Here is the text conversation I had in the 7-Eleven group chat just now on my mental health day off from work.
Me: Briefing for those who have never done the 7Now app. Thief, I meant to mention this last night, but I had to hustle. When it asks for your password, six spaces appear on the screen, but you only type in your 4-digit login pin. Don’t worry about the other two digits. App is tripping.
Me: Sprite and lemonade are out on the fountain drinks. No one seems to know how to replace them. We’ve got plenty of boxes for it. Don’t know about those two flavors specifically. It is so easy the video is less than a minute long. You can commit to a minute, right? You love your job as much as I do? (And I linked to the video.)
Me: If someone can get on that before someone bitches at me tomorrow about it, I’d be very much obliged. Shift One? Mentor? Anyone?
Mystery Person: Do your job only. You are not a field consultant nor a market manager to find fault of other employees.
Me: Whoever said that needs to understand that that is an unhealthy attitude. It is my job. Training people is part of my job. You want to explain to people why their Sprite isn’t working? Knock yourself out.
Boss Lady: Good morning everyone! What I really want from each of every one of you, follow the job assignments. Plus sell. Give good customer service. Just to let everyone know, Assistant Manager is the acting store manager. What she says is what needs to be followed. I will stand behind Assistant Manager. Very simple. Thank you.
(Mystery Person 2 likes the post. Oh, I’m being double-teamed.)Me: I am not blaming anyone. I’m saying that no one, no one knows how to do this. We’ve been waiting for the ICEE guy. Well, he came and went without showing me how to do it, despite me begging him to. If you want minimum effort for minimum wage, I can do that, but I don’t think you’ll like the result. And notice that I didn’t blame anyone or point the finger. I am saying that there is a critical weakness in the store, and we need to fix it.
Me: So is it your opinion, Boss Lady, that we should all go indefinitely without any of us knowing how to restock the fountain drinks, just because we can’t be bothered to watch a one-minute video? Because it seems to me that that is what you are implying. Are we going to improve, and be the store I know we can be, or are we going to maintain status quo? All I ask is that you refill the dang Sprite so customers can use it. It won’t take but a minute, and you’ll learn a new skill.
Assistant Manager: It is so easy how to replace it, eke. I will show you how on your next day. And I thank you for your willingness to learn and be of help. strong arm emoji thumbs up heart
Boss Lady: When I get back, I will talk to you individually. [Ed Note: Ooooh, I’m really scared!] Let me get even one day of my vacation stress-free. Thank you.
(Assistant Manager likes that post.)Me: Thank you. You heard what Assistant Manager said, folks. She’s the one in charge. It’s good that someone has my back after the day I had yesterday. I’m taking a much needed mental health day off from work today, but I will be back on Thursday and work my regular schedule.
(Assistant Manager likes that post.)Me: Okay, Boss Lady. I look forward to that conversation. Enjoy your time in Seattle today. Anyway, this is my mental health day off from work, so I will be incommunicado for store subjects. I’m going to listen to music, drink Coca-Cola, and try to take my mind off the festering rage I feel. Shift two, sell sell sell!