Supermarket Workers

As this forum focuses on everyday kiwis esp unskilled labourers I thought I'd kick off with supermarket workers as that is what I do and from my perspective.

Not only is it a low paid profession it is often looked down upon. The unskilled, the dirty bathwater of life that some people loathe and laugh at the idea that they should rise above it. When I'm seen filling shelves a small group of people will puff themselves up and give you a look as if to say they're above you, they're something, you're nothing. In this thread I'll explain what I do and why I believe that it is something that is misunderstood, why I feel people in labour intensive/low paid jobs in New Zealand should be respected.

Firstly the reason why I said above a small group of people is that where I live is very working class, we have however over the last few years had new housing where middle class have chosen to reside so they're out of the inner city but in a commuter town keeping that connection. This of course has caused social problems like that the new houses would be broken into before being moved into and appliances stolen which I can't say anyone was ever caught for {laughs}.

I am a grocery assistant lucky enough to be paid 75 cents above minimum wage. My role not only involves filling shelves but also product knowledge so when you want to know about for example what you saw on tv I can explain it to you, customer knowledge so I can recognise your needs as to best help you, customer service if something isn't there I can go see if its come in or when it will be for example, building displays of products on promotion that week which I'm trained in building with maximum visual impact so you go ooooh lets buy it, bringing in trolleys when needed as checkouts can't always sent someone out, filling the liquor department once a week, filling the milk once each day otherwise you don't milk, time management and ordering of set tasks {crucial to ensure that when you come in shopping what you buy is there}, communication with co-workers {otherwise things don't get done}, supervisoring one day per week to name a few. Sound easy? so as you can see its just not that simple as filling shelves {laughs}.

So if people like me didn't do what we did and I enjoy what I do let me ask you this, where would you buy your grocerys? Makes ya think mate

I live in rural NSW. Having a job in a shop is quite desirable, but here is the quandary. You can have lower paid, lower prestige job in the country and get into the housing market, or you can go to higher population are, not just the capital cities but places like Newcastle and Wagga Wagga be an even middle income earner and not be able to get off the rent roundabout.

HEYYYYYY Frogmang. What is happening?

I've got my own forum now. Just wanted to see if you were still around. Miss ya, man!

hmmmmmmm r u stil around man