Target Misses the Mark
Dear Local Target Store,
Have I mentioned that I really do love you? And that it hurts me to write this?
I was standing in line with my items that started out as a small list and ballooned (as always) to about a bazillion things. I was tired and impatient, I’ll be honest.
I get to the checkout line, and I take a gander at the checkout person. She looks as if she is about to die. You know how people look when they are really sick and should be in bed, but instead for some reason showed up to work? Well, that was her.
She croaks, “Hello” at me and then COUGHS ONTO HER HAND. I repeat ONTO HER HAND. My first grader knows by now that you DO NOT COUGH INTO YOUR HAND you cough into the crook of your elbow. He does it, I’ve seen him do it. But for whatever reason, this chick decided it was too much effort. She then casually, or perhaps very slowly because she had a horrible illness residing within her that has rendered her limbs practically useless, pumps a couple of drops of hand sanitizer onto her hands, rubs for about two seconds, and then PLACES HER GERMY HANDS ALL OVER MY STUFF.
Did they not just come out with a study that showed hand sanitizers do not in any way kill 99.9% of germs? Why yes, they did.
What should I have done? Should I have switched lines, even though she had already started on my things? The thought crossed my mind, but it was too late.
So thanks a lot, sick Target employee. I have a three month old with an immature immune system at home, the last thing I need is an onslaught of your germs.
And Target, I don’t know if your policies encourage sick employees to show up to work or not. I hope they don’t. And you might want to give your employees a refresher course in proper hygiene. Especially in the time of, you know, that little thing called swine flu.
Thanks bunches,
Gina
Ewww! I never know what to do in those situations either. I just hope none of you get sick.
Gina, you know I love you, but I have a few problems with this.
1. She coughed into her hand. True, coughing into your elbow is MUCH more sanitary (heck, when I’m at work, in the ER, I cough and sneeze into my undershirt just to prevent any spray getting out), but I remember as a kid always being taught to cover my mouth with my hand when I cough. Again, I agree it’s not sanitary, and she was going to touch your stuff, but it’s a hell of a lot more effort than most people make. Trust me, I’m around coughing adults on a daily basis. People don’t cover their mouths nearly enough.
2. You’re right about the hand sanitizers. They don’t kill as many germs as they’d like you to believe. (AND NEWS FLASH TO ALL YOU READERS OUT THERE!! IT’S AN ANTI-BACTERIAL!!! THE FLU IS A VIRUS!!! HAND SANITIZERS DO NOTHING FOR THE FLU EXCEPT KILL OFF ALL THE GOOD BACTERIA ON YOUR HANDS THAT MAY HAVE FOUGHT OFF THE FLU VIRUS!! CONGRATS. YOU’RE NOW MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE FLU.)Sorry.
3. While it’s gross that she touched your stuff after coughing in her hands and using a lame attempt at sanitizing, (not to gross you out) but I’m fairly certain that’s the least of your worries as far as the packaging goes. Consider the manufacturing plant in who knows what country, the trip from that country to here, the Target receiving center, the trip from that place to your local Target, the Target stock room, the Target sales floor and finally, all the grubby hands that considered buying that product before you picked it up and put it in your cart. Again, I don’t want to gross you out, but I’m fairly certain her germs won’t do much you you or your family compared to whatever was picked up along the way. I do agree with you however that it’s gross, even if she tried to make it better.
4. Why was she working? I’m sure corporate Target and her manager would tell you that they NEVER ask employees to come in sick….but let’s face it. Almost all of us have jobs that give us a huge hassle if we call out. She probably told them she was sick and they pleaded with her to stay and help. Hell, they probably put her on the register because it’s less manual labor than stocking. (oops Mr. Manager)
OK, I’m stepping off my soap box to get into bed. Germs aren’t always the devil. Just remember what we all did when we were kids, and what our parents did, and their parents, and so on, and they all survived JUST FINE! Or you wouldn’t be reading this.
Hey Dave, why don’t you tell me how you REALLY feel?
I kid, I kid.
I think I am more paranoid than most because I have an infant, and only a parent knows the horror that is a sick newborn.
And I think it was because she looked so godawful.
You are right, germs aren’t necessarily the enemy, but it is one thing to know that, and another to see a sick person get their sick germs on all of your things, including things for the baby.
I agree with you on that note completely. And, as I’m sure you guessed, this wasn’t necessarily geared directly at you. It was more for the readers. You just provided the perfect jump off point for me.
Loveyoumeanit!!!!