Problem and would like some parenting advice..

Alright so of course most of you know I started working at a gas station..

Well..i'm sure almost everyone has this problem but yeah I have a severe temper so I need to know what to do to stay calm so that I don't get fired

Ugh I have one of the annoying coworkers that like to pretend to be a manager!!! He's always bossing me around telling me things that I already KNOW how to do! I've blown up on him like once and apologized for it and explained what happened but he STILL doesn't get it and he's driving me nuts!! I'm doing my best in trying to remain patient with him but when you have to be stuck in a little booth with the most annoying person on the planet you can only take so much until you finally lose your sanity and believe me..mine left a looong time ago!

Here's a couple of examples:

When I was in trying..it was my third day of training and the girl that was training me before had to move to a different store so the annoying coworker came in to take up for her. He knew that I pretty much already knew the basics and should only help me if I asked for help. Did he listen? NOOO! I was getting ready to drop some money in the safe (Because were not allowed to have 100.00 in our cash register, so if we get a 100.00 or a 50.00 we have to drop it into the safe) while I was doing this some customers were coming up so I handed the money to him and asked him nicely "Could you please drop this for me?" and as I was turning to take care of the customers he makes the snotty comment, "Well you have to learn how to do it sometime!!" This was like his 20th strike so finally I blew up, "I ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DROP MONEY IN THE SAFE NOW WOULD YOU PLEASE DROP IT FOR ME!!!!!" He ended up throwing it on the counter and walked off.

Yesterday I had third shift which means I have to restock the doughnuts and clean off the grills. I got the doughnuts restocked and only 1 grill (there's 2) cleaned off because the other grill was way too high and I'm way too short and I couldn't find the foot stool. Well I was doing my paperwork when he came in and I'm serious I thought for sure he was going to grab a white glove or something because he was over there checking the grills for like 20 minutes!!! Then he asks, "Did you clean the grills?" and I told him, "Only one, the other one is just too high up I couldn't reach it." and he rolled his eyes at me!!!! I finished up my paperwork and left. Thank god I didn't have to stay anymore.

Then today, he came in after me of course. I can't leave until he comes in and finishes up his opening paperwork so I finished up the closing safe and asked if he could, his response, "I will when I feel like it!" Ok that just ticked me off considering my ride was already out front waiting for me to come out and go home. So with that said, I finished all I had to do, didn't wait for him and left.

Guys, I need some advice to keep my patience here, I've whined to the assistant manager (our main manager is on vacation) and they aren't doin squat about it (don't really think they can) so I really don't want to get fired, but I'm about ready to start spilling some curse words and yeah this is about to get bad. I've just about had it with this boy, and anyone that knows me, knows my patience don't last forever.

I would try to not ask him to anything. If a situation like with the safe comes up again, just tell the customers politely that you will be right with them, and do it yourself. The less interaction you have with this person, the better. Even if you have to read a training manual if there is nothing else to do, steer as clear as possible from him. At some point, speak to your supervisor, and ask them to please outline your duties exactly, and ask him very clearly who is in charge. This will often lead to a question of why you would ask. Those that are in charge do not like someone else trying to step in and order others around. You really have to keep your cool about it. This is all I can think of right now, I haven't had my coffee. Good luck with this, I hope the dimwit leaves you alone.
I used to have a terrible temper, and it got me nowhere. I still do at times, but learning to keep it in check has been the best thing I have ever done for myself. I know, easier said thatn done.

I agree with Krazy Kat's advice. It sounds like there is a pecking order at this place and he is trying to be the top dog. As you haven't been there that long I advice you to do your job and if he annoys you walk away or count to 10/take 10 deep breathes before you say something that could backfire. I think we all have had jobs were there is one person who makes our job a living hell. Don't worry there are always plenty of people that are like that and that just a person you have to deal with. On the otherhand make sure he isn't discriminating against you, being a woman as you may have some rescourse. How do the other employees interact with him??? And remember you aren't going to have this job forever so you won't have to deal with him forever. Think if you do a good job you could me a asst mgr and become his boss. You don't have to impress him-just the mgmt!!

