I had to make a quick run to the store to stock up on a few items, but I left with some thoughts to share. After strolling through the aisles and grabbing things on my list along with others that caught my eye, I made my way to the checkout area to load my haul onto the conveyor belt.
There was only one customer with very few items ahead of me, which is about the best-case scenario for a busy Saturday afternoon. While I was emptying my cart, I heard the man in line try to interact with the employee scanning his items.
“I bet all the other workers would love to sit down on the job like you’re doing.”
Wait, what? Did he actually just say that out loud?
She responded, “It’s not my choice to have a chair,” and kept scanning. He giggled!
No, just no. We don’t assume. We don’t make passive-aggressive statements. From the vantage point on the opposite side of the checkout lane, we couldn’t see any outward signs that might have made a chair necessary, such as a knee brace or a boot on her foot. The reason may not be visible either. Bottom line: it’s none of our business.
It was obvious that she didn’t pull up a chair to rest or slack off on the job. She was working! This girl was having pleasant conversations while moving items and customers through the line in a timely manner, exactly as she should be. It didn’t matter if she was seated or standing. And it certainly wasn’t up for debate about why she had a chair.
C’mon, people. We don’t do that. We don’t make targeted comments. I have no idea what he thought he accomplished by pointing out that she was seated while other workers were standing. We should know better. When in doubt, talk about the weather. It’s almost always a safe topic.
When it was my turn, we talked about the ice cream in my cart. It was also her favorite flavor. I suggested some others to try, and she did the same. I wasn’t paying close enough attention when loading my items for scanning and realized I had placed some items on the far side of the belt, making them difficult for her to reach. I hustled back to move them closer. Neither one of us said a word about that. It wasn’t necessary. I noticed and took care of it while we turned our conversation to the best candies.
When I was a teacher, a quote was posted in many classrooms.
“Equal is everyone getting the same thing. Fair is everyone getting what they need to be successful.”
That doesn’t just apply to the schools. It’s just a simple truth.
I thought about this quote when the man commented about the worker using a chair while doing her job. He was focused on equality, but the situation called for fairness. She had what she needed to be successful.
That’s it. That’s the lesson. Easy, right?
sharing the stairs 