Mismanaged Your Money

(I am shopping for little diamanté hair accessories for my wedding. I am not sure how many I will need so I buy a few packs and make sure I can return any unopened ones.)

Me: “Wow, these really add up when you buy a few together.”

Employee: “Yes, they’re really expensive. I don’t know what they do with the money; they only pay me [about 5-10% more than minimum wage] per hour.”

Me: *confused why she is telling this to a random customer* “Em… okay.”

Employee: “Yeah, and that’s after nine years.”

(I’ve worked plenty of retail jobs and I know that’s actually a good wage for a starting position but I’m surprised in a big chain company with lots of turnover that someone would still be in an entry level job after nine years.)

Me: “That’s really strange. After nine years you would think they’d at least have offered you assistant manager.”

Employee: “Oh, I don’t want to be a manager. Too much stress!” *laughs*

Me: “Well, that’s where the money is.”