Stinky beagles, dirty rugs, and small raises

HR at the Hardware Store

MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 16: Barbara Chico (L) who was recently hired by The Home Depot , listens as Home Depot Associate, Mirisol Del Risco while they ring up a customer on February 16, 2012 in Miami, Florida. The Home Depot company announced that it will be hiring 70,000 new seasonal workers as U.S. unemployment claims have fallen to their lowest level in four years. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

This past Saturday, I needed to go to a large big box store to rent a rug cleaning machine.   Our dogs had finally won the battle of who could be stinkier, and they settled the argument in our bedroom.  For the record, Merry the Beagle won.

So it is 7 am. I am getting this machine early so I can go home, wake up Kyle, move the furniture, clean the rug, and then back for a nine-hour drive back to Florida.   I was in a bit of a hurry, and Home Depot in a small Georgia town wasn’t exactly bangin’ like a nightclub at that time of day.

Yet somehow I still got to eavesdrop on the following conversation between a cashier and a stock guy who were chatting (and ignoring me) at the front service counter.

Him:  I can’t believe that .25 cents was all I got

Me: (in the background) thinking to myself….ut oh,  post raise and performance appraisal discussion

Her:  That’s the way they do it around here, darlin…

Him:  I worked my ass off. It’s like a slap in the face!

Her: (patting his arm)  It sure didn’t take you long to get homedepot-itis, did it?  It happens to all of us, honey.

Him: (walking away) I’m gonna have to find something else……

Her: (smiling) hey hon, can I help you…bless that poor man…

Me:  (mind awhirl with implications related to protected concerted activity, compensation, performance appraisal, and customer service related stuff)

I need a rug cleaner, and maybe he should talk to his HR guy…(hopeful look)

Her:  That never does any good……

Me: …………..

Me:…………..

Me:  Well, then I need to rent a rug cleaner for 4 hours, and I need some odor remover too…..

Her: laughter…..so does he…..

Sigh.

I really hated overhearing that brief discussion.  I know it happens in our businesses every day.

The carpet came out looking great though.

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Tagged as: Beagle, BestBuy, Big-box store, customer service, Florida, Georgia, Home Depot, Human Resources