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What part of "Off Duty" aren't you getting?

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  • #1

    What part of "Off Duty" aren't you getting?

    After yesterday’s lovely encounter with the Family From Hell, CW and I decided to go out for a few drinks. We had an awesome night. CW also lives five minutes walk from the pub, whereas I live five miles away, so I crashed in his spare bed for the night. We woke up this morning, and decided we wanted some breakfast to chase the hangover away. We walked over to the pub.

    So we go to the bar and order our food. We chat with M and ask how she’s doing after yesterday and then we stand and wait for our drinks. A middle aged man wandered up and down the bar, looking a bit lost.

    SC: *to me* I need a cloth.
    Me: Oh right. *I lean over the bar and call CW2* CW2, can you-
    SC: You work here right?
    Me: Yeah...
    SC: Then why can’t you do it?
    Me: I’m not working right now, I’m afraid. CW2, can you find this gentleman a cloth.

    CW2 handed him the cloth.

    SC: *to me* My son spilled his drink. It needs cleaning up.
    Me: Ok.
    SC: *stares*
    CW2: Where are you sitting sir? I’ll come over and sort it.
    SC: I don’t really see why you should have to. He’s the one that’s not doing anything.

    I simply raised my eyebrows and headed for an empty table with CW. We were sat chatting, when he returned.

    SC: Where do you get sugar from? I need sugar for my coffee.
    CW: It’s just at the end of the bar.
    SC: Do you work here too or something?
    CW: Yeah...
    SC: *tuts and walks away*
    Me: You should have said no!

    Our food arrives. Oh crap. He’s wandering about again.

    SC: My coffee is too strong. I need some more milk for it.
    Me: If you go to the bar they will be able to sort it out for you.
    SC: Why can’t you do it?
    Me: Because I’m not working and I’m eating...
    SC: But they’re busy and you’re not doing anything.

    OK guys. I was snappy. I was hungover and hungry. The two of those combined are not good.

    Me: I’m sorry, but I’m not working, I’m having a meal and I’m having a private conversation. If you go to the bar, they will help you, but I am not leaving this table.
    SC: Oh well, sorrrrrryyyyyyyyyyy to disturb you!

    He walked away and didn’t come back. However, other customers had noticed him asking me questions. A lady approached the table.

    SC2: Excuse me, are you serving Sunday lunch today?
    Me: Yes we are. If you go speak to one of the barstaff, they will give you the details.
    SC2: Oh. Ok then.

    She walked away looking quite hurt.

    I was wearing a hooded jumper. I pulled the hood over my head and continued to eat, while CW giggled and tried not to choke on his food.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    It's funny*, they expect you to be working 24/7/365 and are in utter shock and unable to cope when you are off-duty. Yet they themselves would be appalled if their own bosses demanded they put in the hours that they seem to think you put in! They have days off and go off-duty, yet cannot comprehend that you might be, too.

    *except not really funny
    I don't have an attitude problem. You have a perception problem.
    My LiveJournal
    A page we can all agree with!

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    • #3
      Quoth XCashier View Post
      It's funny*, they expect you to be working 24/7/365 and are in utter shock and unable to cope when you are off-duty. Yet they themselves would be appalled if their own bosses demanded they put in the hours that they seem to think you put in! They have days off and go off-duty, yet cannot comprehend that you might be, too.

      *except not really funny
      Sadly, some realize that and STILL think they're too important for it to apply equally
      - They say nothing good happens at 2AM, they're right, I happen at 2AM.

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      • #4
        I have often thought a good answer to the question "Don't you work here?" when one is off the clock is "Not right now, I'm not." Of course, some people just don't get that employees don't typically work 24/7, and are not at every customer's beck and call.

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        • #5
          I don't get why this guy couldn't seem to grasp the meaning of "NOT WORKING RIGHT NOW" the first time around.

          Or even the fourth. Three one-syllable words and one two-syllable word ... it's not that hard ...



          Hope you at least managed to finish your meal in peace, even if you did have to do it under the Muggle version of an Invisibility Cloak.

