Oh, how I hate them. Confrontational rhetorical questions, that is. Basically criticism that starts with the three words 'Do you think...'
I've had it before. I've had 'questions' disguised as criticism thrown at me, including 'Joanna, do you think you're a good au pair?' In fact, I may have had that question in some form or other from all the host parents I worked for.
Which is why I would never want to get that sort of question at work. Luckily I haven't, although I know a coworker who's been asked by our bitchy manager, M, 'Do you think we really need four people in this area folding t shirts?' I don't deal well with criticism, and that's something I want to improve on because otherwise it would be a concern in my type of work environment.
It didn't come as a surprise to me that I got a job offer at Uniqlo. I thought my interview went fairly well, and I was happy that I'd managed to find a job within 7 days of returning to Sydney. I was also happy that my very first job interview was a successful one. Saved me from having to go to more job interviews. I earn $18.7 an hour, which is almost $6 above the minimum wage for an 18 year old so I'm happy enough with that. It's the perfect amount, because $18.7 is pretty much the minimum wage for adults 22 and older, but I get the same amount as everyone else despite my being 18. As the company pays adult minimum wage, they can't expect too much. But they do. Not that I mind, really. The perfectionist in me relishes in the 'high standards' the company prides itself on (although the Macquarie store is a total dump due to lack of staff. Run items at the fitting room pile up to Mt Everest proportions). Plus I haven't had proper retail experience, so even though a lot of my coworkers hate the job and how strict the company is, I don't have anything else to compare it to.
But I do so hate rude, disrespectful criticism. Let's face it, you're a manager at a low priced clothing store, which is something I don't exactly aspire to for a career. You're hardly the CEO of David Jones.
I'm going to detail the criticism I've received in pretty much a month since working here:
-Was folding t shirts and the manager crept up on me (I hadn't even seen her enter the tiny pop up store) and pretty much was like 'Smile!' Was that really necessary? As if normal people smile like maniacs while folding t shirts. I wasn't even depressed looking or anything, I just had a neutral expression on my face. With the amount of pay they give, they can hardly expect me to act like I work at bloody Prada or something. She could have approached the subject in a politer manner if she felt like she HAD to bring it up. I don't know, like smile properly herself and be like, 'How's it going? I know it's been a long day but let's try and lift the atmosphere up a bit, even if you're folding t shirts it's good to smile at customers'.
-Same manager told me off for wearing a cold shoulder white t shirt even though it was following uniform guidelines (and the cold shoulder bit wasn't very noticeable). 'Wear something more basic because we don't sell that style at uniqlo'. Really??? She could have turned a blind eye at that one because the uniform guidelines specify plain black and white without prints and patterns. It doesn't specify style of t shirt for gods sakes. There was a woman wearing a ruffly blouse that was way more obviously not uniqlo style. This particular manager always seems to be digging for very, very obscure reasons just to criticise me and exert her power.
-Was putting a blouse back onto a shelf, and the Italian supervisor makes a 'turn around' hand gesture with an obnoxious facial expression, then when I look at her confusedly she finally opens her mouth and says 'you have to turn around and face customers at all times'. Again, unnecessary and shows lack of respect. I would look ridiculous putting a t shirt on a shelf with my back facing the shelf and arms reaching behind. Not even the managers do that, because it's barely physically possible! What a dumb bitch. Even if it was necessary to tell me to do that, she could have avoided the hand gesture and just come up to me and politely go, 'I know it's a bit difficult sometimes to remember, but it would be good to not have your back to the customer'. Then I wouldn't get pissed in the slightest.
-I'm folding t shirts and Macquarie manager goes to the aisle beside mine, and calls me over (and also pulls the good old confrontational rhetorical question'. 'See this? Rubbish and an empty hanger. That needs to go' in an irritated tone of voice. She could have said, 'If there's rubbish on the sales floor like this, please pick it up, and please return empty hangers to the storeroom'. It wasn't even in my aisle anyway and she acted like I should have seen it already. I don't have four eyes.
There have been multiple other times when I've been criticised by other people but in a much nicer manner. I don't mind criticism, as long as it's administered respectfully. Plus they all know that practically all the employees are new anyway. Maybe if I made the same mistake (although I'd barely call them 'mistakes') multiple times, then it's ok to be more harsh although I think there's never an excuse anyway to be rude and unprofessional. But especially when it's only their first time criticising me for a particular thing, it's really disgusting how they're criticising me sometimes just for their own satisfaction.
