Where do we start?
To be honest, working in retail is fairly shite no matter the weather.
It’s just objectively not fun.
But it’s even worse when there’s a bloody heatwave going on outside.
You can think of a million places you’d rather be than crammed inside some stupid shop that you probably don’t even like.
We’ve compiled a list of the very worst things about working in retail in the sunny weather, you know, to show solidarity with you.
You’re not alone…
1. “Awh, you must be roasting!”
Yes, I obviously am.
There is nothing more infuriating than when some ridiculous customer feels the need to point out just how beautiful the weather is outside.
Sometimes, they’ll even go far as to say, “Poor thing, I bet you’d rather be out in the sun right now.”
No, actually, I’m much happier being stuck in here making minimum wage working a job that I detest.
Let’s just finish this transaction so you can get out of here, yeah?
2. Checking the roster
The fear. The absolute fear of checking the roster.
You look outside your window when you wake up and there’s not a cloud in the sky.
Your groupchat is absolutely hopping with friends making plans, you’re just about to join in, but you think you better double-check the roster just to be sure that you’re not in.
And you’re surely not in. You feel like you’ve worked 100 out of the past seven days. You couldn’t be in.
You check.
You’re in work.
Happiness is dead.
3. Uniforms
And what could make this entire experience just that little bit more unbearable?
Well, how about a completely heavy uniform. That oughta’ do it.
Seriously, shouldn’t they make exceptions when we’re experiencing the hottest weather since the sun was invented?
4. The bloody Snapchats
Maybe you’ll get a five-minute period where you’re able to check your phone to communicate with the outside world.
And what do you see when you check? Just every single person you know having the best day of all time.
Trips to the beach, chilling in the park, drinking in the beer garden.
You can bet that absolutely everything you’ve ever wanted to do in the past is being done on this day.
5. Air-conditioning
It’s always the days you need air-con that it fails you.
It ends up breaking and your entire staff wind up walking around your workplace like it’s the Sahara Desert.
Hell. On. Earth.
6. Breaks
This kind of applies to working in retail in general, but it’s made so much worse by the heat.
You’ve been on your feet for hours, and all you want is to sit down for a few minutes in a cool room.
And luckily, you get to do so.
For 15-30 minutes.
This is definitely not the worth the extremely poor wage.
7. Packed shops
Who in their right mind wakes up, sees the sun out, and thinks:
“You know what? It’s a beautiful day to go shopping.”
Lunatics. That’s who.
Just go home and do literally anything else with your life.
Please.
Bring on winter…
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