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          • #6
            Them: "Do you work here?"
            Off-duty Person: "No."

            . . .

            Later: "Hey I thought you said you didn't work here!"
            "The hiring process here is fantastically streamlined, and their training is golden, I know where everything is and it's my first day! What can I get you?"

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            • #7
              Quoth customersruinmylife View Post
              SC: Oh well, sorrrrrryyyyyyyyyyy to disturb you!
              CRML: "As you should be. Apology accepted." [Return to eating and conversation.]

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              • #8
                Maybe it's not a common UK idiom, but I've found that the phrase "I'm not on the clock right now." works really well.

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                • #9
                  What do they think? That they put you in cold storage for the night & reactivate you in the morning?

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    I popped into work the other day to look at a laptop, the same as any other customer, didn't go behind the desk or speak to staff, I was also dressed so far away from what the uniform looks like yet someone said "where are the phones?" didn't even bother to ask if I worked there, when I wear my uniform 60% of people ask "do you work here?"

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                    • #11
                      It's the Aura of Competence, cono. Everyone who has ever worked as a wageslave has it to some degree.
                      "For a musician, the SNES sound engine is like using Crayola Crayons. Nobuo Uematsu used Crayola Crayons to paint the Sistine Chapel." - Jeremy Jahns (re: "Dancing Mad")
                      "The difference between an amateur and a master is that the master has failed way more times." - JoCat
                      "Thinking is difficult, therefore let the herd pronounce judgment!" ~ Carl Jung
                      "There's burning bridges, and then there's the lake just to fill it with gasoline." - Wiccy, reddit
                      "Retail is a cruel master, and could very well be the most educational time of many people's lives, in its own twisted way." - me
                      "Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down...tell you she's hurtin' 'fore she keens...makes her a home." - Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, "Serenity" (2005)
                      Acts of Gord – Read it, Learn it, Love it!
                      "Our psychic powers only work if the customer has a mind to read." - me

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                      • #12
                        When I used to work at the big-red bullseye I would field at least one complaint a day (more on weekends) that someone "off-the-clock" or "who obviously works here" wasn't helping them and just slacking off, wandering around and SHOPPING.

                        Yup, you guessed it. Every single time it was just some customers who wore a red shirt that day. No name-tag, no khakis... just a red shirt.

                        It's too bad I don't really interact face-to-face with customers anymore (oh wait, no it's not!) I would love to go, "Oh? How would you feel if I came to your place of work or your HOUSE and demanded you serve me in whatever capacity your job can?"
                        My Writing Blog -Updated 05/06/2013
                        It's so I can get ideas out of my head, I decided to put it in a blog in case people are bored or are curious as to the (many) things in progress.

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                        • #13
                          Quoth Bright_Star View Post
                          What do they think? That they put you in cold storage for the night & reactivate you in the morning?
                          You got it ...

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                          • #14
                            I still remember a LONG time ago I had a day when I was off the clock and had someone come over to me expecting me to serve them, never mind the fact that I was obviously not in uniform and was sitting talking to friends eating.

                            Me: Excuse me, but what line of work are you in, if I may ask?
                            SC: <insert field of work which is not so far from my own>
                            Me: Do you work 24/7/365 and serve every single person that approaches you, even when you are not on the clock?
                            SC: No
                            Me: Then why do you expect ME to?

                            I found out later that SC had actually complained to the manager that I was "Unhelpful and rude to customers", to which the manager basically laughed at them and said "Next time why not try asking one of the staff that is ON DUTY rather than someone who is not even rostered to work?"
                            Violets are blue,
                            Roses are red,
                            I bequeath to thee...
                            A boot to the head >_>

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                            • #15
                              "I'm sorry, but I'm on an hourly rate; if you're willing to pay my wages, I'd be happy to assist you..."
                              This was one of those times where my mouth says "have a nice day" but my brain says "go step on a Lego". - RegisterAce
                              I can't make something magically appear to fulfill all your hopes and dreams. Believe me, if I could I'd be the first person I'd help. - Trixie

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