When I used to work as a Front Desk Receptionist at the gym, one of the biggest problems we had when closing the fascility was trying to get people out of there on time. Our hours would clearly be posted but that would not help. We would give everyone a 15-minute warning and still they would take their fine time getting out of the shower and getting dressed. Some would even claim that they had not finished their workout and would insist that we wait for them to.

Now that I also work in a wine store, we face the same problem. We give the customers, who are at the tasting bar, a 15-minute warning. We would like to think that this is their chance to finish up their flight of tastings. To begin with, most of my staff will not start a tasting if there are only 20 minutes left before we close. Five minutes before our closing time, I ask all the tasting bar clientele if they plan on purchasing anything tonight because I am about to shut the store & it's registers down AND if they are, they must make their selections now and pay for them. Most times this works. There are exceptions.

Why is it that people think that those of us who work in customer service want to stay at our workplaces beyond our designated closing hours? Do people really think that because they paid for a service, they deserve to have that service even after the close of business day? Why do some people think that just because they are about to spend money at a store, the store must stay open for them? What ever happened to consideration for our fellow humans?

It is amazing to me that people do not realize that the staff that runs a business at closing time wants to shut down the business on time so that they can go home. I assume that most, if not all, of the working world wants to get out of work as soon as their designated time arrives. Why can't customers see that service staff are humans too? That as humans, we too have a life outside of the workplace? That, like them, we too want to go home once the business is officially closed for the day?

My friend, Christine, likes to call these people Bubble People. For these individuals, nothing in the world exists but them. They live in their own bubble and do not have consideration for anyone around them. If you ask me, Bubble Head People is a better name. Later.  ¶ 11:48 PM