For even worse than laziness of body is laziness of the mind and heart. ~May Sinclair, British novelist, poet, and critic
A few days ago, I went to WalMart to pick up some things I needed, and I came out so disgusted and angry I was ready to throttle somebody.
Anybody.
Here’s what happened — and I’ll be interested in hearing if you (as intelligent, well-meaning readers) feel the same way, or if I’m way off base:
I’d finished shopping and was searching for a place to check out.
The self-service lanes were only partially open, and most of the associate-operated lanes were three or four carts deep, but finally, I noticed an empty lane.
Pulling in, I found a young associate playing on her phone.
She looked up, glared at me (that I’d dared interrupt her important business, I guess), and proceeded to ring my items up.
Not a word crossed her lips.
No “Hello.” No “Did you find everything you were looking for?” Not even a “Isn’t it hot outside?”
Nothing.
When she’d finished (basically cramming my things into bags that should’ve been separated so I could carry them), she mumbled the total.
And then she practically tossed the receipt at me, saying, “Here ya go.”
No “Thank you for shopping with us.” No “Have a nice rest of your day.” No “I’m having a rotten day, and I’m sorry to take it out on you.”
Nothing.
Now I haven’t been living in a cave for the past two decades. I know things in our country (and world, actually) are pretty sorry for a lot of people.
Too many folks are out of work (or under-employed). Too many folks don’t seem to know how to relate to others anymore (blame it on the pandemic … or social media).
But this girl looked well fed. Well clothed. And she had a job.
Maybe it wasn’t the job she wanted — or thought she deserved. But, handled properly, it was a job that could keep her off the streets, living in a tent with a shopping cart of her things nearby.
WalMart employees earn about $18 an hour. Which doesn’t sound like much, but if she’d wanted the Big Bucks, she’d have gone to college or technical school.
Perhaps she wasn’t completely and properly trained. Perhaps she never should’ve been hired in the first place. And there must be a place in Heaven for employees with a positive attitude, eagerness to learn, basic friendliness, and industriousness.
Am I stretching too far to see a connection between society’s constant reliance on cell phones and an increase in laziness of mind, heart, and spirit?
Some school districts seem to think so and have banned mobile devices during school hours. Shouldn’t businesses do the same?
Musings by an ND Domer's Mom 
I would have felt the same way. Banning cell phones while working would be ideal but might not eliminate the rude attitude of some employees. One day I watched an HVAC worker, supposedly working on the condenser unit outside and behind my neighbor’s home, leaning against a tree, scrolling away on his cell phone. I wondered if he was getting paid for that time…
You know, there’s a place for cell phones, and I think most of us realize that. Sadly, the number who do seems to be dwindling! As someone who worked for herself, I’m glad I didn’t have to supervise employees and deal with this kind of issue. I blame her grumpy attitude on that cell phone!
No cell phones at work, school or social gatherings is my vote. I employed workers in my business and I would tell them at the hiring, “Don’t let me see you on your phone while working. Okay on breaks.” PERIOD. I don’t pay for scrolling, I pay for work!
Good philosophy, Eliza. And don’t you love seeing a couple out for dinner, both of them on their cell phones?!?
Cell phones at meal times are relationship killers, IMO!
Like most people, I make use of my cell phone for various tasks: primarily texting with customers, making and receiving phone calls, using apps for plant identification, looking at the weather radar, and looking up occasional facts. But I don’t “socially text,” I’m not in any group chats, I don’t use the phone as a camera, and I’m not on any social media.
All of that means I’m an outlier, and it also means I’m with you a hundred percent. I wouldn’t call cell phones a tool of the devil, but I’m well aware of the studies showing how much harm is being done by them: especially for children and young people. They’re eroding social cohesion in some interesting ways, as well. I’d be in favor of getting them out of both school and businesses: at least when employees are engaged with the public. If it’s the lunch hour and someone wants to spend it on TikTok, fine. But when they’re at the cash register, no thank you.
I’m so happy to hear I’m not alone in my thoughts! I can see where WalMart employees might need a cell phone to help a customer locate an item they might not be familiar with (I’ve had this done often), but to scroll their social accounts or text with friends on company time is stealing!
I use my phone similarly to you, Linda. Somehow, if I want to chat with somebody though, I prefer to talk with them, rather than texting. And yes, I find my phone’s camera awfully handy, particularly when I’m out walking with the Monk. And I have yet to write or post to my blog from my phone!
I definitely think businesses should ban phones during working hours! I must admit I’ve never seen any member of staff using a phone in my supermarket so I guess they don’t allow it. And as a result the staff are generally polite and quite happy to pass the time of day with the customers. As for schools, it’s ridiculous that kids were ever allowed to use their phones in class, and I’m glad that more schools are now banning them.
Your supermarket seems to have done things right! I remember when I was a child (before the advent of cell phones), and our store employees would be eager to help a customer. Or restock shelves, clean the dressing rooms, move merchandise to a Sale rack, or whatever. Now, they seem to prefer accessing TikTok. Or maybe they’re reading the news (and if so, no wonder they’re angry, ha!)
I was lucky enough to retire 10 years ago, when phones were starting to be a constant. I definitely was not happy if I ran across an employee on her or his phone…at that time there would have been no reason other than personal to be on a phone. These days I think employees often use them to perform some function of work. BUT I doubt the cashier was doing that. She was just on her phone because she was bored. Given that, she should have immediately put it away, smiled at you and asked the regular conversational questions.
