A Bad Day at the Office

Friday, wasn't a good day for me.  I was running late and due to having to top up my travel card, I narrowly missed my usual train, making me a few minutes late to the CS (for the first time ever).

Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but another member of staff was running even later and so the shop was a little late opening (only a few minutes) with people knocking on the door.

Then there was a small rush of people who came in and two members of staff rang in, one of whom was the Manager with some instructions for the day, as she was unwell and wasn't coming in until later.

I have to admit, I felt a bit flustered with everything going on at once, although I tried to keep calm and be polite to everyone. Once off the phone, things calmed down somewhat, although the shop did remain busy all day.

The problem was that immediately after this busy time, someone spoke to me quite rudely and in a manner that I didn't like too much.  Now I'm quite easy going and don't jump to my own defence very quickly.  I often tend to suck it up and find that it's only later that I feel upset about it, when I've got time to think about it more and today was one of those days.  I know this isn't a healthy way to deal with things and to stand up for yourself at the time is much better, but I'm not very good at it, if I'm honest.

Consequently, by the time I got home, I was feeling very upset about the whole days events and how they unfolded. I don't think I'm being overly sensitive, but if I get the impression that someone is unnecessarily putting me down or trying to put me 'in my place', I find it hard to shake it off.

I wasn't trying to take charge or any such thing, I was just passing on some information and I didn't feel I deserved the treatment that was dished out to me (and from a much younger person, although this isn't really the issue, it was the manner in which it was said).

I didn't mention that I was upset by what was said and I'm not sure whether the person responsible, or the other person present realised, but it has definitely made me a lot more cautious around certain people in the shop.  I am happy to give people the benefit of the doubt, but I won't be talked down to and treated like an imbecile or a naughty child, when I'm only trying to do my best to be helpful.

As it happened, the message that I tried to relay, despite being belittled, was subsequently misunderstood and incorrectly acted upon and when the manager arrived, I was made to look like I was incapable of communicating her wishes.  I wouldn't mind so much, but she specifically asked to speak to me, so I wasn't trying to muscle in or anything.  Perhaps that was the problem.

I've decided to try to keep right out of it from now on and just go in and do as I'm told, (although that is what I was doing today). Obviously, I inadvertently trod on someone's toes and got a bit of a kicking in return.

Politics, who needs it!