Retail worker yelled at for not 'looking busy' while doing their job: 'Am I a stressed-out robot?'

Toxic workplace culture is a reality for many, but one retail worker’s experience has struck a nerve online. Sharing their story on Reddit, u/vanessa6y described how they were scolded for not “looking busy” while doing exactly what their manager had told them to do. The person began by explaining the daily mantra at their workplace: "If you have time to lean, you have time to clean." While they had no issue with the rule, it became a problem on a slow day when their manager gave them specific instructions. “She told me to organize the shelves in one section and stay there until they’re perfect,” the worker wrote.

Taking the task seriously, they spent over an hour tidying up. “I straightened labels, wiped down surfaces, and even color-coordinated some items to make it look nice. I thought I was killing it.” Unfortunately, their efforts weren’t appreciated. Their manager returned and began yelling at them in front of customers, claiming they didn’t “look busy enough” because they weren’t moving around. Confused and humiliated, they tried to explain that they were doing exactly what had been asked of them. However, the manager wasn’t listening to them.

“She just kept saying, 'Perception matters, and you need to work harder.' Harder than following her exact instructions? How does that even work?” the retail worker asked.

The situation worsened the following day when the retail worker was scheduled for the least desirable shifts. The manager also told them they needed to “prove” they cared about their job. This treatment left the worker questioning their role. “For minimum wage? Yeah, sure,” they wrote sarcastically. “Because clearly, being treated like a robot isn’t enough; now I have to look like a stressed-out robot, too.” Their story resonated with many Reddit users, who quickly chimed in with support and advice.

u/chompy283 wrote, “They pretend to 'manage.' We pretend to be 'busy.' We pretend to work; they pretend to pay, lol. And so it goes. Basically, decide if the performance is worth the wage. If not, forget it and go somewhere else. If so, try to do things as if 'in a bit of a hurry.' Walk around faster like you have some purpose to get somewhere."

u/Hosstar881 didn’t hold back: “I couldn’t make it in the real world. I’m a welder and straight tell my bosses, if you can’t keep the work in front of me, that’s your problem.” Others advised quitting without notice. “Once you find a better job, ghost her. No two weeks’ notice, no heads up. As soon as you get an orientation date, [you should] clock out and leave,” u/LavenderandLamb suggested. u/Remmandave added, “Find other employment ASAP, and the minute you do, hand her your letter of resignation. Write out exactly how...she would be better off managing this store without your assistance from this day forward.” Meanwhile, u/kiwimuz offered humorous advice. “Just tell your manager that you aspire to be like her, looking super busy all day while doing nothing.”