Teachers, Accountants, Plumbers, Nurses, Secretaries, Postal Workers...

[Cool-Beans]

ok not a teacher.

carpenter/ home repair specialist..

please do not ask the teanager with the runny nose and lip piercing at home depot howw to do a repair on your house, and follow the advice given,,,

do not go into these places and say i'm replacing my door what all do i need to get it done..

do not go out and buy a bunch of materials start the project, and then call in a pro. you know your limits.

Sorrrry. I did that! The pro came out and nicely called me an idiot. Made recommendations and I took them, paid for them, and eventually got everything fixed.

Won't do it again!

 

[teacherforhi]

I have another one! This one from my part-time job in the computer lab of the public library.

To use an Internet computer, you must show your library or a photo ID with your birthdate. I use to say driver's license, but then I got people who only had ID cards getting upset. I used to say just photo ID, but then someone wanted to use their Bank of America card because it had their picture on it. So, now, I have to say "photo ID with your birthdate."

Also, if you don't have your library card with you, I'll be happy to look up your number in the system. I'll just need your name. Not your just first name...it may surprise you to know that if your first name is something as common as "William", you aren't the only one.

 

[princesspumpkin]

Thanks for the replies I must admit, when I started this thread, I was thinking that most people would give advice like "dental patients, you should still brush your teeth before coming in for a cleaning" or things like that. I didn't intend for it to be a thread for us to, in essence, complain about things that our clients do that bother us.(I've posted on a few of those threads ). More on the lines of providing information so that people will say "Oh, I had no idea that I should do thus and so....now I know". Not trying to tell how people to reply , just stating what I was intending to do by posting this thread. Thanks again and carry on...

 

[Rafikifan]

School Secretary here:

Please have your child prepared before they come to school and don't get upset when I won't let them call home for lunch money or homework. And don't bring them fast food for lunch and expect it to be delivered to them right away, realize that those fries will be soggy and the soda is going home because we cannot give those to students anymore. Also, realize just because your child doesn't act that way at home doesn't mean they don't act that way at school. And no we don't have a school nurse to take care of your child. Why, well unfortunately the government cuts the budget every year so we don't have one, haven't had one for years. And since I am not a nurse the law states I can give them a bandaid, and an ice pack nothing more. And if your kid is sick come and pick them up, believe it or not you are still responsible for your child even while they are at school, we are a SCHOOL not a daycare facility!



Oh my gosh. I am glad I found this thread. I was a substitute teacher for 4 years so I echo all the teachers' comments. I am now an elementary school secretary and I agree with all of the above. Although we do have a school nurse that comes in on Tues. and Thurs. and sometimes Fri. 1/2 day. But we still get complaints about that. As you stated we can't give any anti-itch cream, antibiotic ointment, etc. Ice and bandaids is all we can do. It makes me insane when we have a child who throws up first thing in the morning and we make calls to everyone on their registration form who assure us someone is on the way to get them and the child ends up sleeping on the bench in our foyer with a trash can to throw up in for hours on end. I know it is hard to get off from work but if it's something contagious, we have 599 other children to think about. Last, but not least. Please realize when schools have policies that you may think are silly or we ask for grandpa to show his I.D. when picking up a child that we aren't trying to pick on YOU but for every "silly" rule I promise there is a reason for it.

 

[mum4jenn]

OK ....not what the OP wants but here goes:

I am a child nutrition manager(aka "lunchlady). Don't assume that all the folks that work in a school cafeterias are stupid and scum of the earth(even though we are paid like we are). Most of us have all of our teeth and have graduated from high school and some from college.I truly enjoy what I do and I could be making much much more money but I choose to work here while my dd is young and still in school so I can have more time with her and not have to rely on daycare,etc. I am constantly trying to learn new things and pass that info onto the teachers for their use in the classroom. I spend my own money buying nutrition posters,brochures to be sent home,etc. to try and educate the facts of proper eating.


Parents PLEASE send your child's lunch money when you are supposed to. It is a shame we have to remind some students everday they need to bring their money. Christmas time is very bad when trying to get that money in.

Don't call me and ask me to cook something else for your child because he/she does not like something. If your child is that picky then you should pack their lunch. I have almost 900 kids and staff to cook for each and everyday and I do not have time to make "Susie" her own special little meal.


