This is my one gripe about working in the hardware store, and it's a big one. Nephitism (or however you spell it). Basically, I'm always worried that since my mom also works for the corporation, I get special treatment.
It started when I worked there in high school as a cashier. My mom was store manager, and I heard a lot of "momma's girl" mumblings behind my back. There wasn't much I could do in school, but I did some of the NHRA courses on the different departments. So the summer, I learned paint, and worked warehouse. I lifted 100 pounds of concrete, and checked in the incoming merchandise. I didn't allow any special treatments, and I even cleaned the bathrooms on the weekends.
So I think I tried to show I worked for the job and not just deserved the job. Still when the opportunity presented itself to work in a different store, I jumped at the chance. Sure, it was almost an hour away, but I did it.
Since it has been a few years since I worked in hardware, I went back to the manager I worked for. Not my mom, the other store an hour away. My mom also moved up in the corporate world and works for the corporate office doing sales stuff and special promotions for all the stores.
I still get a lot of "you're ____'s daugher," and everyone in the corporate office knows it. So I still work hard, and try to not get noticed.
The corportate office came out with a bunch of special deals to get us to work harder selling stuff. One of them was a monthly contest answering a question. I didn't do the one for January (what do I know?) or February, but I saw a "last call" for March's question. So I tossed in a quick answer, thinking I won't win.
Guess who won?
The first couple of months the winner was announced in the newsletter, and they won a couple of movie passes.
What did I win? Two skybox tickets to the suite for the Coytoes (versus Dallas) game on Saturday. And it's not just me, but at least the corporate VP will be there.
I wanted movie passes. At least I could share that with boyfriend when he comes to visit.
Since boyfriend is halfway to Alaska, I asked one of the floor guys to go after I asked him if he liked hockey. He did, so I said he could have the other ticket. I have a special fondness for this floor guy since we started the same day and were at the same training/orientation.
In the breakroom, there was a sign:
"Congratulations "Jenn" for winning the contest and winning the skybox suite tickets"
Okay, that sign is something that hasn't been done before in the previous contests. This is what I
DON'T want.
Then I get home, and try talking to my mom about it. The only thing she said (since she knew I won) was "your store manager would have liked to go".
The last thing I need to be seen as is someone sucking up to the manager. Sure, we get along very well, and he seems interested in my ideas for new items, etc. But I have to draw the line somewhere. For starters, I never get yelled at for my overtime, when everyone else complains that the manager doesn't ever authorize it.
So I'm happy with my decision on who I'm taking. I just wish the amount of politics isn't as bad in my new job.
Labels: life stuff
