I work in a fast food place. [Coworker] had been working there for at least a couple of years before I started. I don’t know why he stayed, as he constantly complained and did as little as possible. That part kind of annoyed me, as everyone else had to do more work because he didn’t want to. I started to look forward to the shifts he wasn’t on.

Being a store in the middle of nowhere, I guess they struggled to find replacements. Most of [Coworker]’s petty rule-breaking was overlooked and he got away with what he wanted — starting late, taking extra breaks, not cleaning on his rota, etc. The only thing I saw him getting in trouble for was taking food.

The management didn’t care if you took the (cooked) leftovers. If an order was made wrong, they looked the other way, and part of the employee benefit was that you got some food free every day.

But this wasn’t good enough for [Coworker]. He had to push the boundaries. As soon as the manager’s back was turned, he would be cooking himself whatever he wanted.

One day, some senior guy was walking around. [Coworker] didn’t know or didn’t care. As usual, he did as little as possible, and right before his break, he made himself a burger, packaged it up, and walked past everyone to the break room.

Senior Guy: “Where are you going with that?”

Coworker: “It’s my lunch.”

Senior Guy: “Did you pay for it?”

Coworker: “No, it was a return. [Manager] lets us eat the returns.”

Senior Guy: “Okay, but you can’t have the return you process yourself. Who served the customer?”

Coworker: *Pauses* “Okay, fine, it’s not a return. But it’s only extra cheese and bacon. It’s basically the free one we get anyway.”

Senior Guy: “The policy is there for a reason. Please pay for the sandwich.”

Coworker: “It’s only a piece of cheese, and what? Two pieces of bacon?”

Senior Guy: “It’s not about the cost; it’s about the rules everyone follows.”

Coworker: “Screw this job. This whole place will fall down without me.”

He quit, and the place didn’t fall down. In fact, we didn’t really notice him gone. [Coworker], of course, thought he was the victim in this and acts like he was some star employee, fired only because of bureaucracy. I make sure to point this out as we are friends on Facebook.

Our company has just suffered a major cyberattack and we had to take down our network for a few days to assess the damage. Because we are understaffed, I am a one-person call center and the calls are nonstop.

Caller: “Yeah, why aren’t you people picking up the phone?”

Me: “I’m sorry for the wait, sir. It’s been pretty busy due to the cyberattack. How can I help you?”

Caller: “This is such bulls***. I can’t get into my account and you blame a cyberattack. This is so typical. You IT people never take responsibility.”

I grit my teeth because I have had calls like this all day, but the whiny, mealy-mouthed entitled tone of his voice REALLY puts me on edge.

Me: “I’m sorry you feel that way. Can I get your username?”

Caller: “[Username].”

Me: “All right, and can I get your account number to verify your identity?”

Caller: “Oh. This is such f****** bulls***. I don’t know it. Why do you people always do this?!”

Me: “Okay, sir? I can’t reset your password unless I verify your identity. Unfortunately, all my other lookup tools are down due to the cyberattack. Would like me to transfer you to account services to look up your number for you?”

Caller: “This is f****** r******d. You just don’t want to do your job.”

Me: “Sir, the derogatory language is unnecessary. I can transfer you to account services or I will end this call. Which will it be?”

Caller: “Fine! F****** transfer me, b****!”

Me: “I’ll be happy to.”

I get him transferred and continue fielding calls. Twenty minutes later, the whiny caller calls again.

Caller: “You people blocked my number.”

Me: “Sir, we don’t have that capability. Is there something I can help you with?”

Caller: “I know you blocked it. Why else wouldn’t you pick up the phone?”

Me: “Sir, as I’ve told you before, we have a high call volume due to the cyberattack. Now, would you like me to help you or not?”

Caller: “Whatever. Here’s my f****** ID number you wanted so bad.”

I get him verified, reset his password, and give him the spiel about how to log in with our new security requirements. He keeps interjecting with more mealy-mouthed abuse until he’s finally in his account.

Me: “Okay, is there anything else I can help you with today?”

Caller: “No. You people f****** suck and I’m taking my business elsewhere.”

Me: “I’m sorry you feel that way. Have a nice day.”

One more “this is f****** bulls***” and I was finally done with him. Yikes.

A woman walks up to my register with her two-year-old and orders a drink. The two-year-old reaches into our tip jar and pulls out a quarter. I protest.

Mother: “It’s just a quarter. I give you people too much already anyway.”

And with that, the mother and daughter just turned and left.

It is 2018. I am working concessions at a movie theater. I’m stationed at the popcorn, which is the first thing you encounter at this theater. A man walks into the concession stand area but he stays back as he’s talking on the phone. I smile and give him a nod to show that I see him and am ready to help him whenever he’s ready. He doesn’t acknowledge me and continues talking for about five minutes before a woman walks up that wants popcorn. She waits a moment to see if he’s going to order but he keeps talking on the phone.

Me: “Sir, I just want to make sure whether or not you’re ready before I help this next customer?”

He doesn’t respond, just kind of turns to the side and continues his conversation. The woman and I shrug, and I go about helping her. She is very pleasant and nice to chat with. She has barely finished walking away when this man steps up and smacks the counter before starting to rant at me.

Customer: “Are you kidding me?! I’ve been standing there for more than five minutes and you help her before me?”

This man is a white male and the woman is black. It’s important because the way he said “her” was as if he was referring to some disgusting being.

Me: “Sir, I apologize if there was some confusion, but you didn’t seem ready to order. When you first approached my area, I smiled at you and nodded to acknowledge you since you were on the phone. I stood here for at least five minutes while you stood back and continued your phone conversation. Not once did you try to order or even indicate you were ready!”

Customer: “Well, I was here first!”

