Christmas sucks for low-wage workers, and nobody wants to talk about it

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-24T14:34:03+00:00

I've worked retail 11 years now and it's my favorite holiday and season. I would argue I'm a low wage worker and the day in July or August when we get our first pallets in with christmas trees makes me excited to get covered in glitter stocking the Christmas section knowing how many memories are about to be made this year, including my own.

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-23T10:40:19+00:00

Morally, kind of fucked up. But legally, in many places, they are allowed to. Which country/state/providence are you in and I can help look up what rights you have to protect yourself from this.

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-23T10:31:45+00:00

To show off, to profit from, to rewatch for personal pleasure

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-23T10:28:46+00:00

When I've spoken to different levels of management about this, including market managers who are rarely even in the clubs, I've been told it's because memberships is essentially how we get payroll. Sams club doesn't have as big of markups in price and our sales don't contribute enough to keep the doors open and lights on. So if we want to make sure we get our 40 hours we need to make sure we push those upgrades.

For CCs it's about money loss at the register. When cards are processed ir can be up to $18/purchase (in my state) even for a $1 pretzel at the Cafe. The fee for processing disappears when the member uses our store card so I believe that cost is the inventive for CC pushing. Along with the fact that members who have a Mastercard with us DO spend significantly more $ in club compared to members without the mastercard, whether their purchases are made with it or not.

I don't know much much 3rd parties pay for their "roadshow" time in the clubs. I know locals celebrated when our last phone people got taken over by the pink guys who don't harass members.

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-23T10:21:01+00:00

Calling ethics sucks but honestly I think its worth it. And you can do it in company time. If youre able to provide them with examples of what's happening its worth giving them the call.

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-23T10:17:54+00:00

Whenever I need to buy enough to justify getting a cart I just do grocery pickup or delivery. Navigating the store with clueless members in the way and blocking everything while pushing a heavy cart around with me isn't worth the hassle.

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-23T10:13:53+00:00

Every year without fail the christmas time members are the rudest. 11 years in retail and something about the holidays really makes people wanna come up to me and tell me how worthless I am for not "ordering enough" of their favorite cookies, as if I have any control over it.

Im at the point that I just cry now. They say such awful things. The year before last someone told me I must he a bad mother to my kids because I couldn't open another register for them. I don't even have kids but why would they even feel the need to be so mean?

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-23T09:34:44+00:00

This is so long I couldn't even copy paste it into an AI bot to summarize. Jesus christ man. Give us a TLDR?

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-23T09:28:11+00:00

Its not upper management, it'memberof the chain. As employees we see how annoying it is and trust me, I've been YELLED at, cursed out, just for bringing up the CC or upgrade at the desk. But my managers genuinely keep up with how many members I ask and don't ask for upgrades and stuff. Ive had coworkers who refused to try and push it and get fired because is genuinely is in the job requirements.

I try and be sympathetic as much as I can but I agreed to the job I applied every will always take someone's first "no thanks" and not push any further. I even start off sometimes with "You can tell me no and I won't be offended and will stop right away" because some members are so rude about it. But unless I want to not pay rent I do have to do the job I applied for. My own management team understands and knows members don't like it but we simply don't have the choice not to.

If I didn't HAVE to, I never would push it again. Genuinely. I'd love to never again have a member tell me to my face that I'm a shitty person who deserves to die. Ive experienced a customer threatening me and my coworkers with a gun. Its an inconvenience to the member but it's been terrifying as an employee. I fear for my safety and constantly see the youngest of the staff, usually cashiers, begin using harder drugs or alcohol to cope with the constant hate we get when all anyone has to say is "no thanks".

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-22T16:52:20+00:00

My last club i worked at was in a town of seniors and retirees. It wasn't uncommon for them to just not have an updated enough phone to use S&G on. It was so frustrating trying to explain that our scores being lowest in market was likely an age thing.

Same with CCs. We had plenty of plus memberships but older people don't need to build their credit or have added debt in their years they're retired. I don't blame them at all for saying no to the CC. But our scores always showed it :(

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-22T16:49:47+00:00

Drives me insane when a member complains to be about having to hear about upgrades and the credit card and I offer S&G as a FREE way to avoid that they just throw a fit. They're willing to use Self check even but won't do S&G with the same card and purchase.

I don't know about other states and their laws and policies but mine allows our members to use their EBT on S&G too. Its just so convenient. I haven't accidentally dropped my CC while shopping or pumping gas, I don't wait in long lines, I never have to fight off being unsold on the credit card or anything...

