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Post by Senbecc on Aug 7, 2006 9:08:56 GMT -5
How can I word this...I have been working at the local Wal-Mart here in town for the last...Oh three months or so. In or around this last month a new guy was hired named Chris. Now, our crew is "called" maintnence, however we are more or less janitors...Yes I'm a janitor, as ashamed as I am to admit it, this is mostly because I never finished Highschool.
Anyway back to the subject at hand. When they hired Chris, I knew right away that he was with out a doubt the most annoying human being I had ever come into contact with. For example, I still wear the old pentagram from my days as a Faery witch (those of you who have seen my pictures in the faces to names thread have seen the black shoe string around my neck), upon seeing it (it's always falling out of the collar of my shirt) he asked me if it was the sign of a werewolf..."no" I said, "I am a Pagan, I am an Irish Celtic reconstructionist Druid"....He shoots back with "OHHHH so your like really into dragons aren't you?" At which point he pulls out a collection of Poke Mon cards and proceeds to edjucate me on the wonderous world of Poke Mon.
But alas, he isn't all there you see...His mind is like that of a child even though he is 23 yrs. old which made me (well all of those in our crew I suppose) feel all the worse for letting him annoy us as he does.
The job I have is a very "pull your own weight" type of job. People are always getting into trouble for his mistakes. None of us have the patiants or the training to deal with his special needs, and tonight he got me in a pretty good spot. Cleaning the Wal-Mart bathrooms is probably the most disgusting job in the known universe, but that is what he does, but because he can never be left alone I was working with him. I did the mens room, and my boss came and told me (as we have to clean the break room too) that he can't be left in the break room, he talks to everyone annoys the shit out of them and stays all night put him in the bathrooms...Fine fine I FINALLY got him out of the break room him arguing every step of the way (as always) and let him do the women's room...I finished the offices and the break room. two hours later he imerges...aparently triumphant. So we progress.
My assesment however was in the deepest of error. I made an awful mistake in trusting him. He had not done over half of what he was charged with doing...Thus the big boss lady comes to me and didn't really have a wal-eyed fit but made her feelings known.
As I said...This is a pull your own weight type job, and isn't an easy one at all. I certainly didn't tell her to hire him and I don't want his mistakes to be my downfall...
Am I being under sensitive to his needs I wonder, over sensitive to the situation?...Was there something else I could have done, there simply aren't enough hours in the day to watch over every move this kid makes... Anyway...Rant over, for now.
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Post by Senbecc on Aug 7, 2006 9:16:43 GMT -5
Something else I wanted to add...Anyone see that movie "Ice age"? You know with the Mammoth and the sloth?
If you remember the sloth, if you've SEEN the sloth...You've seen Chris...Nuff said.
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Post by flowerfaeryqueen on Aug 7, 2006 10:16:02 GMT -5
uh no, but pokemon, huh? i was over my pokemon faze when i was 7.
poor you.
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Post by moonwind333 on Aug 7, 2006 15:52:59 GMT -5
Usually those like Chris become overwhelmed when told to do too many things at one time. It may take some extra time (though not as much extra time as redoing the jobs), but try this. Put him in the area he is to work in and tell him to do ONE thing ... clean the sinks, only the sinks. Check on him and make sure he remembers. After he finishes the sinks put him in the first stall and tell him to clean the toilet, floor, etc. Check on him and when he finishes, put him in the next stall ... keep this up until he finishes the job. Do this wherever he works. Many times those with mental handicaps only remember the last thing they were told to do, so that is all that gets done. I think you may find Chris will be a hard worker if handled correctly. Otherwise, tell your boss the problems that are being caused and ask for instructions on how to handle them ... Chris may need to be transfered to a job that he can better handle.
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Post by theoccultchrist on Aug 7, 2006 16:18:09 GMT -5
Don't fee ltoo bad John; I'm a Janitor of sorts too.
I work at Kroger ( a Major Grocery Store) They own alot of other stores like Ralphs, King Soopers, City Market, Dillows, Smith Food & Drug, Frys, QFC, Bakers, Cala Foods/Bell MArkets, Owens, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Pay Less Super MArket, Food 4 Less, Food Co., FredMeyer, Frys MArketplace, Smiths MArketplace, and Kroger Marketplace.
I Dunno if you have any of those stores out your way.
Anyway, I guess before I got hired in they done away with the JP's at my store (Jps = JAnitors) and they deligated the JP jobs to the Courtesy Clerks/Baggers - Which is what I am.
So in addition to bagging groceries, bringing carts in from the sweltering outside, putting up with stupid customers, running errands for the Cashiers/Front-End/Office People and Managers.
I also Have to do all of the cleaning in the store..well its not all me persay..but the Courtesy Clerks in general have to.
