Retail Hell Memories: Creepy Customer Encounter
From ottoncandyheights:
I worked in a bakery at a large grocery store in a busy part of the city. I've had to deal with every type of customer out there. This particular one still sticks out to me, though.
I was out restocking some shelves with fresh baked goods, instead of working in the back like I usually do, when a middle aged, overweight man came up to me and tried to strike up a conversation with me. I'm not one to judge people, so I listen politely, as I'm required to do as per company policy. He tells me he's looking for a certain type of rolls, so I help him find them, and assume that will be the end of that.
No. He follows me around for 10 minutes, telling me how great these rolls are for tuna sandwiches, how he'd like me to come over to his house for dinner so I can try it and see, and making inappropriate comments about buns and fish and anything else he can think of, all the while smelling like half a liquor store.
As per company policy, I can't do anything unless he gets physical, so I have to smile and nod politely while he tells me how sexy I am, etc.
I took my break immediately afterwards, obviously. It was horrifying. I made my fiance come pick me up after work in case the guy was going to follow me home.
This isn't the first or last time I've had an old, drunk man hit on me at work, but it was one of the few that felt more threatening than most.
--ottoncandyheights
Posted by Freddy on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 | Permalink
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Comments (3)
I hate that crap.
Businesses should not require their employees to just take any abuse the customer decides to heap on them, ESPECIALLY the moment it starts to get weird and sexual. I mean, de-escalation tactics might be a good thing to go over in orientation when dealing with an irate customer, but the moment a customer starts on the 'sexy' talk, it should be perfectly within your right to go "That is inappropriate and I do not appreciate it. Please buy your things and leave," and walk away to an employee only area.
Posted by: Carhop | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 05:15 AM
In the US, at least, it's *illegal* for employers to require employees to put up with sexual harassment. Period. And the manager is personally liable as much as the company is. (It's a lot more illegal in some states, like California, but it's illegal at the federal level, too.)
Posted by: plus.google.com/108073606865059711666 | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 09:46 AM
Agreeing with Google. OP, if you live in the States, tell your manager that it is illegal for them to allow that to go on. That is sexual harassment and you should not have to deal with it, as it creates a hostile work environment. If management still does not change their policy after talking with them, start throwing around legality into it. That you could sue the company, and anyone that you have talked to could be named in a lawsuit since you voiced how you were uncomfortable with the harassment and they did nothing.
This is coming from someone who's had to take two mandatory harassment classes for my job because it's just that big of a problem (It's mandatory for every manager in my company, it's not a "you harassed this employee, so we're sending you to training" thing)
Posted by: McHell Manager | Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at 10:54 AM