One More Step Towards Insanitize
I’m twenty-seven and have been a manager at my craft store for quite some time. I have learned that I don’t have a lot of time for things like going to the bathroom to wash my hands when I need to. I’ve taken to carrying hand sanitizer in my uniform pocket for this reason.
One night, I’m using the restroom when a cashier frantically calls me to the front to deal with an aggressive customer. I exit the restroom and sanitize my hands as I’m walking to the front. I deal with the situation and then go to the break room to properly wash my hands.
About ten minutes later, I’m called to the front again. There is a different customer.
Me: “Hi, I’m the manager tonight. What can I do for you?”
Customer: “Um…”
She doesn’t say anything for a long time.
Customer: “I was in the bathroom with you and you didn’t wash your hands.”
I’m a little taken aback so it takes me a moment to think of how to respond. The customer continues lecturing me about safety and health standards and is getting more and more upset.
Me: “Ma’am, I use hand sanitizer.”
Customer: “Oh.”
Me: “Sometimes I need to respond to situations immediately. I understand your concern, but I assure you, if I’m responsible enough to manage this store, I’m responsible enough to practice basic hygiene.”
Customer: “Well, it just— I mean, it’s not— You should always wash your hands, no matter what.”
Me: “I had a customer threatening my cashier with physical harm over a coupon, but you’re right; I should have stopped to wash my hands.”
Customer: “Well, obviously, if it was an emergency…”
Me: “It was.”
Customer: “Well, don’t touch my stuff.”
Me: “Absolutely, ma’am.”
I understand that it didn’t look great, but you called a manager at a craft store to complain about this? You decided this was worth your time? The best part? She had two things of hand sanitizer hanging from her purse’s keychain.
