trying to not worry

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So the other day I was pulled aside by my manager (I work at a large retail store) and told that I'd had a rather vicious customer complaint. The woman had called my store and said that she was behind an older man in my line (I am a cashier, did I forget to mention that?) and observed me chewing gum (yes I was, I was hungry and it helps distract me), popping bubbles (yea, I probably did. I can't help it) and being rude to the man I was waiting on, particularly in that I did not help him with his bags, etc. She said nothing to me about my behavior and mentioned nothing to my immediate manager before leaving the store about her displeasure with my services but did go home and call the store to complain and said that when she was done with the person she had on the phone she was calling our home office and going to write a letter to the president of the company.

Was I chewing gum, yep. Did I pop bubble? Probably. Did I not help a customer with their bags? It's entirely possible. I'll be honest, I wasn't feeling all that great, so not in a great mood but I try really hard not to let it show even though I'm sure sometimes it does. My manager told me not to worry, I don't have a history/pattern of this sort of thing and unless she actually does send a letter to the pres it won't be an issue (if she does, then they review tapes, etc.).

I've worked since I was 16 at about 5 different jobs, all but one of which were long term employment and I have NEVER been fired. I have to say the thought of it terrifies me. My husband and I have three kids, two of which are hoping to go to camp this summer on top of all of our other responsibilities. I can't afford to loose my job. It's really easy for a manager to say not to worry when their job is secure (did I mention I don't like my manager much?) I haven't slept well in two days. I figure if I can get through the next month with nothing happening I'll be fine and I'm trying real hard not to worry but it's so hard.

So there, that's off my mind (for the moment)

Only one complaint in retail? Most managers understand you can't please them all, unless there's a trend it's no worry. There's usually a formal process of verbal, then written reprimands as long as you don't do anything extreme.

Just keep going on as usual, and things will calm down.

I had two retail jobs, floor cleaning at WalMart for two years & custodial for a couple months at a sporting goods store. Is chewing gum & popping bubbles against the rules there? You might could get a verbal warning for that if it is but you shouldn't be disciplined for not helping the guy with his bags sense the guy didn't say anything about it & there was at least one customer in line behind him you had to check out who likely would of complained if you were making the line wait by assisting him with his bags instead of checking her out.

Well, I talked to the manager that approached me about the complaint yesterday, albeit very briefly, where she told me that she had gotten "a look at the letter" (me thinking, really, already? that was quick) and the person that wrote it used the word "coached" (our stores typical terminology for reprimand) and that and the fact that the person did not use their name nor gave their phone number, led her to believe that the person complaining was a fellow associate. Not sure if this makes me feel better or worse that someone I work with was that upset with my work performance, however, it explains them waiting until they got home to make their phone call and complaint instead of handling it before they even left the building which is what most really irate people do.

Thanks for the feed back... still concerned but not losing sleep over it anymore.

I worked in a supermarket for 3 years, and had a couple of complaints, and every time they "reviewed" me, I had my review back and it was often "smile more" "make conversation" etc.
It takes a lot to lose a cashier job.

I wouldn't worry too much. I never got the sack.

I only got a verbal warning because of my attendance, which wasn't that bad, I had like 5 absences in 3 years or something, but you know what these work places are like.

Haters are gonna hate.