I'm about to be fired.

[katie kaboom]

Honestly, it sounds like a personal vendetta against you. Document everything that happens and call the labor board if need be.

[tropicsgoddess]

Five complaints in one day?!! I'd ask for proof: comment cards and the like and have a real serious talk with your manager about this. To me,this sounds like those complaints your supervisor received are nothing short of horseshit. Here's a a few on me and some big .

[Mike Taylor]

Five complaints in one day?!! I'd ask for proof: comment cards and the like and have a real serious talk with your manager about this. To me,this sounds like those complaints your supervisor received are nothing short of horseshit.

This.

If these complaints are on the up & up, they'll be documented. They have to be or the store staff could be in big trouble.

[Imogene]

Sounds like the discussion I had with the manager of the craft store when he decided to get on my case about wearing nail polish.

"You can't, because you're a guy."

"That's discrimination, blah blah, blah..."

"Oh, and fellow register worker says you're creepy."

"Uh...?"

Really? How do I respond to that? "Did she suggest ways in which I could be less creepy? Creepy is rather a subjective word, no?"

[Snowbird]

I'm shy too, and I've found that oftentimes people will mistake a shy demeanor for one that is haughty or standoffish. It's all in their perception and once it's perceived, the impression sticks and usually not in a good way. People tend to get nasty when they feel someone is looking down their nose at them, which might explain the complaints, if they're genuine. Sales associates are mindless drones not allowed to have any confidence or thoughts of superiority in the least, after all.

If those complaints are genuine, a big if, I'd definitely do as others suggested and get documented proof, along with a written submitted form of your coworkers complaint too. If it wasn't official and was just gossip that a manager picked up on and ran with, that ain't cool either.

I hope your week gets better.

[Despina83]

Thanks for all the advice. Well, hopefully things don't escalate from here. My old supervisor who moved to Illinois told me fuck them, I was one of the most reliable cashiers in the place, one of the easiest to work with, I took initiative to get things done, etc. So that does make me feel better. Why did all the good people in the place either quit or get sacked?

[Hanzoku]

She told me that I would be placed on corrective action (probation) for the second time and that would be final warning. Gee, they got to final warning awful quick...I don't believe she said she WAS placing me on it for sure right now, only that she was going to be forced to very soon if it continued. It's amazing that their picking on me, with the stuff I see some of the other cashiers doing. Sure, I've done more than my share of stupid things, but I've never been rude to a guest. These people are interpreting my shyness for something else. Judging me right off the bat and running off to guest service to complain. What about all the things I say and the helpful things I do? Why is it that it's only complaints against me that get voiced? Maybe I should just stop trying to be polite and helpful, it's obviously not getting me anywhere with guests.

Honestly, you're placing FAR too much of this on yourself. I'm with the crowd that says you should be asking for proof of these complaints. Five in one four hour shift is extremely suspicious and according to you, entirely out of character.

Second, you should ask your colleague if she made a complaint against you to management. She was mentioned by name and you deserve to know if this is truthful or not. Since you once again say that this is out of character, I'm suspicious if she actually made a formal complaint or your management is making things up.

From your comments, it sounds like your store works on a two probation and then you're fired system, and it looks to me like your management is railroading you so they can fire you and try to avoid paying unemployment. Document everything, and try to find the money for a doctor's visit to confirm your anxiety problems so you have some weight of laws behind you if the management is trying to force you out.

[Despina83]

It really wasn't cool for my supervisor to name names like that. She told me exactly which co-worker "told on me", and that's not something anyone should do. A good way to start fueds in a place like that. Now I'm pissed off at her and will probably end up asking her about it.

[fireheart]

I'd agree. Five in a shift is way outta line. Could be a conspiracy to get fired. Either way, ring HR, if you can, ring the union (if you're part of one) or even better, if you have a friend who can do so, get them to access the "comments." Document, document, document.

[tamezin]

1. Smile sunshine, you're beautiful...grumpy face and all
2. Screw them all
3. You are in the wrong job.

I know it is very difficult especially in today's job market to consider a switch, but even if you don't lose your job, you may want to seriously consider a different field.

I was painfully shy, socially awkward, and suffered horrible anxiety when I had to deal with the public. I could never understand why it was so easy for some people and so hard for me. Then one day I just didn't care anymore. That is when I found out I was ok in my skin.

My oldest daughter also suffers from SAD, and it has been very hard for me to watch her go through the same pain I did. You really need to get some help with this, chronic depression is not something that will just go away on it's own. You said you live in the US, I know most area's here have mental health assistance on a sliding scale based on your income. Take some time to investigate.

[draftermatt]

I agree with most everyone here about getting documentation and speaking the the GSA in private.

But I'll also add something that I hope doesn't make you and others mad.

If you know you have these problems, why do you work a job that requires interaction with people?

I'm not saying you don't have a right to if that's what you want, or if that's the only job you can find. But I know I have a hard time being "friendly" to everyone (I'm better now than I was 10 years ago) so I got a job/career where I only deal with people in the same business as me. No "public" interaction.

[Rebel1012]

5 complaits!! man i dont even get that many a shift and im allowed to be mean and rude to the customers!!!

[Chattyaholic]

I can relate. I was at work (waitressing) one night and the next day my boss showed me a bad comment card someone had filled out on me. The complaint? I didn't smile ENOUGH. That made me so angry. I smiled, but just not enough to suit her I guess. But what the stupid woman who complained about me didn't know was that I was working sick. I had tried to get someone to take my shift but they all had plans so I had to work. I had a terrible cold, fever, sore throat, etc. but I "drugged up" on cold meds before I went to work so my symptoms didn't even show. But what kind of person complains about something like that, you know?!

I would NEVER complain about a cashier, waitress, etc. You just never know what they may be going through, and they always say "don't take your troubles to work" but it's hard not to sometimes. We're human. But customers don't understand that. We are supposed to be "perfect" all the time. Blah blah blah.

Sorry about your job. I hope it works out for the best for you.

[SpyOne]

Apparently they were complaining that I don't LOOK THEM IN THE EYE!
(snip) I have serious self esteem issues. The reason I don't look you in the eye and smile is not because I'm a bitch but because I'm SHY AS HELL!!!!! Yeah, I'm intimidated by you!!! What do you think of THAT, ladies and gents??

Do you have documentation of that?
I believe you can't be fired for a condition you had when they hired you, even if you didn't disclose it when hired (although maybe you could be fired for not disclosing it, say if they had a question on the application like "do you have any disabilities that might affect your ability to do the job" and you "lied" in answering it.

Bottom line, if your behavior on the day in question was the same as it had been before then, and especially if it is caused by a diagnosed disorder, then I really don't think they can fire you over it without significant legal liability. AND, by trying, they have cast suspicion on any subsequent attempt to fire you.

Is your store by any chance unionized? If so, the Union should be able to provide you with a lawyer for some advice. If not, consider consulting a lawyer anyway.

[taxguykarl]

The other posters are right: There is no such thing as too much documentation. I too find it hard to believe that anyone other than a abusive asshole could rack up that many complaints in a single shift. Let's see the complaints.