Trash - Restrooms - Floor Sweeps, Messes - Spills, Welfare trash - just anything and everything.
I would rather do one or the other Bagger duities or JP..but not both..I swear the Baggers now have the MOST Job descriptions than anyone else in the store..and due to it mostly being a teenager job with a high turn over rate..we get screwed on the Union Contract - no Vacation or Benifits until 5th year of service..and our raises suck too..where everyone else gts quarter raises we only get ten cent raises.
Needless to say- I'm waiting for an opening in another department...anything but Cashier..I work on the front and I see all the stupid stuff the Cashiers have to put up with..though that is considered a more prestigious job.. I do not envy them at all.
I'm waiting for an Opening in Either the Produce Department or Grocery or Drug-GM to open up..Produce is self explainitory..Grocery keeps all the Grocery Product stocked in the store and Drug-GM keeps all the non-food and Baby Products in stock.
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Post by stormcat on Aug 7, 2006 17:22:00 GMT -5
Yes, Wal-Mart down here has the most groody,digusting bathrooms. If I had to clean them I'd want a bio-hazard suit! OK, they must think you're a good worker. Why, because they gave you someone to train. I never let the lazy slobs train anyone at our facility. Your job is to get him into the job, or cut him loose to sink. I totally understand the sink or swim attitude. Remember one thing that the people we find most annoying, are the ones who need understanding the most! Chant all the way to work"I'm going to have a good night, Chris won't bother me!" I do this form of chant on my way to the slave pit, it seems to help.>^..^<
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Post by Senbecc on Aug 8, 2006 13:39:48 GMT -5
uh no, but pokemon, huh? i was over my pokemon faze when i was 7. poor you. I know LoL! I guess there aren't many who haven't been edjucated on the subject of Poke mon...When people see me walking through the store with him everyone says the face I make can be discribed with a single word..."Help"
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Post by Senbecc on Aug 8, 2006 13:49:55 GMT -5
Usually those like Chris become overwhelmed when told to do too many things at one time. It may take some extra time (though not as much extra time as redoing the jobs), but try this. Put him in the area he is to work in and tell him to do ONE thing ... clean the sinks, only the sinks. Check on him and make sure he remembers. After he finishes the sinks put him in the first stall and tell him to clean the toilet, floor, etc. Check on him and when he finishes, put him in the next stall ... keep this up until he finishes the job. Do this wherever he works. Many times those with mental handicaps only remember the last thing they were told to do, so that is all that gets done. I think you may find Chris will be a hard worker if handled correctly. Otherwise, tell your boss the problems that are being caused and ask for instructions on how to handle them ... Chris may need to be transfered to a job that he can better handle. The thing that gets me about him is that he's really not that bad off. We have another guy on our crew named Larry and is fun to work with. Everyone likes Larry and he is a verry hard worker. Sometimes I think hes after the bosses job in fact. Larrys situation to me seems much more severe IMO. I actually think Chris is just lazy and is so used to others providing for him that he can't (yet) function in the "real world" w/o someone there to hold his hand and baby sit him. Larry on the other hand has had nothing given to him, and this is their difference I think. I do agree that perhaps he should be transfered, the problem is if they do then someone else will have to deal with him from scratch as we have....So I just don't know...Having calmed down some from yeserday morning I certainly don't want to see the boy fail...I just don't think anyone's going to be able to help him though.
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Post by Senbecc on Aug 8, 2006 14:09:01 GMT -5
Don't fee ltoo bad John; I'm a Janitor of sorts too. I work at Kroger ( a Major Grocery Store) They own alot of other stores like Ralphs, King Soopers, City Market, Dillows, Smith Food & Drug, Frys, QFC, Bakers, Cala Foods/Bell MArkets, Owens, Jay C Food Stores, Hilander, Gerbes, Pay Less Super MArket, Food 4 Less, Food Co., FredMeyer, Frys MArketplace, Smiths MArketplace, and Kroger Marketplace. I Dunno if you have any of those stores out your way. Anyway, I guess before I got hired in they done away with the JP's at my store (Jps = JAnitors) and they deligated the JP jobs to the Courtesy Clerks/Baggers - Which is what I am. So in addition to bagging groceries, bringing carts in from the sweltering outside, putting up with stupid customers, running errands for the Cashiers/Front-End/Office People and Managers. I also Have to do all of the cleaning in the store..well its not all me persay..but the Courtesy Clerks in general have to. Trash - Restrooms - Floor Sweeps, Messes - Spills, Welfare trash - just anything and everything. I would rather do one or the other Bagger duities or JP..but not both..I swear the Baggers now have the MOST Job descriptions than anyone else in the store..and due to it mostly being a teenager job with a high turn over rate..we get screwed on the Union Contract - no Vacation or Benifits until 5th year of service..and our raises suck too..where everyone else gts quarter raises we only get ten cent raises. Needless to say- I'm waiting for an opening in another department...anything but Cashier..I work on the front and I see all the stupid stuff the Cashiers have to put up with..though that is considered a more prestigious job.. I do not envy them at all. I'm waiting for an Opening in Either the Produce Department or Grocery or Drug-GM to open up..Produce is self explainitory..Grocery keeps all the Grocery Product stocked in the store and Drug-GM keeps all the non-food and Baby Products in stock. Actually food 4 less is the only store name I recognize, but I can imagine. Maybe their problem is they're short on help? I know the Wal-Mart I work in they're very short, especially back in the warehouse. In the scheme of things I suppose the idea is just to take pride in the work you do as it reflects us as individuals, perform the tasks as they are given and come to be noticed by the higher ups. I don't envy the stockers either...To much math lol.
