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.