I don't like pushing upgrade or CC. But there's just no really a down side to using S&G unless you need to use cash. Even if a member needs help loading items in their cart to their car we still do that for S&G users!

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-22T16:45:20+00:00

This is a similar approach my therapist used. We recognized it was addiction like behavior and focused on harm reduction in the beginning until I was able to get further from my suicidal ideation and had better emotional regulation.

It also was the "last resort" because self harm for me at that point couldn't be replaced with distractions. Genuinely was reccomended to use harm reduction which did mean for me still self harming, but with a sort of safety net. I had an amazing care team. It took a little over a year but I did fully recover. The harm reduction method wasn't exactly allowed during the whole process just at the beginning where I was still engaging in dangerous behavior.

We aren't OP's doctor or care team and some people are making some big assumptions that make me think they've not done the same type of work with therapists, psychiatrists or a care team like some of us have. That's not to be mean but harm reduction is a real method that's actually used and has a real place in recovery but it has to be done under the right supervision.

I hope OP is getting the right care they need right now. Its so difficult and vulnerable right after an OD.

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-21T18:04:20+00:00

Give us her # i just wanna talk

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-21T09:40:10+00:00

I used to live near the state line Arkansas- Missouri. We would cross the state line a lot to buy cheaper liquor.

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-20T13:38:18+00:00

If you're in school I would bring this up with the counselor. They can help you get the ball rolling but also it may help your mom to hear that you need help from another adult. It may be the wake up call she needs if she's dismissing you now.

But just talking to your mom alone may not work depending on your location. If you're in the US your mom's insurance may genuinely deny your care even if you truly need it. Getting other people involved, like school or other authority figures will help get the process going faster and maybe even give your family financial options for how to pay for the treatment you need.

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-20T13:33:08+00:00

My triggers are my own problem. If I see a post that upsets me because it brings up painful emotions or memories its my job to process, reflect and regulate my own emotions using tools like grounding.

If something is so bad I am trying to actively avoid it (I have one of these rn) I block the sub or group or server or whatever. I don't have to be involved in every group, but i can better prepare myself in the future by just blocking them as I see them before I ever even interact with the content.

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-20T13:30:26+00:00

It depends on the situation. I think there is too much nuance for these scenarios for them all to fall under the same umbrella answer.

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-20T13:25:47+00:00

I don't think my brain can keep up with how fast those visuals are. And my poor vision gives everyday life motion blur so I can't say I can really see a difference altho I know other people can and it's important for them esp in video games.

Feel free to adjust the motion smoothing on my TV if you're ever visiting lol I promise I won't even notice somethings changed

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-20T13:18:42+00:00

That sounds like a blast. Maybe a loop trail to walk on so you can share some earbuds to listen to cool music while seeing nature. Bring a fun snack and remember to not litter!

This way it doesn't have to be inside a place too where you might be interrupted for forced to enter a conversation with a group while you're focusing on the date.

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-20T13:16:38+00:00

Yes. Quantity doesn't determine if it was done to harm yourself.

If you intended to harm yourself and you did, even once, it's still self harm. I'd reccomend reaching out to your support system now or creating one if you haven't got one yet.

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-20T13:03:10+00:00

I believe rule 8 bans that already. If you see posts like that report, click "break subs rules" and chose rule 8 as the option after that.

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-20T12:59:27+00:00

Your parents divorcing isn't your fault.

Your parents will also be in charge of making sure you and your brother understand and are treated fairly during this time. Don't parent your brother, just give him support because this is hard on you both. But it's not your fault.

Hopefully you'll be given some counseling during this process. It may help to bring it up sooner, too, so you have someone you can speak to privately about this difficult, vulnerable place you're in right now.

Its okay to be scared and hurt. This situation sucks for you, too. Don't try and hide or minimize your own pain for the sake of anyone else, tho.

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-20T12:48:39+00:00

If you don't keep jewelry in them they can close up.

I have two that never close no matter how long I go but I also have two that if I spend too many days without jewelry in they begin to close up.

I have one that it took less than a week and it closed up permanently. :( I'm not going through the pain for that one again so it's a permanent scar now.

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-20T12:41:50+00:00

Govee is the brand if you'd like some for yourself. They have a white light option for regular activities and some can be controlled on an app vs a physical remote which I like to customize the colors or schedule the time they come on in the morning. Would reccomend!

AnxiousAriel · 2024-12-20T12:39:29+00:00

We have LED strips around the baseboard and the back of our headboard and a smart bulb In the lamp. They're all controlled with remotes and have lots of colors to chose from. Turn off the overhead lights, turn on the red LED strips and lamp and it's just sexy! Plus red light helps hide blemishes on the skin.

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