Being told to smile by passengers...

[crazylegs]

Another reason why I love my job, not only do I not have to smile I'm also allowed to SHOUT at, berate and tell off our 'customers'.

[Rapscallion]

I try to deliberately smile when answering the phone. It works, try it. People respond better when they hear a smiling person speaking.

I rarely meet customers at work, so it's a non-issue most of the time.

Rapscallion

[katie kaboom]

Since when did customer = bully?

since I started working in retail.

[cinema guy]

We are supposed to smile when working at the cinema. I generally don't, although I am polite, attentive and friendly.

This is one of the reasons I prefer working in the projection booth, away from people.

[Antisocial_Worker]

At the hotel where I worked for more than five years, I once got written up by a visiting honcho because I didn't "show enough teeth" when I smiled. Think about that. I was smiling, but it wasn't toothy enough.

So, in retaliation, I worked up a "smile" that bared all of my teeth, at the same time. To do it, you sort of have to peel your lips back so that they're all exposed, and then open your mouth a little so that people can see the ones in the back, too. From time to time, I would point at my mouth to emphasize that not only did I have all of my teeth, they were all on display. Hell, come on over with a flashlight and inspect 'em if you like!

The honcho was not amused. I didn't care. I also learned that I could hold that smile for about forty five minutes before the cramping got so bad that I had to close my mouth... But only long enough to rest up for another one!

[katie kaboom]

It scares me to think managers actually expect their employees to smile every single minute that they're on the job.

I remember one day the big boss walked past me, looked right at me, saw that i was actually smiling, and still told me to smile! Sometimes I wonder if they even really look at us all that closely or whether it's just a reflex action on their part to tell us to smile. But either way, it's really annoying.

[AriRashkae]

My coworkers and regulars learned pretty quickly that if I was actually smiling, it was best to just smile, nod, be polite and back away slowly. The bigger the grin, the more evil my thoughts. I tend to create random scenes in my head, but sadly, rarely enough that I can force together into a coherent storyline.

[Food Lady]

I suppose the commentary from old men is their feeble way of flirting; probably why they don't do it to guys.

[AirHostess]

Someone said 'smile' to me today. I just said "well actually my father has just had a suspected heart attack," (which is true) and that shut them up pretty fast.

[Buglady]

Long story short folks, it isn't really about your mood, it's about their control

This. This is EXACTLY it. Especially when it's older men talking to younger women, but also between males and the other way around. I have had two micromanaging bosses who got their knockers in a twist over my facial expressions *when there weren't even any customers around*. When customers appeared, I smiled; otherwise, what was I supposed to do, sit there and grin for the cameras? (That was how one boss watched me, which was creepy).

I do smile when I am talking to customers, if it's appropriate. But that is because I genuinely like dealing with most of them and I like helping people solve their problems (I have mainly worked in specialty stores where customers are asking for advice/guidance on what to buy and how to use it for specific projects or needs). Smiling just for the sake of it? No. That's just silly.

[wildman]

You guys need to more!

[RecoveringKinkoid]

Never had a job where they told me to smile all the time. I would have quit that job with a quickness if I had. Telling me what facial expression to have? Offensive.

I evidently have a stern expression when I'm just relaxed. I do on occasion get some dingus saying "smile" to me...something I loathe more than if they walked up to me and insulted me. At that point, I just give them my most contemptuous, withering, pitying scowl and then ignore them.

If I am in a good mood, I'll give the look and say "I am smiling."

I have had one person do the "It's not that bad" horseshit on me. I just said "Really? You know that, eh?" Shut them up.

I don't know where people get off saying shit like that to total strangers.

[Evil Queen]

Uh, Katie I have to ask. Do you like your job? You don't seem to.

I hate to fly (god knows I've done it enough) so I like to see a smiling face to reassure me that no, the plain WON'T crash and I won't have to resort to eating my fellow passengers.

....

I watch a lot of horror movies.

[katie kaboom]

I hate to fly (god knows I've done it enough) so I like to see a smiling face to reassure me that no, the plain WON'T crash and I won't have to resort to eating my fellow passengers.

Yeah but they'd probably taste better than the airline food.

[Evil Queen]

Yeah but they'd probably taste better than the airline food.

Eh, depends on their diet.