It's not uncommon for those in petty positions of power to vastly overestimate the reach of that power. Whatever the words of the message, the point this manager is trying to convey is clear: we know that you need us more than we need you, so we're going to see how far we can manipulate the conditions of your employment in our favor and you're just going to have to deal with it.

Consider this: You have been working for what seems like forever. Just as you are about to clock out, a couple enters the restaurant and asks to be seated. You obviously attend to the unwelcomed couple, and then just like that you realize that you're not going home anytime soon. As if that weren't awful enough, the couple now treats you like they own the restaurant, giving you the run-around, yelling at you, and expecting you to treat them like royalty. Well, that's exactly what happened to our…

In hard times, our worth and value become evident. The way a person handles others in trying circumstances speaks volumes. So, while I don't want to jump the gun, I'm quite sure that I'm a terrible person. There is no patience in me when I'm nervous or angry. The story below is of a front desk worker who unfortunately meets the Karen of the century. The Karen in question enters the room totally oblivious of what is going on. OP, however, doesn't let her insults get to him; instead, he keeps cal…

We have likely dealt with a Karen at some point in our lives, particularly if we have extensive customer service experience. But what matters is how we deal with the wild Karen. Karens are here to stay, whether we like it or not, as they existed before the dawn of time and will probably exist for decades to come. If you look past their various nicknames over the years, Karens are just the same old entitled personality we love to hate. Nothing particularly unique or innovative about them. The st…

Running around the restaurant trying to take orders, pick up dirty plates, and grant ridiculous requests such as ‘Give me a literal bowl of ketchup’ is exhausting. Especially when your entire wage depends on the kindness of strangers, also known as customers. Are they going to tip? How much are they going to tip? Will I be able to afford to fix my car this month, or am I going to cry when I see my account balance instead? You never know. Around the holidays, people are often a little more gener…

Have you ever demanded to speak to a manager, only for the employee to turn on their heel and come back with, 'But I AM the manager'? Because I have not had the pleasure of experiencing that level of awkwardness. But this dude did… And he was not happy about it. What happened is the following: One employee by the name of OP was working at a toy store back when they were in college. You know, trying to make a buck or two while they studied furiously the rest of the time. A customer decided that…

Dealing with entitled customers is one of the most challenging parts of customer service jobs, especially when those entitled customers continue to come back despite insisting they're not going to. Handling their behavior just isn't worth it, no matter how much money they spend. That's why we love to see when a business owner stands up for themselves and sets the record straight—responding matter-of-factly to an unjust 1-star review from an entitled customer.

When a client makes an oversight, the service provider usually swoops in and saves the day, but this time, being the hero meant coming in on a Saturday… And nobody wants to come in on a Saturday! Unless they're getting paid a million bucks, and that definitely wasn't the case here. The client worked at a medical center, and had had some builders come in and do some work. OP, the person providing service for the client (who we'll call CB) was setting up some equipment for them. CB forgot to call…

We will always be affected by favoritism. Parents make an effort to convince us that there is no such thing as favoritism and that people evaluate us based on our qualifications or lack thereof. As someone who has worked at over a dozen jobs, attended roughly six different schools during her life, and is one of twenty grandkids, I can vouch for the fact that favorites exist. The story below is of a strong single mother who is having a hard time providing for her kid. OP is a hard-working waitre…

One thing's for sure: there's no greater relief than quitting a bad job, especially when you already have another one lined up and ready to go. Everyone, at one point or another, has dreamed of doing this—preferably in explosive fashion. One day, walking and just letting your honest feelings fly before walking out —never to be seen again—while everyone is still sitting there stunned and processing what has just occurred.

Many people say that working in retail builds resilience and character, but perhaps it just exposes you to the worst kind of people in this world. I guess in some sense, that builds resilience and character, but that has to be the only silver lining that comes with having to deal with entitled Karen customers on a daily basis. Otherwise, these workers deserve the kind of prizes and medals that heroes and soldiers receive because I'm sure it feels like every shift is an almost Sisyphean fight fo…

Jobs that are totally worth it but also really not.

"You can't always get what you want..." Mick Jagger and the 'Stones famously taught us, before then going on to elaborate that “If you try sometimes, you'll find you get what you need.” While that's all well and good, and while this serves as a great message of inspiration about how one should never give up when the going gets tough… There are actually plenty of times in life when you might want something from someone else, and upon being told “No,” you should just take the “No” at face value a…

Apparently some Karens can't do math

Anyone who ever worked in retail knows how frustrating it is to have to explain to a customer the policy of the store and what they can or cannot do if they want to return an item. I once had a 30-minute conversation with a guy who wanted to return an item that was bought in a completely different store, and he simply did not accept ‘no’ for an answer. Being on the other side of the counter is no fun either. I can't tell you how much accumulated random stuff I have in my house simply because a…

Working in the service industry will put you within arm's reach of some of the most irrational people on the face of the planet, and after the initial grinding your teeth and crossing your eyes phase, you get used to dealing with them. A hostess told her story on u/entitledpeople, where she relayed a frustrating story with an even more frustrating outcome. She had an encounter with one of those Karens you always dread who are about to walk in the door and change the entire menu… You know the ty…