Why working retail is a hard job

Anyone who has never worked in a retail store is likely to have said that working in a shop is not a hard job. Is that really true?

We explain in this article how working in retail is tough. Possibly tougher than working in some other industries.

If you’re the owner of a retail store, whether that be at a physical location or an ecommerce site, you’re big on customer service. Yet, working with the customers you’ve worked hard to bring through your doors can get tiring.

When it comes to your employees, you probably want to make sure they’re comfortable in their positions at the very least. Problems at home can mean problems at work, and vice versa, all adding up to a terrible work record. Understanding the core of this, the rough ride of working customer service 24/7, is essential, so here are a few reasons it’s hard to stay on task when you’re behind the sales counter.

Customers can be ruder than anywhere else

When it comes to delivering a good customer service, people in retail have to cope with it more than anyone else, which leads to a lot more exposure than other jobs out there!

When it comes to frustrations during shopping, and let’s face it we all have them, the person on the other side of the counter is simply an easy target at the end of the day. Whether a coupon won’t scan, or there’s no bootcut jeans in someone’s size; anything can be worth a shouting match.

Most customers aren’t like this, however, and yet, the small sample of them is still the most representative group to be served in retail positions. It’s all that’s focused on in this personal account found at www.elitedaily.com, which a lot of people in similar situations will find themselves agreeing with. As a retail worker one customer can ruin your day, so be nice to people who are simply trying to help you.

The other aspect of working in retail is that you always need to be friendly and knowledgeable with every customer. Everyone has that one bad day where you really do not want to talk to anyone. Unfortunately, as a retail worker being short with one customer could lead to a warning for your behaviour..

The contracts are confusing

When it comes to signing a contract, there are a lot of terms and conditions you need to be on the lookout for. Whether it’s stipulated as a zero hours contract, which at first can be quite lenient for the person involved but the uncertainty eventually disrupts your life, or a full 40+ hours-a-week contract, knowing what you’re reading is key.

Once you know how to sort through jargon and buzzwords, you’re going to be a lot more secure in deciding your job terms. Don’t know if something is binding or not? Get it in writing! If you need a little more clarification on the matter in general, speak to an employment lawyer, they can advise you on what you can include in a retail workers contract.

If you feel that your employer is taking advantage of you beyond your contract, get everything in writing. Employment lawyers love open-and-shut cases where they can recoup their fees from the business.

There are unpredictable on-the-clock hours

We all hear about the 9 to 5 most of the population works, and yet you’re lucky to even see this time on your schedule! Weekends and weekdays are all up for grabs when you’re working in a store, as the grind never stops when someone desperately needs some glue or a new shirt.

Having such a wacky schedule doesn’t do anything for a person’s health. Sleep can be disrupted by opening or closing a store, and taking care of other parts of your life can be similarly waylaid by a mid-day clock-in.

It is also difficult for people who have office jobs that retail workers are not closed for Christmas, or Easter. When you are trying to arrange a getaway during the holidays, these are often shops busiest times so they are unable to allow employees time off.

People in retail are often unsung heroes of today!