It's the most wonderful time of the year for many people. We get to spend time with our families, eat lots of delicious food, argue with our ignorant uncles about politics, and all around be merry. For many people, especially young adults, this can be an extremely stressful time of year. The retail worker has one of the hardest jobs this time of the year. Unlike the movies in the 1980's of glamorous retail jobs behind makeup counters or in department stores, modern holiday shopping can be literal hell for some of these works. You're trying to make impossibly unhappy people happy, constantly cleaning up after folks, barely getting any breaks, and having to explain to Coupon Cathy why she can't combine discounts. I've worked many a Black Friday in retail and while not all of them were a horror show, there was a lot of unnecessary stress and unrealistic expectations bestowed on me due to American Consumerism and greed.
I now have a great job in my field where I am lucky to have Black Friday off. However, many of my wonderful friends do work today and I feel it my civic duty to find ways to support them in any way that I can. Here are some ways that you can make this day and/or weekend just a little bit brighter for these folks:
1. Shop Online
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Stay home! Don't participate in the madness. Many of the stores that I love are having the same, if not better, sales online. Not to mention that I don't have to deal with any crowds, product not being available, and having to fight a soccer mom for a parking spot at the mall. Take some time today to do some pampering while you shop online- hydrate and do a face mask while getting all your shopping done from the convenience of your own home.
2. Be Understanding if Your Retail Friends Don't Want to Hang Out After Their Shift
Of course, always extend an invitation for dinner or drinks depending on the end of their shift! Everyone likes to be included- but at the end of the day, many of us who work in retail just want to crawl into our bed, watch Netflix, and have GrubHub do the rest. If your retail friends decline the invitation, be understanding and ask them when their next days off are. They will really appreciate the consideration of their time for decompression and self care.
3. Bring Them Food / Coffee / Anything!
You have no idea how happy you will make someone by doing this! A lot of times, many retail workers only get 30 minutes for their lunch or dinner breaks. If they do not bring food, by the time they fight the crowds and order/receive their meal, they've already used more than half of their break and don't have any time to just get away from it all. If you're going to be around, ask them when they'll be on break and offer to bring them something to eat or drink. You will be the real MVP.
4. Tell Them You Appreciate Them
After a long day of dealing with ungrateful, miserable people, just a text message letting your friend know that you love and appreciate them will mean the world. While they are not in an ambulance or hospital saving lives, they are still giving up time to enjoy the start of the holiday season with their friends and families. Any words of kindness or encouragement will make a big difference.
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