Answer the bloody phone!

[PinkyBrain]

So, I'm assistant manager in a thrift store and could have throttled one of our volunteers today. I'm sorting through donations in the back and I had a couple of full bags waiting to go upstairs. Now, I have a bad back, so getting up and going up and downstairs all day is something I have to avoid as much as possible. So I shouted for her. Three times, at gradually increasing volumes.

When I got no answer, I whipped out my mobile and called the shop landline. Now it's known that whoever is on the shop floor answers the phone.
And it rang. And rang. And rang. So, finally I get up and go over to the (empty) shop floor. Two of our volunteers are stood chatting while the phone rings in the background.

"Answer the bloody phone!" I shout jokingly.

"Oh I thought you were going to get it."

[eltf177]

I see two fewer volunteers in your store's futures...

[Pixelated]

It's a shame one can't fire volunteers ...

My volunteer work, also at a thrift shop, was replete with tales about volunteers who seemed to be rather short of brain cells. When we got T-shirts that weren't fit to be re-sold as clothing, we used to cut them into rags (that was when the city still had some manufacturing plants that would BUY the rags .... ) We'd cut them up both side seams, right to the end of the sleeve.

One idiot -- a student doing 'community work' which was required for part of her grade -- cut them into small squares. I mean small squares, as in now-totally-fucking-useless small squares.

Regrettably, the store wasn't allowed to boot her out and give her a failing grade on this part of her 'community work.' Seriously, kid, who bought you your secondary-school placement? 'Cause you sure didn't get there via your native intelligence.

[gremcint]

It's a shame one can't fire volunteers ...

you most certainly can fire volunteers. if the higher ups will let you, that is. but you can definitely tell volunteers they aren't needed if they're just gonna do nothing all day.

[wolfie]

No, I won't answehe bloody phone. That's a biohazard. Get it cleaned up properly if you want me to answer it.

[Lace Neil Singer]

One day last week, we were totally slammed with customers and there were only two of us on, so when the phone rang, neither of us were able to answer it. Cue HR person storming over to tell us off. The exchange went something like this.

"Why didn't you answer the phone?"

"Um, cuz we have zillions of customers and didn't have a chance to even look at the phone, let alone pick it up?"

"... Oh."

And the super important news that she had to tell us? The fact that a temp's uniform was in and waiting for pick up. Said temp hasn't even started yet.

[Minflick]

I want to tell the front desk at my place that there IS a hold button, and that they should know how to use the damned thing! If I could do it at a place with 8 lines all filled with self important people, surely they can do it at a place with 3 lines, (albeit also filled with self important people).

When I'm surgery nurse, or I'm doing a blood draw, or restraining a dog, I cannot interrupt and answer the phone. They ARE able to interrupt a phone call to answer another incoming line... (Rage face)