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Post by Senbecc on Aug 8, 2006 14:13:25 GMT -5
Yes, Wal-Mart down here has the most groody,digusting bathrooms. If I had to clean them I'd want a bio-hazard suit! OK, they must think you're a good worker. Why, because they gave you someone to train. I never let the lazy slobs train anyone at our facility. Your job is to get him into the job, or cut him loose to sink. I totally understand the sink or swim attitude. Remember one thing that the people we find most annoying, are the ones who need understanding the most! Chant all the way to work"I'm going to have a good night, Chris won't bother me!" I do this form of chant on my way to the slave pit, it seems to help.>^..^< LoL @ the slave pit! Ohhh our bathrooms are spotless, even having a switch that can be flipped when a costemer feels they're getting dirty... However as one can probably imagine the women's room's can get a bit...Gorey.... I hate to be that way, though I'm not as bad as Erv (The old Marine vietnam war horse)...They won't let him work with Chris because blood is so damn hard to clean up.
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Post by wren on Aug 9, 2006 15:10:05 GMT -5
1. Given all your self-education, Senbecc, I would hardly be ashamed! 2. I think Moonwind was right on the money. Start slow, praise high for work well done. Document progress and failure for those who expect you to train him. 3. Add "the student becomes the teacher" to Stormcat's chant!
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Post by stormcat on Aug 9, 2006 17:30:25 GMT -5
Hope things are better Senbecc. I'm middle management, I have the joy of being the center of the Cookie of complaint! High enough so those under me resent it, and those above me distain me. I always tell the ones I supervise, Sh*t rolls down hill, so don't mess up. LOL Most of the people think I look mean, so they avoid confrontations! ;D It's just a day to day struggle. Keep doing the Mantra I told you about! >^~.~^<
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Post by Senbecc on Aug 9, 2006 19:03:42 GMT -5
1. Given all your self-education, Senbecc, I would hardly be ashamed! 2. I think Moonwind was right on the money. Start slow, praise high for work well done. Document progress and failure for those who expect you to train him. 3. Add "the student becomes the teacher" to Stormcat's chant! I appriciate that Wren thank you very much! I'm afraid that many tactics have been tried already...I don't think I hold out much hope for him...He just doesn't know how to earn things for himself. To be honest I don't know if he will even be back this coming week, as I don't think he ever went back in when he found out the boss wanted to talk to us. There is a lesson for me here somewhere, I draw breath and taste it, I just can't figure out what it is. Perhaps in the easiness of seeing where Chris's improvments need to be I need to reflect such back upon myself as well and re-evaluate what I have come to see as adaquate? Build on such area's instead of assuming they will suffice as is? Undoubtedly there is a lesson here in patiants as well.
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Post by Senbecc on Aug 9, 2006 19:07:42 GMT -5
Hope things are better Senbecc. I'm middle management, I have the joy of being the center of the Cookie of complaint! High enough so those under me resent it, and those above me distain me. I always tell the ones I supervise, Sh*t rolls down hill, so don't mess up. LOL Most of the people think I look mean, so they avoid confrontations! ;D It's just a day to day struggle. Keep doing the Mantra I told you about! >^~.~^< Shit alllwwwaaayyyyysss rolls down hill, I know cause I'm the one at the bottom with the pooper scooper.
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Post by fireraven1379 on Aug 9, 2006 21:12:14 GMT -5
Senbec, I use to work at Wal-mart. I started on the remodling team then worked my way into Frozen Foods. Word of advice frozen sucks I would have rather worked in the wharehouse part anyway if your guy Chris does come back get him working on the buffer if this is a third shift. The guys that did that job at the Wal-Mart I worked at were lazy and couldn't be left to do any other job so they got stuck with the buffers all night. Anyway hang in there and there is nothing wrong with being a janitor working at walmart. Well take care fireraven
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