Working where I do has been by far my best employment experience ever. I love the place, the people, the job, everything.
See: sometimes we get free food
But today sucked donkey butt.
This morning Junior, one of last year's cashier hires (hired at the same time I was promoted), overheard D and me chatting about my taking time off for an upcoming trip (now not happening). Junior offered to fill in for me while I was gone, which seemed like a kind but ignorant move. I'm not a cashier; I'm a supervisor. He can't fill in for me.
I explained to him that our roles are different and that I have duties he doesn't do. He asked what they are, I explained them to him. He told me he had experience doing some of them. I said, sorry, it's not the same thing and you can't jump in and do my job while I'm gone. It won't work. I was hired for my position just like he was hired for his. He listened and seemed to understand, if not agree.
Then, an hour later, as D and I were seated at our desks, working, Junior came to our office and asked to talk to D about being trained in "some aspects of [my] job". I was sitting right there. It was shocking, to say the least.
Apparently, nothing I said to him landed. It's like we never talked at all. I was very angry, not because I'm worried about losing my job to this guy, but at his lack of respect - for me, my ability to do my job, and the conversation where I believed I explained my position. He ignored everything I said and went over my head, IN FRONT OF ME.
Again, it's not like Junior can take my job - frankly, he can barely do his own. But I had no idea that he felt that way about me (or wanted my job that bad) until today. I was thrown off by it. I'm so used to people liking me, or at least pretending to like me, that running into this blatant attempt at snatching my job was a blow.
My two dear friends, Saint Ben and Saint Jerry, were kind enough to help soothe my shaken soul. Bless them.