Originally Posted by GailC

I agree with Krazy Kat's advice. It sounds like there is a pecking order at this place and he is trying to be the top dog. As you haven't been there that long I advice you to do your job and if he annoys you walk away or count to 10/take 10 deep breathes before you say something that could backfire. I think we all have had jobs were there is one person who makes our job a living hell. Don't worry there are always plenty of people that are like that and that just a person you have to deal with. On the otherhand make sure he isn't discriminating against you, being a woman as you may have some rescourse. How do the other employees interact with him??? And remember you aren't going to have this job forever so you won't have to deal with him forever. Think if you do a good job you could me a asst mgr and become his boss. You don't have to impress him-just the mgmt!!

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Here's the funny thing..most of the people there had known him before the job so they of course get along with him just fine! They're all friends. The only ones who aren't friends with him are me, and my other coworker whom is much older than me (Pullin on 50) and he's newer than me and he said the same thing I am saying. We're both sick of this kid bossing us around! Like even the teeniest mistakes he throws a full on spazz fit and he really just needs to lighten up

Omg! This totally reminds me of when I was working for a convient store and the girl that trained me TOTALLY thought she was my boss too!! She annoyed the piss outta everyone else also, and finally I had enough of her and told her about it, and funny enough after that she never bossed me again, and then quit shortly after! Oh man that girl was such a b%&*! I sure hope it all works out for ya.....maybe he will just quit too....

Did you just say that youve only been working there for 4 days? and youre already telling him what to do???

Um i wouldnt even dare tell someone what to do untill i have done my training

I have to agree. You are now in the real world. People who lose their tempers and scream and yell at co-workers do not keep their jobs very long. People who do not behave appropriately in front of customers do not keep their jobs very long. You are the new person in a job that basically anyone off the street could be hired to do. If you want to keep that job, you suck it up, smile, say "Yes, Ma'am" or "No, Sir", and play by their rules.

I worked as a restaurant manager with teens for 8 years. If one kid could not represent my company appropriately, I would very quickly find someone else who could.

I had to deal with someone similar to this. I struggled with keeping my temper,espcially since I had worked there before and had quit then came back and this kid was new. I already knew everything and this guy was on a total power trip.

This guy you are dealing with sounds like he is too. The best way to get "even" is to absolutly ignore him. He wants to piss you off! You might be pissed, but the more you ignore him or act like he's nothing, the more that will get under his skin and piss him off. It worked for me and he finally figured out that he wasn't worth my time and left me alone!

I'm not a parent, but i can tell you now that if you worked at my place and spoke to people like you have been in the short time you've been there, you would be given the official warnings in your pay packet and if it carried on your P60 (your cards).

When you start a job you do your damndest to make a good impression, because i don't know how the states work but over here if you go from job to job employers normally ask your old employer for a reference before they take you on.

Originally Posted by fwan

Did you just say that youve only been working there for 4 days? and youre already telling him what to do???

Um i wouldnt even dare tell someone what to do untill i have done my training

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Noo this is my 2nd week here and I'm not telling him what to do I simply asked nicely if he could drop the money for me and he barked at me saying i need to learn how to do it sometime and I already KNOW how to do it.

Trista,

You're low person on the totem pole. It's not necessarily fair, but neither is life. If you are unhappy about the working conditions, find a different job.

Kill em with kindness.

Just act like you love the guy. You are his #1 fan. Because he already knows theres tension. And that you really dont like him. It'll turn out good for the both of yous. Be really super nice, and he'll have to turn around sometime.

I have worked plenty of jobs that make you want to pull your hair out, but that goes with out saying, because everyone has. It truly sucks that you are stuck working with such a pain, but the sooner you learn not to lose your temper, the better for you. You don't lose your dignity by keeping your mouth shut, don't worry. He is not worth that kind of effort from you. What is that they say??? Something about honey catches more flies than vinegar? He's the fly. You be the honey.

Yes, everyone has made excellent points. If you keep quiet and you're more apt to make HIM look like an idiot then you. For example, when you burst at him for his comment about needing to learn the drops at some point, that customer in line could've been a woman's activist and ridiculed your co-worker for his condesending attitude towards you.

My advise is to suck it up. It really stinks (believe me I KNOW!). If you can't do so on your own, seek anger management if you haven't already. (Really its going to be worthwhile to you some day. Accepting you have a temper is one thing...being able to work and LIVE with it is totally different).
Otherwise quit your job and find a new one. Keep in mind though, there's always that bad apple where ever you go. So again, strongly encourage A.M.