I once worked at a country club with very wealthy members.
The official unofficial policy of the club was “you never tell a member no.” Which meant that whatever a member might request, you just told them you were on it and got to work.
Problem was, a lot of the time I either had no idea how to fulfill their particular request or knew for a fact that it couldn’t happen. But since I wasn’t allowed to just tell them that, my main strategy involved hurrying off to “take care of it” and then just kind of wandering around until I could find someone else to pass it off to.
It wasn’t good. That job wasn’t good.
But I’m not alone in finding these work-arounds.
i once worked with someone who told customers “sorry, it’s my first day!” any time they messed up. for 2 years straight
— makayla (@makaylathinks) May 19, 2021
The OP here wasn’t alone either. Because the tweet replies came flooding in.
10. Check in the back
The back is not some magical place, I don’t know what customers think goes on there.
Best thing about retail work is when a customer asks you to check the back stock room and you go back there for a 10 minute break ?
— Sir Ron Ⓥ (@Skressed4Now) May 19, 2021
9. It didn’t meet our standards
And we’re ALL about standards.
Working at a restaurant we were always told that if the order didn’t get out in to say that the food didn’t meet the high standards we expect and so you made the cooks recook it
— Brandon Jensen (@redrockYfan) May 19, 2021
8. I AM the supervisor
I can be anything I set my mind to.
One time a client wanted a supervisor and this agent said to the client today is ur lucky day you are speaking to a supervisor. He got to be a supervisor right before we got retrenched
— Papa Tlotliso ® ?? (@supastardejay) May 20, 2021
7. I’m still learning English
That’s a clever one.
I’m Polynesian with an indigenous name. So whenever I mispronounce or misspell a word I say , “Sorry I’m still learning English.” They then think English is my second or third language and it’s my first.
— ‘lsi Mon (@ki676love) May 20, 2021
6. Sorry, can’t help ya
Shouldn’t they have been trained?
I once rejoined a company after taking a break to study for 2 years so no one knew that I was really new. I always told them that I just joined so wouldn’t be able to help. Best way to get out of work you don’t get paid for
— Milky ? Cookie ? Shooky (@shooky_fanbase) May 19, 2021
5. I’ve just started
Sometimes, it’s official policy.
I used to do this when I worked in a call centre lmao they actively encouraged us to say “sorry I’ve just started here” anytime we made a mistake or something was taking a while
— Alya Zayed (@alya_zayed) May 19, 2021
4. Keep the training sticker
Don’t ask me, find someone else.
I had the training sticker on my name tag for almost my entire job. My manager kept threatening to make me a new name tag. Wouldn’t let her do it ?
— Ramona Lee (@rome_raven) May 19, 2021
3. The new girl
Not just a show.
That’s the rule. Newest is always the “new girl” or “new guy” (and always gets the blame!) until the new newbie comes along.
— diana (@realpestilence) May 19, 2021
2. It’s my birthday
It’s perfect until you start to get regulars.
I once worked with a waitress who told all her tables, every night, that it was her birthday and she had to work a double shift. Genius.
— Anno Bonnano (@Prairieopolis) May 19, 2021
1. Blessings be upon you
Now that’s a grift.
Some waitress on reddit would wear a gold cross on Sundays and tell the church crowd she was so sad she had to miss church to work lol. Said it was the best they’d ever tip
— Mel (@lennoncurry) May 20, 2021
Maybe use some of those tips in your own life? Couldn’t hurt.
What white lies have you told at work?
Tell us in the comments.