I complained to the manager

[mosspack1]

As I get to the end of the cereal aisle at the grocery store I see a young man trying to stock the shelves. I say trying because his coworker was all up in his space loudly complaining about another coworker.

Her: You know what she is? She's a brat! A witchy brat!

There was much more but I got my cereal and moved on. She made me uncomfortable and he looked uncomfortable as well. I wasn't going to say anything but it really bothered me on the way home. I called the manager and told him I was shocked by such inappropriate behavior. I really could not describe her much because I only saw her from the back as she kept standing in front of the guy. The manager asked me if I noticed 2 pretty specific traits so he knew who she was. I made sure to emphasize the young man was in no way involved and was just trying to do his job.

This store has a website where if you enter in a specific number from your receipt and rate your shopping experience you are entered in a free groceries drawing. I usually do it but I am not going to for this trip. I don't want the whole store dinged for one worker. I have shopped at this store for years and I have never encountered anyone that wasn't friendly and helpful.

[CyberLurch]

Her behavior is unprofessional at best. It's not appropriate to carry on a conversation like that on the sales floor, whether there's a customer present or not. It's not really appropriate to carry on a conversation like that anywhere on the job, really, but people will talk about other people.

You did the right thing, and good on you for making certain to point out the one fellow wasn't part of her whinefest. A lot of customers would have opened fire on the entire store for her poor behavior.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

Talking shit about co-workers is part of retail, but I do agree that customers should never hear it.

So we confine our shit-talking to the backroom and breakroom, or whenever the store is closed to customers.

[RealUnimportant]

Exactly so; there's a time and place for everything, and that was neither.

[Nunavut Pants]

"Children, there's a time and a place for everything, and it's called College."

[Sparklyturtle]

I was in a K-Mart years ago looking at shower curtains. The one I wanted was on a high shelf, so I asked the young man who was working there if he'd climb up and get it for me. So, he fetched a ladder, and was halfway up it when this woman raced around the corner and started screeching at the young man on the ladder. I'm not exaggerating; she was screaming at him. I raised my voice volume over hers and yelled, "EXCUSE ME! He's helping me right now, if you don't mind!" She turned on me, "This is none of your business!" I said, "He's helping me, so that makes it my business." She stomped off. The young man on the ladder didn't look thrilled at the prospect of descending, probably under the (correct) assumption that he was about to get Round 2, plus some extra screeches about the customer who told her to knock it off. Once he got down and went back to the help desk I heard the screeching start up again, so I went straight to Customer Service and complained. The interesting part was that I didn't even have to describe her; the person I talked to knew exactly who I meant and said, "We've gotten complaints about her." Shortly thereafter I moved out of town so I don't know what happened after that, but if a clerk/cashier/whoever is helping me and someone else, even if they're someone in authority, comes over and starts yelling at them in front of me, I will speak up. I once worked for a boss who yelled at his subordinates in front of customers - never again!

[Monterey Jack]

One time there was this cashier at work who constantly complained how how much he hated the job, how he couldn't wait to get out of there...and doing it right in front of the customers. It amazes me he wasn't fired immediately for that (he didn't last long regardless). I just kept thinking, "Dude....keep that shit to yourself."