Me: “I understand, sir. That’s why when the other customer came up, I asked you if you were ready. You chose not to respond and turned away from me, so I had no choice but to help the waiting customer. I’m sorry you feel that was unfair but I’m not going to make another customer wait just because you chose to ignore me. Now, would you like to order some popcorn?”

He huffs and puffs for a few seconds before ordering a large popcorn. About ten minutes later, he returns, one of my managers following behind looking exhausted. As they approach the popcorn station, this man proclaims:

Customer: “That’s her! That’s the girl that was discriminating against me!”

Me: “Excuse me?!”

Customer: “She saw my shirt and discriminated against me!”

He is wearing a jacket that is zipped more than halfway up and I have no idea what shirt he is wearing. I turn to my manager.

Me: “I haven’t seen his shirt. His jacket was zipped like that the whole time; you can check the cameras.”

Manager: *To the customer* “Why do you think she was discriminating against you based on your shirt?”

He yanks the zipper down to reveal a homemade shirt emblazoned with:

Shirt: “TRUMP 2020! F*** THE LIBTARDS!”

Me: *Remaining stone-faced* “Sir, this is the first time I’ve been able to see your shirt. I really don’t care what you wear; have a great day.”

I told my manager I was taking my lunch break and walked in the back as the customer continued to rant about how “YOU F****** LIBERALS JUST WANT TO CENSOR EVERYONE! F*** YOU, LIBERAL B****!”

He was escorted out, without a refund, by security!

I’m a cashier at a big chain retailer. I have a rare muscular disability, so I have a stool (that I purchased) that I use while I’m working. While I can walk short distances and stand for short periods of time, I have a lot pain if I do it for a while. I have a wheelchair, but I typically don’t use it at work since I don’t walk too much at my lane, and the stool is a lot less bulky. I also typically work a small, belted self-checkout lane.

I’m working at my typical self-checkout lane when a woman comes to check out with a mountain of groceries. I greet her warmly and with a smile.

Me: “Hello, how are you?”

Customer: “I’d be better if this store wasn’t so f****** confusing. I couldn’t even find the gift cards! What kind of a store doesn’t have gift cards?”

There is a gift card stand right next to my checkout.

Me: “I have a stand right over here if you’d like one?”

The woman responds while looking at her phone.

Customer: “Good, get me two $10 [Fast Food Restaurant] cards. And hurry. I’m sooo tired of standing.”

I know that I can walk that far without a problem.

Me: “Of course, just a moment.”

I walk over to the stand, grab the gift cards, and come back to see the woman putting my stool off to the side and sitting on it.

Customer: “Good, you’re back. Ring up my stuff and tell me when you’re done. I need to call my mother.”

I start to die on the inside because it’s a self-checkout, but I don’t want to be yelled at any further.

Me: “Ma’am, I’d be happy to help you scan your items, but I need my stool in order to do that.”

She looks at me and huffs.

Customer: “Excuse me? I’m a paying customer! I’m tired and I want to sit! Now do as I say, or I will get you fired!”

My legs start to shake and pain begins in my knees and ankles.

Me: “Ma’am, I have a physical disability, and I use that stool to avoid getting hurt. If I stand for too long, I get in a lot of pain.”

Customer: *Getting louder with every word* “Well, I had to stand for hours to get all of this! And you’re probably faking your disability so you can sit! Just check me out!”

My supervisor, who must have heard all of the commotion, comes over and sees that I’m standing and obviously in a lot of pain.

Supervisor: “Hey, [My Name], what’s going on? Why aren’t you sitting on your stool?”

Customer: “Finally, a manager! Your stupid employee won’t ring up my stuff, and she wants me to give her my stool so she can sit on her f****** lazy a**!”

My legs give out and I fall to the ground, crying in pain.

Supervisor: *Concerned* “[My Name], are you okay?”

He goes on his walkie-talkie and calls a code that means an employee is injured.

Customer: “Don’t be so dramatic! She’s obviously faking it!”

Supervisor: *Livid* “Ma’am, she has a physical disability and needs that stool, not to mention that you’re at a self-checkout. If you want a cashier to check you out, then you should head over to our staffed registers.”

Customer: “But I don’t want to wait in that line!”

My manager comes practically running from the back of the store.

Manager: “[Supervisor], what happened to [My Name]? Does she need an ambulance?”

I shake my head no, still crying. Meanwhile, the customer starts snapping at my manager.

Customer: “HELLO! I STILL NEED SOMEONE TO RING ME UP! MY ICE CREAM IS GOING TO MELT!”

Manager: “Ma’am, we have an emergency with our employee. We need to help her first. Once this has been settled, I will gladly help you.”

Customer: “SHE’S FAKING IT! AND BESIDES, SHE’S TOO FAT FOR THIS STOOL, ANYWAY!”

Manager: *fuming* “Ma’am, get out of the store or I will call security. You do not get to talk about my employee like that!”

Customer: “YOU HAVE TO CHECK ME OUT! IT’S THE LAW!”

Manager: “LEAVE! NOW!”

The customer starts screaming at my manager that we clearly don’t know “who she is” or “what she can do to us” if we don’t check her out immediately. During her rant, my manager, finally having heard enough, turns to the supervisor.

Manager: “[Supervisor], call security.”

[Supervisor] nodded and called for them on his walkie. The customer shrieked even louder, demanding the number for corporate so that she could “report how horrible this store is at customer service!”

Security showed up quickly, and they almost dragged the customer out of the store. [Supervisor] and [Manager] made sure I was okay and told me to take the rest of the day off, fully paid. They called my mom, who came to pick me up and take me to the urgent care just to be sure. I was fine, but they gave me a note to take some time off to rest. Later, I was told that the customer was banned from the store.