Depending on my mood I might have ignored her rudness. Or I might have apolotized for interrupting her phone time. Or I might have outright asked her if she was having a bad day. OR I might have marched over to Customer Service and asked if they had a remedial training program she could attend.
Thanks for your thoughts, Dawn. I got out of journalism before the rise of cell phones, so I can’t imagine sitting in a courtroom covering a trial and having everybody scrolling!
I think your assessment of this cashier was spot on, too. She likely was just bored. But we know boredom is a choice. I ignored her insolence, though the anger built to a frenzy by the time I walked out of the store. Maybe I should’ve said something to a manager. Maybe I should’ve at least written a note to appraise them of the situation. I just don’t want the guilt of getting somebody fired. I mean, she might have little kids or a sick parent at home, you know? Still, when is she going to learn if everybody keeps turning a blind eye to her attitude? Sigh.
That experience would have left me with a sour taste in my mouth. Not only should employees have a rule against using their phones while working, customers should refrain as well. Even in the volunteer work I do at a food bank, I find it irritating when a client can’t bother with setting down their phone while I’m helping them. And don’t get me started about phone conversations in public, especially on speaker!
Oh, now you’ve touched on a pet peeve of mine, Kelly — people carrying on phone conversations with the speaker blaring for any and all to hear! Like they’re so important we ALL want and need to listen in? At least this girl wasn’t on speaker, ha! But neither did she have the decency to apologize when she knew I’d caught her doing what she’d probably been told NOT to!
This person is a product of poor management. No excuse for such behavior, although I have found personnel at Walmart to be below average in social interaction. (not with screens, but real live humans)
Poor management, indeed. And it would’ve been so easy to simply apologize and tell me a family member was having surgery and she was awaiting the outcome. Or whatever. And I’d have shrugged it off. No, she clearly was scrolling TikTok or some such and resented me catching her at it.
That is why I wish we could just hit someone with a custard pie.
HaHa, me too!!
I hear you and relate. It is sad how quickly some people become angry and rude.
Thanks, Cindy. And if what she was looking at (whether social media or a news outlet) was making her so angry, she probably should have switched over to playing Royal Kingdom or something!
“Pulling in, I found a young associate playing on her phone.She looked up, glared at me (that I’d dared interrupt her important business, I guess), and proceeded to ring my items up.”
OMG Debbie, I have experienced the same thing many, many, many, many times, and it annoyed me to no end. In fact, it bothered me so much that I’ve sent emails to these companies, complaining about it. But of course, all they ever do is send me an email; apologizing for what I experienced. And yet, I get the same careless treatment again and again. Therefore, I know it was NOT addressed.
“Shouldn’t businesses do the same?”
Yes they should.
I’m in retail myself, and I do not bring my cell phone on the sales floor, I keep it in my backpack. Using your cellphone to text, talk, or check your emails should not be allowed while working.
“No “Hello.” No “Did you find everything you were looking for?” Not even a “Isn’t it hot outside?”
The exact same thing happens to me. And it happens A LOT. There is no such thing as “professional customer service.” The lines have been blurred between what employees are supposed to do while working, and what they do on their free time. There is no longer any protocol. People can do whatever they want and get away with it.
And it’s ironic you posted about this topic today because last week I had an encounter with a RUDE employee who was going to ring up my purchases at Trader Joe’s. HOWEVER, she was so rude, I actually placed all my food items back into my grocery cart and said to her, “Do you know what? I’m going to use another checkout, you’re rude!” And then I proceeded to wheel my grocery cart to another checkout and left her standing there. I also contacted corporate and made a formal complaint about her. Two days later, I got an email response, saying that they were SO SORRY about my experience and informed me that it would be addressed. Yeah right, I’m not holding my breath. LOL!
Great post, my friend! And I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who experiences stuff like this when it comes to customer service. It’s truly sad to see how there is no such thing as a “work ethic” anymore.
Hope you had a super Sunday! Have a great week! X
Ron, I figured — with your retail and customer service background — you’d find this girl’s behavior outrageous! Hearing that you complained (to no avail) leads me to wonder if even the supervisors aren’t aware that such treatment of customers isn’t appropriate.
I think we’ve all seen instances where people who are supposed to be working are instead playing on their phones. Looking something up for a customer isn’t what I’m talking about. I’m complaining about that mindless scrolling, watching videos, chatting with friends, etc. while on the clock, on their employer’s time. And then not having the decency to look sheepish when they’re caught doing it!
I admire what you did to the rude checker at Trader Joe’s. Packing your items back into the cart and changing lanes should have taught them a lesson, but as you say, it probably didn’t. I guess some employers feel they’re lucky to find helpers at all and make their minds up to put up with bad behavior, just to have warm bodies around. Sad, sad, sad. This hasn’t happened overnight, but I shudder to think how much worse it could get.
Thanks for dropping by with your excellent thoughts, my friend! XX
I would have felt that same way! Cell phones should not be used while on the job. I really don’t understand why companies allow it. Even at the animal shelter where I volunteer, I often see employees on their phone, even supervisors simply sitting at their desk, scrolling through their phones. Cell phones cause so many problems, and we’re just now waking up to that fact!
Thanks, Ann, for confirming my thoughts! I’m glad I’m not the only one to believe that cell phones have their place … but too many people seem to be using them inappropriately. It’s hard to believe that employees either don’t have enough work to do, or they’re so bored by doing it, that they have time for mindless scrolling!