Because large sums of money are routinely stored there, our finance office is kept locked when not in use, and only a limited number of specific people are allowed to have the key.
Head Of Finance: “Our janitors are so lazy. They never vacuum the finance office.”
Me: “Do they have the key?”
Head Of Finance: “No.”
Me: “Do you want them to vacuum while you’re in there working, then?”
Head Of Finance: “No. I want them to stop being so lazy.”
Our plant manager was paid production bonuses, and in his infinite wisdom (greed), he told his superiors that we could get out more production than two plants our size could get out reasonably. With the aging equipment that he refused to replace or repair, we were getting seriously behind and now needed to run twenty-four-seven just to stay as behind as we already were.
Our handbooks stated quite clearly that Sunday work was strictly voluntary and was to be “requested” by the supervisor by Thursday at lunch. Attendance on Sundays was abysmal at best since many of us had families and other important things in our life.
[Plant Manager] decided this wouldn’t do and called a plant-wide meeting on one particular Thursday right before lunch.
Plant Manager: “It has come to my attention that many of you are abusing the Sunday voluntary workday status, so I am changing this effective immediately.”
He didn’t have that authority.
Plant Manager: “So, if any of you choose not to come in on Sunday, don’t bother coming back on Monday! Understand?!”
Me: “Are you serious?”
Plant Manager: “YES!”
Me: *With a crap-eating grin* “Okay.”
Three others and I got together and decided to give him what he wanted. We didn’t come in on Sunday or Monday. By Monday morning, around 7:00 am, my phone was blowing up with texts and missed calls. Finally, I answered.
Plant Manager: “Where the h*** are you?!”
Me: *Politely* “Enjoying my day off. Thanks again”
Plant Manager: *Yelling* “What do you mean, ‘day off’? You are supposed to be here!”
Me: “No, you told us that if we didn’t come to work on Sunday not to come in on Monday, and frankly, I thought it was very nice of you to give an extra day off like that.”
Realizing he was trapped, [Plant Manager] changed his tone slightly.
Plant Manager: “Well, that’s not what I meant and you know it. Now get in here as soon as you can.”
Me: *Nicely* “Nope, you can’t back out now. Next time say what you mean. Have a nice day, see you tomorrow.”
Then, I hung up and turned off my phone. After a few other incidents like this, the company finally fired [Plant Manager] and now has a much better plant manager. It’s a great place to work now.
I work in a hotel as a front desk rep. I used to do the morning shift but started doing the overnights more. The hotel I work at is located right next to a mall, as well as several restaurants, and is really close to the main highway. It’s usually very busy.
Every single day, I get calls from guests and also non-guests asking about OTHER businesses. And I don’t mean just restaurants or shops close by, but for other hotels. Normally, they just ask for directions or what restaurants have on their menus. I usually just Google the information, but after a while, I begin to memorize some things because of how frequently it happens.
However, with the health crisis hitting us, many businesses have either closed or reduced their hours and menus, and I don’t have them all memorized anymore. As restrictions begin to lift, the businesses begin to change hours and many restaurants begin to offer their regular menus.
One night, I get a call from someone who I assume is a guest of ours. The speaker on the other end says that they want to know the business hours of a restaurant across the street from us. I Google the information and relay the hours as well as the menu for the speaker.
Caller: “Do they do delivery?”
Me: “Well, their website says they use [Delivery Service], but since they’re closing in thirty minutes, I don’t know if they’ll still do any delivery orders. You can definitely call and ask.”
Caller: “Well, I was hoping you’d know.”
Me: “Unfortunately, I only know whatever Google tells me. I’ve never ordered from them before, and I know a lot of businesses do deliveries differently. I would recommend calling them and asking if they could deliver at this time. But it is right across the street from us.”
Caller: “I see. Well, I’m not really in a position to go and pick it up myself.”
This does puzzle me a bit, since it is literally across the street and an easy five-minute walk. But, I figure maybe they already showered and are in bed, or they have kids and don’t want to take them with or leave them behind. It’s not really my business, but I don’t know how to help them with that.
Me: “Okay, I’m sorry I can’t help you any further. I suggest calling them directly and confirming their deliveries.”
Caller: “Well, that’s just ridiculous that you don’t know, and that you had to use Google in the first place. Do they not deliver to your hotel?”
Me: “I dunno, probably. But most times, guests just go across the street themselves and get it.”
Caller: “Well, I’m not staying at your hotel; I’m actually at a different hotel.”
Me: “T-then why did you call and ask me? Surely your hotel desk could’ve helped. Or why didn’t you call the business instead?”
Caller: “I once stayed at your location and really liked that restaurant, but you didn’t have any rooms open, so I had to go to a different hotel.”
Me: “I see. Well, I’m glad you found something you like, but I really do suggest you call the restaurant. They’re closing in twenty minutes.”
Reluctantly, they hung up with me and I just stared at the phone in amazement. Sure, I get when stranded travelers come in and ask for help or even just random people off the street ask for directions because “you work close by to where I need to go” but still, I’ve never had something like that happen before.
I work in a small delicatessen that serves a variety of sandwiches, pasta, and salads, as well as a small selection of tea and coffee. We have a few regulars who will come in the morning to get coffee and something for lunch, who the long-term staff all recognize on sight.
One day, a woman came in who none of us had seen before, and she ordered a couple of sandwiches. There was nothing out of the ordinary. The only thing that stuck out about her was that she was wearing a riotously colored shirt with a fairly famous acronym on it. She paid, got the sandwiches bagged up, and left.
Six hours later, as I am finishing up my shift and preparing to leave, the same lady comes back in, holding her bag with a big muddy boot print on it. She drops it on the counter, splattering bits of mud everywhere.
Customer: “I don’t want this anymore. Refund me.”
Our cashier, who is only on her second week in the store, stares at the bag, wide-eyed, before shaking her head.
Cashier: “We don’t want it, either, lady.”
I had to turn away to hide my giggles, as the woman puffed up and started shouting at the top of her lungs about how she was “in here all the time” (a lie), “couldn’t believe the disrespect” (technically true), “would see her fired” (another lie), etc. Our manager basically sprinted out of the back to take over and try to calm down the woman, but when the lady ended up trying to push our manager aside so she could spit at the cashier, our manager told her to get out, which she eventually did.
As I said, all of us know our regulars, and she wasn’t one, and thank goodness for that. We didn’t see her again after that.
Related:
Refunder Blunder, Part 54
Refunder Blunder, Part 53
Refunder Blunder, Part 52
Refunder Blunder, Part 51
Refunder Blunder, Part 50
Guest: “Why are there so many d*** doors everywhere? I can never tell if I’m going through the right one!”
Employee: “Ah, I’m sorry, that’s to comply with fire code so guests can exit quickly. The main doors are right over there.”
Guest: “Jesus. Can’t you afford a better fire code?”
Employee: “Can’t we… what?!”
