A couple years ago, circumstances required me to find a job, and the only employer who gave me an interview was a retail box store. As it turned out, they were hiring, but only part time jobs and only for minimum wage. It was somewhat depressing and more than a little humiliating for a man of my age and education. But what else was I going to do? I took the job.
Tomorrow that particular store is closing. Today was my last day. Below the carrot stain, I have some reflections of what I found.
1. I loved the work. I loved being with customers. I loved moving stock onto the shelves. I loved watching for expiration dates. --Okay, I didn't really like unloading the truck. But the camaraderie of the task made it bearable. Which leads me to point 2:
2. I loved my fellow employees (excuse me, "associates"). I did meet a few incompetents. But I never met one who was out and out lazy, despite what they were sometimes told. Usually the problem was that they were never trained in what was expected of them; the training was never that good. What I did find were people in a variety of circumstances, but who had good humor even as together we were being paid far less than what we were worth.
3. I was paid less than I was worth. Sure I knew nothing about retail going in. But I learned quickly. I helped other new associates. I anticipated needs. I took on some projects that were being left undone. And then later on I learned another completely new set of skills. At every step along the way I saved the company some money. I would never have gotten a raise had I not learned those new skills.
4. The company threw away some valuable assets. There were about three employees in the store who knew everything needed to run the store and its various, complicated, antiquated systems. They should have been managing. But there was no hope. Instead, the company tossed out all their training and experience. What a waste!
I've learned some other things along the minimum wage way. I may share some later. For now, just let me bask a little in both the sadness and the sense of release.