Work work work (again)

So work is just fine and dandy.  Can you sense my sarcasm?  I want to be anywhere but at work.  Again, I work with idiots.

We had that customer service training and I did make a big deal about putting people on hold.  None of this covering the mouthpiece with your hand.  It didn't work.  They haven't quite caught on to the fact that we want them to put people on hold.  I get so flustered when they hold the phone away from their mouths, cover the mouthpiece and ask me a question.

I get floored when they bring their lunch and eat at the front counter.  If someone comes in and one lady is helping them, the other lady continues to eat.  Tacky!  One lady has her sandwich and will take a bite - even if someone is walking in the front door.

Really?  And answering your cell phone and making birthday plans when there are customers at the counter?

Common sense, people.  Common sense.

You are at work.  You take a break to eat your lunch.  If you are part-time, you still get a 15-minute break and you can eat the food in the break room.  There is NO NEED for you to have your pot pie at the front counter where people can see you eating.

It is common sense to stop personal conversations when customers come in.  And it is common sense that the customer comes first - that you help the customer and then go back to talking with co-workers.

But maybe I'm not one who is not thinking correctly.  Maybe that is perfectly acceptable and I'm in the wrong.

It all came to a head this morning when the Mayor's secretary "confessed" to the Administrator about something she said last week. 

Laurel and I were covering the office for an hour while the two ladies went to lunch.  Both of them came back from their lunch break with lunch.  Neither of them ate for that hour - they brought something back.  Now, I have done this a time or two - but I'm in an office where I can keep my food hidden and it is not a regular thing.  Laurel had had enough.  She told the one lady that they were not to be eating at the counter, and that the city administrator didn't want them to be eating at the counter - so they better stop doing it.

I giggled to myself.  And then we forgot about it.

Yesterday, the part-time clerk was eating her lunch at the back counter.  (She works 11 to 6).  At least she was at the back.  Her food smelled up the office, but you didn't have to see her eating.  Their supervisor came back from lunch and asked why she was back there eating and not up front.  They told her why and commented that they were waiting to find out if they could eat at the back counter but figured it would trickle down to them if they were in the wrong.  Their supervisor is one to run up and find out what is going on, so I warned Laurel.  And since the city administrator didn't come out and say they couldn't eat at the front counter, Laurel thought she'd better let him know what she said.

He agreed with her.  In fact, he was shocked that they ate at the counter and that their supervisor didn't think it was inappropriate.  So, he said something to all the department leaders about it - not calling anyone out, but saying that it was not appropriate. 

Then all heck broke loose.  There was a bit of yelling between Laurel and the one supervisor.  They had to have a meeting this afternoon about it and you can tell they aren't happy.

I'm just glad that I no longer have to watch and hear them eating their lunch.  I can handle the smell.  Just not the sound of them chewing.

Fun times!