(Jingle…)
My actual job always get a bit busier with the festive season. You might think that would apply to nights and parties – and it does – but the seasonal bad weather makes the days much more brisk as well.
People who might have walked the short distance, balk at the wind and rain, and will call a taxi for journeys where they can wave to their destination. Then they wonder why no-one is rushing to cover their £4.20 fare.
Quite commonly this results in a harsh phone call 20 minutes later where they wish to complain to “the mananger” (me in this case), about the poor service these days. I am frequently instructed in how to do my job , or told what the rules are (or at least , “aught to be”). There are often suggestions that I am, in fact, unable to do my job.
This is mostly water off a ducks back, and simply a part of the job for me. I try hard not to take any of it personally (even when it gets pretty personal), knowing that the customers are usually stressed and late already – which is why they called a taxi. The main problem is time.
Just letting the client rant is often sufficient, but that can easilly consume 5 mins (one recently shouted for 10 min straight without pause – I was impressed!), and at a busy time that’s 5 mins where I am literally not helping another dozen/hundred people. Hugely counter productive.
Compliants can be an issue at any time, and it’s part and parcel of any public facing job, but as the festive tension (excitement if you prefer) gradually ratchets up, it seems to be more and more prevelant. There is very little “season of goodwill” in most of the conversations I’m required to have (and that’s after my staff have usually already had an earful, and tried to edit the flow down with the “please put this in writing”-email).
Some days I get home (day can be a 10 hour shift with an hours commute either side), and my “milk of human kindness” (or tolerance for the impatient and impolite) has simply evaporated. I am psychically, rather than physically, drained.
Sustaining my generally light-hearted and rye observations of life can be challenging.
However I am very aware that I do not really have to deal directly with Joe Public, that much (I speak to Joe Driver all the time, but that’s a different kind of animal). Many workers, will face far more, and perhaps far harsher undeserved abuse.
I am not guiltless in this. Stupidity in general, evokes a strong sarcastic response from me, and I have limited patience for “computer says no”, but I do always try to remain polite.
I do not shout, or swear, or accuse, I strive to retain please and thank-you to the bitter end, and, as a self confessed “Spirit of Christmas (present)”, at this time of year I make a little extra effort to rise above my grumpy old man demenour, and inject a little positivity, or at least humanity, into my daily exchanges.
It may be a dog’s life, but you don’t always have to bark.
Next week on IaDL more jingling?
Dalmallyfest the Asylum 