We do NOT spit in the food and we in school food service are probably cleaner than any restaurant you have ever been to. Also we are required to wear hair nets so that "hair" your child found in his food most likely is not from us but from the child sitting or standing near your child and flipping their hair all over.

 

[seven dwarfs]

I am a hairdresser:

I would like people to realize I am paid based on if you show up for your apt and pay me. Please show up or cancel your apt within time to allow someone else to fill it. I would be rich by now if everyone showed up.

Plumbing buss:

If you have a service bill please pay it. You would not believe how many people never pay. Also when I give the hr cost of a service call do not go on and on at how it is to much and you would like to make that much an hour. When you consider the employee salary, taxes, workers comp, sec to answer phone, truck payment, insurance, gas (I will save you now, I could go on) it is not enough money.

Wow what a great thread!

 

[MELSMICE]

Dance studio owner & dance teacher here..............

--It would help your child immensely if you bought the proper dance shoes. The ones at Target & Wal Mart that say "ballet slippers" are in fact slippers but not intended for ballet!!! Also make sure they wear the proper dance attire. They really don't like wearing the used clothes we have (even if they are clean) & get embarrassed by it. If they wear the proper dance clothes to class this won't happen.

--It would help me if you would allow me to place your child in the proper class instead of you telling me what class your child wants to be in & with what kids. I know they are friends with those children but it does them no good if the class is too difficult for them. It only frustrates them. There is a difference between being challenged & being frustrated. I enjoy giving kids the challenge but no one enjoys sees a student get frustrated & then dislike something they've always enjoyed.

--It would really help me if you would pay on time. I am providing you a service & I need to pay my bills & my employees. You expect to get paid when you do a job, so do I. Don't get upset if you haven't paid your bill when you can't receive your child's costumes at the end of the year. It's the only leverage I have to getting your past due tuition.

I guess that's about it.

 

[ILUVMYBRIT]

I work for an airline. PLEASE show up at least an hour before your flight. PLEASE!! You have no idea how many people show up at the airport with 25 minutes before departure time and can't understand why they cant get on the plane. They then get angry at me. I know people have situations like traffic accidents and what not...but allow yourself enough time to work with just in case those situations occur, because no matter how much you beg, whine, and yell....you arent getting on that plane. As a matter of fact, the more you do that, the less likely I am to help you .

 

[Disney Doll]

Nurse here:
~Don't threaten to sue me.
~Don't threatent to call your doctor to "tell" on me...he/she is not my boss, and, quite frankly, that threat doesn't scare any nurse. We all know that your doctor basically spends 5 minutes per day or less with you while you are hospitalized, and essentially has no clue what's going on for the other 23 hours and 55 minutes of your day...nor does he/she really care.
~Don't have 25 of your closest friends and relatives visit you continuously.
~Don't have your 2 year old grandchild come to visit and stay for 4 hours...2 year olds do not like to be contained for that long, and no sick person wants to hear a 2 year old shriek for 3 hours and 45 minutes.
~Tell your family not to touch any of the equipment. It's a hospital, not an arcade.
~Be as pleasant as you can under the circumstances. We are human, and if I know I am going to get berated every time I walk into your room, do you really think that is going to make me want to go in there very often???
~Getting you a cup of coffee is not a priority for me. If you call and want one, I will do it as soon as I can, but if I have something more important to do (such as administering medication) you will wait for your coffee. It's called prioritizing, and I spend my entire day doing it.
~If you choose to make bad decisions about your health care, don't take it out on me. I did not hold you down and forcibly pour liquor down your throat, inject heroin into your veins or make you smoke 2 packs of cigarettes per day. Those were your choices, and if you are now paying the price for them, I will help you, but I won't take the blame for your bad choices.

 

[Tinkerbelle'sMOM]

Disney Doll...you said it! Go ahead and threaten to sue me....if I had a dime for each time this was said, I'd be retired on Fiji. With a cute cabana boy.

Let me add...

I am not here to cater to your family...they can go get their own food and drinks on their own 2 feet. Unless they want to leave me arealllllly big tip LOL Also, don't eat the patient's food or bring them food unless you ask...sometimes they are on a restricted diet and Big Macs, Whoppers, Burrito Grandes and the like aren't on it. And no, I don't have a tray for you either.

We have visitation rules for a reason, not just to tick you off or make your family off the wall. This is an ICU for pete's sake, not a dance hall!

