I don’t want to give the impression that I absolutely hate my job. Because I really don’t. The people I work with are nice, the drama is minimal, and the overwhelming majority of customers are normal and very happy to be there. Though I’m on my feet a lot, the time seems to go by pretty quickly. There are far worse, dirtier, meaner jobs out there, believe me.
I have, however, started developing a list of the murphy’s law of retail. This week I add this:
The customer who gets huffy and indignant when asked to see ID for paying with a check, will always…ALWAYS come up “check declined,” so that a call to verify is necessary.
There is nothing more irritating than calling to confirm a check. It is the single most annoying computer call system ever.
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I HAVE A QUESTION ON A MANNER OF ETIQUETTE THAT IS SENSITIVE AND AWKWARD TO ASK!
OK, I have mentioned that I am the only white girl at my job. This is mostly a total non-issue. Except for this: When the manager and (now former) assistant manager introduced themselves to me, they gave their first names. So I call them by their first names. However, I notice that the rest of the associates will add a “miss” to the first names when addressing the managers. So for example, using fake names, they will say “Miss Kelly” or “Miss Julia.”
Should I be doing this? I have never done that form of address before. No one has said anything to me about it, and it doesn’t seem to be a problem for me to just say “Kelly” or “Julia.” It’s just an observation I made, and I’m wondering if I should follow suit, or if I would sound stupid doing so. THESE ARE THE THINGS THEY DON’T TEACH YOU DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
ANYWAYS…
We are alabama bound tonight - spending the whole week with the in-laws, eating lots of meat and shootin’ guns, woooooohooooo! I will also be without internet access. So happy Memorial Day, folks! Or, if you’re in the US…HAPPY NON-THREE DAY WEEKEND, SUCKAHS!
word.
GUNS! YEAH!
I say, call them what ever feels right for you. Fuck em if they do’t like it.
that sounds more like a native southern thing than a race thing. I wouldn’t bother (but then I live in NYS).
Can you just ask them how they prefer to be addressed?
This was common at a job I had–it was always fine to call them “Kelly” even if they called you “Miss ESC”, it seemed to me it was a “politeness thing”, I was always introduced to their kids as “this is Miss Rachely”. I ended up calling Vanessa “Miss Vanessa”, but by the time I did that it was a term of affection… anyway, I say call them Kelly and Julia, unless you love them, then add the Miss.
I helped not at all! Go me!
I don’t think it’s a black thing at all. I think it’s a southern thing that they’re ingrained with. If you weren’t brought up that way, no harm no foul. At least, that’s my theory. Being a yankee, I can get away with blaming my poor etiquette on New York. =P
I think it might be a bit odd if you all of a sudden start calling them Miss Kelly. I think calling them by their first names is fine. Hope you have a great weekend!
Why not just ask? I highly doubt expressing yourself in a tactful and candid manner would be taken in any way other than “I seek guidance”.
Seriously, if they take offense to you asking such an innocuous question… start looking in the classifieds, because it ain’t worth the grief.
Off-topic answer to the question you asked at my place: No, you weren’t alone wondering when they’d pop out.
Yup, that is a southern thing. I wouldn’t worry about it unless it makes you feel uncomfortable because you’re not saying it. If the manager doesn’t have a problem with it, then you shouldn’t either.
I wouldn’t change what you call them. I think it sounds funny calling someone “Miss Kelly” unless they are a student teacher or something of that sort.
Definitely just a Southern thing–possibly more ingrained in Southern Black culture, but mostly just Southern. I’m a member of the third whitest white family in the state if not the country, and I grew up calling Sunday School teachers etc. Miss Allison and Miss Jessie, etc. I do it now when I’m friendly with a superior but feel awkward using just the first name–the American equivalent of the first name-middle name convention in the crazy-complicated Russian name system, if you’re familiar with that.
*lurker slinks back into the woodwork*
Totally a southern thing and unless you consider yourself a “Southern Belle” then keep with the first names only.
See you tomorrow hopefully.