” says Marissa Murr who at the time was working at B. Dalton in Glenbrook Mall. “She asked me for a self-improvement book. We didn’t have it so she proceeded to freak out.” If a store is unfortunate enough to be equipped with a public restroom, the employees get to deal with an entirely new set of problems. Often, the restroom floors resemble a murder scene of paper towels, toilet paper, and seat
covers. But rightly so. At the holidays, people no longer have time to flush, no time to wipe off the seat, hardly time to splash water on their hands when finished—the need to shop trumps all! Whether it is parents leaving their offspring in the children’s section expecting employees to babysit, or having to ring up a drool-soaked toy as the little one shrieks like a banshee, or catching young people using the famous “five finger discount,” let us not forget that boys and girls can be especially dear during the joyous holiday season. Who does not love the sound of Christmas songs being played merrily over the PA system? The employees who are on round 47 of the Josh Groban Christmas CD, that’s who. No matter the majesty of the voice, the dandy jingle bell feel, or even the instrumental prowess of a world renown orchestra, hearing the same holiday tunes since the first of November will have anyone wishing they could shove tinsel so far in their ears it comes out their nose. Being banished to stand behind a register during a seasonal rush can be worst of all. Not only are many of the customers carrying some kind of virus, but money itself is filthy. Even with disgustingly large amounts of hand sanitizer behind the counter, it is a true Christmas miracle not to catch the flu after processing hundreds of people who sneeze and hack into their hands just before handing over their cash. So next time you go to a store between now and January, keep in mind that a person is standing behind that register, the customer service desk, or next to that shelf. Be nice, shoot them a smile, and practice some patience. In the world gone mad that is retail at the holidays, a gesture of kindness might be enough to shield them a little from the onslaught of psychosis.