Please don't have family call the desk and ask questions...we aren't allowed to answer anything about your care due to HIPPA laws...we could get fired.

If the doctor didn't order it, I can't do it, give it, remove it or whatever it. I'm sorry, but that is the way it is, don't ask me a hundred times.

When we ask you to leave the patient alone, we aren't doing it to be mean...if they need quiet and rest, please let them be.

And remember...you aren't my only patient, as much as I would love that, I have 3-10 others to contend with and their 100 relatives too. I'm working as hard as I can to make your stay better...and I do deserve to get a lunch and potty break despite what a lot of people think!

 

[Jeanny]

I work at a college and cannot understand why "my kids" are late for their 8:00 a.m. class, when they "live" 5 minutes from the classroom! They walk in when they feel like it, 5 minutes, 10 minutes late. Um, class starts at 8, not 8:10! One professor locks the door at 8:01... a couple of kids tried to stroll in at 8:02, nope, guess what the door was locked! They went over and cried to their advisor, I was only 2 minutes late. Operative word = LATE.

They had to be to high school homeroom at 7:30, which meant they either got up at 6:30 to get the bus or walk/drive to school... and now they can't walk over to the other side of campus in their pajama's?

I know one student showed up an HOUR late for his final because his alarm clock didn't go off and EXPECTED to be able to take the final......he was angry when the professor wouldn't let him take it. Again~Operative word=LATE

We don't allow water bottles on desks during exams... they write the answers on the bottle. We don't allow cell phones on during exams, they text questions and answers. We don't allow them to use the calculator on their cell phones either!!! they need to use a hand-held calculator!
We don't allow hats on during class--- yep, they're sleeping!

I don't allow cell phones on while my students are working in my office (Operative word= working). It's so annoying to hear the loud long ringtones. I told one student to shut her phone off, tell her friends to stop calling and if they called one more time, she was getting fired!!

 

[Cool-Beans]

~Getting you a cup of coffee is not a priority for me. If you call and want one, I will do it as soon as I can, but if I have something more important to do (such as administering medication) you will wait for your coffee.

I'll second that.

If you are well enough that your problem is wanting juice, pop or coffee instead of water, don't call me a lazy beeyatch for the delay in bringing it. I'm not a flippin waitress!

The reason you had to wait for your blessed cranberry juice is that one of my other patients died andI had to be in there while we tried to bring him back. Then the other one was about to choke on his own phlegm and I had to suck it out. Then the heroin addict with AIDS and hepatitis was swinging at and spitting on the other nurse, so we had to restrain him.

I really do wish that I could bring everyone everything they want ASAP, but it doesn't always work out that way. Plese remember that there are REALLY sick people who have to be put ahead of your coffee. Drink the water. I'll be there as soon as I can, I promise.


ETA: I know nobody's actually reading this, but boy did that feel good!

 

[mommy*RN]

I'm a pediatric nurse and my advice would be to seriously think about vaccinating your children. I understand that some people choose not to for religious reasons or personal beliefs, but it is so important! We have practically eradicated Polio in the US because of immunizations!

I asked my DH, who is a firefighter, what his advice would be and he said put smoke detectors on every floor in your home and twice year, when daylight savings time starts and finishes, put fresh batteries in them. Then he said, "Don't smoke in bed either".

I like this post - thank you OP!

 

[Charade]

I'm your friendly copier repairman. Listen, I've told you how do certain things on this machine at least 10 times. Weren't you paying attention the other 9?? And yes, YOU broke it. Don't worry, I'll fix it. Again... Also, the salesman almost certainly didn't tell you that this (black and white) copier makes color copies. Weren't you paying attention again?? And PLEASE PLEASE remember to take any staples or paper clips off the originals before making a copy? Thanks. This way I won't have to fix it again when YOU break it! If you think you can fix the problem with the copier, STOP, you can't. Call me, I'm a professional.


Lastly, the phrase "The customer is always right..." is total BS and the person (most likely a customer), who coined it has obviously never met YOU!

 

[mom2rb]

I teach gymnastics.

Please remember that every child is different. Just because another child learned a new skill doesn't mean that I can't do my job if yours didn't.

 

[ILUVMYBRIT]

Lastly, the phrase "The customer is always right..." is total BS and the person (most likely a customer), who coined it has obviously never met YOU!

