The greatest time of year is quickly approaching, and this means that retail workers are gearing up for the that one day out of the entire year that they absolutely dread: Black Friday.
For those who have had the (dis)pleasure of working on Black Friday, it's the day of sore feet, crippling exhaustion, and hours that never seem to end. It's hard to enjoy a nice Thanksgiving meal with your family when all you can think about is how you'll be awake for the next twelve hours folding clothes, re-stocking the store, and dealing with the not-so-cheery moods of holiday shoppers. You may think it's over when you finally clock out after the most gruesome 24+ hours in retail history, but it isn't over just yet. The holiday shopping madness will continue through December 24th, pause momentarily on Christmas Day, and then return on December 26th, when unhappy customers are dissatisfied with their gifts and are looking to return or exchange them.
Don't worry; everything will settle down again after New Years.
As a former retail employee, I know how tiring working the holidays can be. However, we do bust our butts to provide excellent customer service because we do genuinely care about our customers and want to make their shopping experience as flawless as possible.
Retail workers do a lot to ensure that their customers are satisfied, especially during the holidays. To all of those shopping during this holiday season, try to remain courteous to those who are working. Retail workers will greatly appreciate it!
Here are five reasons to be nice to those that are working during the upcoming holiday season:
1. Most holiday workers won't get to enjoy Thanksgiving with their families.
The sad reality is that Black Friday shopping has begun on Thanksgiving Day for most stores. Most retail workers during the holidays will have to miss out on quality time spent with family members.
2. Employees are working longer-than-normal hours with very little (if any) breaks.
With the holidays being the one time of the year that it is impossible to request off of work, the hours are longer and the shifts are more frequent. It is difficult to take a break during Black Friday, with the constant hustle-and-bustle and fast-paced environment.
3. Some have been up all night working, only to return again the next day.
The madness never ends. Even though you've pulled a twelve-hour shift, you're scheduled to clock back in the very next morning.
4. The same five Christmas songs have been playing on repeat since the day after Halloween.
Sleigh ride, anyone?
5. Everyone wants an enjoyable shopping experience and employees are there to make sure that happens.
The job of holiday workers is to give you impeccable customer service and make sure you purchase the right products for those you are shopping for. They want to make sure you're happy, and they deserve the same amount of kindness and consideration.
If everyone could keep the holiday cheer alive while shopping this season, the process will go a lot smoother for everyone involved.
Happy shopping!
