Read It And Weep

After lunch, I’m called into the store manager’s office. I’m a new hire, hired to manage two departments in a large store.

Manager: “I’ve had complaints that you aren’t being social on your lunch breaks.”

Me: “Huh?”

Manager: “I’m told that you don’t watch shows with the other staff; instead you isolate yourself, reading books and making other staff feel like you’re looking down on them.”

Me: “So… you called me in here because I choose to read a book while I eat my lunch instead of watching reruns of soaps?”

Manager: “Yes. The other staff feel like you’re looking down on them because you’re reading instead of being part of the team.”

Me: “You’re messing with me, right?”

Manager: “…”

Me: “I’m actually in here because I’m, what, literate?”

Manager: “Well…”

Me: “Huh.”

And that was just one of the reasons I left that insanely toxic — and now-closed — chain of British shops. Apparently, being literate and expecting grown-a** people in full-time employment to act like adults was just too much for these folk.