 

[FroggyinArk]

arrrgggggggg i recieved a call this morning at 7:30 am,, from the customer we are currently doing a major ( ie gut a large portion of the house and start over) remodel for..

we have in the contract to install 2 "small" windows into a brick exterior wall and trim out,,,,, in the contract no larger than 30 inch windows,,,

she went to get the materials,, yes i gave her a detailed itemized list and sent samples of what i thought would be the only questionable items,,

she called to tell me that instead of 2 small windows htey bought a french door unit for the back wall instead, and since she couldntg et me on my cell while i was mowing my yard yesterday, she went ahhead and got the materials the salesman at lowes said she would need to install these doors instead of windows,, i'm betting monday morning i discoover she has either a bunch of extra stuff we wont use, or not nearly enough material to get these installed.



now if cool beans will bring me a cup of coffee,, now dammit,, i'm thirsty,


i'll stop venting

 

[FroggyinArk]

I'm your friendly copier repairman. Listen, I've told you how do certain things on this machine at least 10 times. Weren't you paying attention the other 9?? And yes, YOU broke it. Don't worry, I'll fix it. Again... Also, the salesman almost certainly didn't tell you that this (black and white) copier makes color copies. Weren't you paying attention again?? And PLEASE PLEASE remember to take any staples or paper clips off the originals before making a copy? Thanks. This way I won't have to fix it again when YOU break it! If you think you can fix the problem with the copier, STOP, you can't. Call me, I'm a professional.


Lastly, the phrase "The customer is always right..." is total BS and the person (most likely a customer), who coined it has obviously never met YOU!

that also stands true for plumbing products, home appliances,doors.....


and i think charade and i have some of the same customers, or at least they are closely related...

 

[Disney1fan2002]

It is so easy for us as parents to criticize the work of the teachers and think how "easy" their job is, but until you walk a mile in their shoes, nothing should be taken for granted.


Please take time to understand your child's teacher and give her/him a pat on the back once in a while instead of always pointing out the negative things.

You know, I have never had a conversation with anyone who thinks being a teacher is easy. If I ever do, I would probably give them an EARFUL. I could not be a teacher for all the money in the world. The amount of dedication and PATIENCE one must have to be a teacher is incredible. The imprint teacher's leave on children's lives are unmatched. Think about all the adults you know that still talk about the "one" teacher.

What is sad, is when your DD is struggling in 2nd grade reading, from sheer laziness, or "would rather be socializing", so you call the teacher up and set up an appointment to go over what can be done to set this little princess straight. You go in with a plan that you hope the teacher will agree to. It is something, as a parent, you know has to happen to set her on track. The teacher is so excited to have a parent willing to work WITH her to help this child. YOUR child. When you show surprise at the praise you are getting for being a supportive parent, the teacher then says she can tell you some stories about how parents just can't be bothered to help their kids in school.

It is a sad, sad fact, and to me, it is scary. The kids are only with these teachers 6 hours a day. Yet, some parents think it is 100% up to the teachers to educate these children.

To all the teachers out there, here is a pat on the back from me!

 

[klmall]

Thanks Disney1fan2002! How nice to hear a parent with positive perspective and support for teachers. You walked in with a plan and as you saw the teacher was willing and ready to cooperate and make it a two-way venture. I'm sure you will both make headway in your child's situation. You have also shown your child that both teachers and parents work together which NOT always the case today.

As someone who taught middle school for 22 years, worked supporting teachers for most of the other 13 years and has been a parent with a child in public schools I would like to say: there are two sides to every story that your child brings home, especially the negative ones!

Always ask your child plenty of questions about things that happen at school and never take things at face value. Our poor DS as the son of two teachers could never win at this game! We always quizzed him and knew that there were many perspectives to every situation. We did support him when after proper inquiry we knew he had been 'wronged' but we also found out that there were times being a child, that he had not told us the full story.

The other advice I'd like to give is, try to resolve things at the original level first. Don't always go to say the principal first without speaking with the teacher. And if you can calm down before calling or walking in, it will greatly improve your chances of success. No one likes to deal with a screaming, unhappy person. Just like any work situation etc. if you can think about what has happened, and what you want to be done you're more likely to have everyone come out ahead. Afterall, the last thing you want is an angry teacher teaching your child!

Again, you're to be congratulated!