Customers Argue More Over Time

Our store does not allow overtime, no exceptions (budget reasons). As a result, no one can work more than forty hours in a week, which can be a struggle when they also put us on extra-long shifts and force us to cover call-outs.

I have done a lot of that this week, and I am approaching forty hours. I have been informed by my manager that I have to clock out at 3 PM, no matter what.

At 2:45 PM, I put a ‘last customer’ divider on my checkout belt and light up the ‘closed’ sign. Of course, multiple customers ignore this, so I have to verbally remind a few of them. The first few listen and move on, but one guy…

Me: “Sir, please unload your items on another lane. This lane will be closed after my current customer.”

Customer: “I only have a few things.”

Me: “Then it shouldn’t be an issue for you to take them to another lane.”

Customer: “I’m here now, so you need to serve me!”

Me: “I have strict orders to ensure my current customer is my last for today, I’ve already worked the maximum hours.”

Customer: “Maximum hours my a**!”

Me: “Sir, you will not be served in this lane. Go use another.”

Customer: “This is terrible service! Who do I complain to about this?!”

Me: “The guys who wrote the Fair Labor Standards Act, but they might not be around, considering they wrote it in 1938.”

The customer dramatically sweeps all his items back into his cart and finds another lane, but not before complaining to my manager… of course.