Just Scrub This Interaction From Your Memory

The floors in the store where I work frequently get pretty dirty because, well, there are a lot of customers coming in and out, especially at the time this story happens.

I’m doing some back stock when the Manager On Duty comes up to me.

MOD: “Hey, [Store Manager] wants you to scrub produce and the register area.”

Keep in mind, our scrubber is a behemoth, loud, and can be difficult to maneuver — not the best equipment to pull out at 5:00 pm on a Monday. Also, there are lines eight to ten people deep at both open registers. I point this out to the MOD and she just shrugs.

MOD: “Just get it done.”

Okay, then. I pull out the scrubber and happen to get a lucky break. Produce is empty so it only takes me a couple of minutes. Now the registers. Still crowded. I take the scrubber around the empty registers, feeling the glare of customers on my back (whether because of the noise or the wait, I don’t know, nor do I care).

Now I’m left with the two jam-packed registers. There’s no way I can ask people to wait a moment to let me through; they’re already pissed. I can see the manager coming, gesturing at me to get it done, so I do the most efficient thing I can think of. I go to the back of the line, shut down the scrubber, and wait. And wait and wait and wait. Customers are lining up behind me and the cashiers are holding back a laugh as I creep closer. Finally, I’m next, and I run the scrubber through the registers. (Thankfully, the line on the second register clears just as I am finishing the first.) All done!

I take the scrubber back to the back room, and I have just started to empty it when the store manager comes storming in.

Store Manager: “Why did that take you so long? Scrubbing is supposed to go quickly! We’re too busy for you to be standing around.”

Me: “You wanted me to scrub the registers, but the registers were packed. I told [MOD] that it would take a while.”

Store Manager: “You weren’t scrubbing; you were just standing in line!”

Me: “Yup. That was the best way to get through the line.”

The store manager and I had a stare-down for a few seconds before she threw her hands up and walked away.

I’ve never been asked to scrub the registers during peak times again.