I genuinely feel bad and sympathetic towards people who work specific jobs that essentially train them to put on a happy and cheerful persona everyday for a week especially if they don't enjoy it, I think I would hallucinate if I did the same.
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I straight up wouldn't have been able to do that during my worst points of dysphoria and social misanthropism. I think about it a lot, so I'm grateful for my job.
I worked for a fast food place that had a list of pre-approved, cringe-inducing drive thru greetings that we were REQUIRED to say to every customer. We were actively monitored to make sure we said them enthusiastically and with a smile at all times. It was torture
Putting on a face for customers isn't so bad. Really that boils down to treating others well and not letting your feelings spill onto those who only have a passing relationship with you. The real problem jobs I find are the ones that exect you to always be happy to be working there.
I used to work at a grocery store making $7.25/hr, but I eventually got to the point where it was so draining I left to find another retail store that pays better. Now I make a bit more than that. After years of retail, I want to move on, but I am stuck. All I have is retail experience. No one hires
I'm almost 30 and still live with my parents because they allow me to survive and pay a cheap rent. I have a fucking degree. This retail life is hell. The silver lining is this job I have now is actually a good store to work at. Management makes it worth it.
I've somewhat dropped that smiley happy little girl look at work. I'm nice, helpful, kind and I don't outright say stuff to upset people.
But I know that sometimes even if I bite my tongue, I'm making a face. Luckily if they told my managers that I was making a face I wouldn't get in trouble.
My husband needs to do this every day. I’m just so glad that his workplace also allow to put his headphones on and listen to podcasts and music while he works because even they know it’s bullshit that they need to do this 😭💜
and I'm not talking about people who genuinely "enjoy" their jobs, mainly people who take jobs like these out of desperation and to support themselves.
My time working at Publix was the worst retail time ever. Even Walmart was better in some ways. Publix was so restrictive and demanding with arbitrary and often up to personal (manager) preference enforcement. Vague ass wording that would absolutely let them discriminate if they wanted.
Had to look "professional" and be all nice and smiles. It was hell. Hated putting my hair up for a time after cause they required it regardless of department.
What's worst about working those jobs is that how good you do isn't even tied to whether or not the customer enjoyed the interaction. I got reamed out at Dunkin' Donuts because a guy asked what age you get the senior discount and I replied "when you're ready to admit that you're old."
In my defense (not that I should heed it) the actual store policy was just "if people ask for it." We were never supposed to offer it, because our boss said we risked offending customers.
This lead to actually having negative interactions with customers, who missed out on the discount and got mad.
I used to shrug it off because I know capitalism is gonna grind us into dust and milk every productive atom out of us into perpetuity. And then I remember fire exists. And then I get ideas.
Companies will throw you into a meat grinder and force you to smile about it, and you just gotta play along cause that's the only way we're allowed to live
I am so incompatible with customer service even the thought is just HORRIFYING
The job I work now, as long as you're doing it right and not being a dick to everyone we're not having problems. The idea of having to be all happy cheery the whole time... No.
All power to our customer service workers 😭😭
the way I'm not supposed to hang up if a customer swears at me at my call centre job.... and instead I have to say "If you swear at me again I'll have to hang up" and keep politely assisting them. Like, if I swear back at a customer who calls me a slur or some shit I'll get in trouble. twisted.
ahh yeah I did something like that and it threw me into a mental pit that took years to recover from, the dysphoria didn't help either but yeah. i'm Still waiting to actually get into the career i want and it's been years since that was my main job. do not recommend!
I had to do this for a call centre job that I quit back in August and while the cheerful persona was only part of it, it sent me into one of the worst mental health spirals of my life. Legitimately the worst part of customer service bcuz no one recognizes the mental toll of putting up that persona
Exacerbating delusions and chronic pain for slightly above minimum wage... being glad when i'm sick because there's an honest reason to not be able to come in... working at one of the busiest locations in the country and still getting written up for panic attacks. Hell is a retail job, to be sure.
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Safe to say I didnt listen to the video
But I know that sometimes even if I bite my tongue, I'm making a face. Luckily if they told my managers that I was making a face I wouldn't get in trouble.
This lead to actually having negative interactions with customers, who missed out on the discount and got mad.
The job I work now, as long as you're doing it right and not being a dick to everyone we're not having problems. The idea of having to be all happy cheery the whole time... No.
All power to our customer service workers 😭😭
(bahiano is someone from the state of Bahia, there are some bad stereotypes associated like being laid back, lazy, and naive).
(I used to work 6x1 10 hour shifts on Christmas)