I work in retail and have a position in management. Lately the scrotes keep taking it upon themselves to unnecessarily pest me and being on the clock it's harder to just ignore or walk away from them.
I always prioritize my own safety as well as my coworkers so I'll fake laugh or just get through the ordeal and get the scrotes out of the store as fast as possible when they're having Tantrums or Hitting on me. I can't stand when they pretend to have a million questions when really they just want to waste my time, stare at me, or try to woo me with fact they just got a car, job, or apartment - or any other bare minimum shit that makes them look like more and more of a clown for trying to brag about it. I simply just nod my head or say "sounds exciting for you" and move them along.
I dont go into chatterbox mode and don't say much when they start rambling. I simply will tell them "If you need anymore help, feel free as we have many associates around" as I start walking away.
When they get really pesty or if I start to feel uncomfortable I'll pretend I dont know the answer and refer them to a coworker as I simultanesously call over a coworker. (Which is so funny when it's an older coworker and the scrote suddenly says never-mind and leaves) Or I'll pretend I have to take a work phone call and apologize as I head off. I'll also refer them to shopping online.
With scrotes, I don't go out of my way to make eye contact or smile at them. I'll often ignore them, act like I don't see them, and go about my job. When interacting with them I act professional but I'm not super smiley, enthusiastic, or chatty. If anything I act serious, quiet, and give off a boring vibe. This has prevented a lot of ooglers from approaching me. I'm the epitome of the "cool story bro".
But female attention of any sort is currency to them, and more desperate scrotes are coming out of the woodwork.
Lately, they started calling the business phone and have pretended its business related the whole time and then will suddenly turn it sexual and inappropriate. The calls are from private numbers so it's tough to really do anything or figure out who it is, but it's a repeated offense.
Recently a scrote called and did this same thing to me and then it entered harassment territory when he suddenly said be was mastirbating and wanted to finish. I simply hung up and had to report it.
I Want to add that I have a male coworker around my age, with a very friendly and outgoing personality. He goes out of his way to chat and approach a lot of customers. Some women will get a little flirty with him but the most they have ever done was tell him he has nice eyes, nice hair, etc and they'll leave it at that.
I've had to deal with men following me around the store, Asking for me, the phone calls pretending to be business, I had a man tell me in a flirty way he just bought a ton of condoms, I've had others come back after telling them no I'm not single and no you're not getting my ohone number come back almost every day and pest me with questions or just oogle at me. I've heard lots of commentary about my body from scrote customers on the daily.
I've even had a dude from cooperate throw items at my coworker and then at me because.... female attention of any sort is currency to them.
It's super important to learn do what you can and to judge each situation. Sometimes it's better to just nod and get rid of them quickly and other times you need to get yourself away from them. I always tell my coworkers though and report the scrotes who make a pattern of coming in because they can get banned from the stores and I'm sick and tired of my pickme coworkers not speaking up and letting things slide.
These scrotes are absolutely depraved, sick beings. For ONE DAY I just want to be able to do my damn job without the commentary, ogling, and harassment. My male coworkers have no idea what this is like, even the one who does get hit on its always been in a respectful and nonharassing way. I've had several days where I've already had to explain to my boss why things hadn't gotten completly done and its because scrotes had kept approaching and pesting me (just to get my time and not because they were interested in any business transactions).
But yeah this is what happens, it's harassment and we face it daily. I really wish I could tell every scrote stop staring at my butt and chest, are you actually needing help with this item because if you're just wasting my time you need to leave.
Cooperate doesn't want to really do anything though unless it's something like public nudity or assault - and I'm sick of that shit. If we already have dudes making lewd comments and calling on the phones to masturbate why let it go further? I'm not.
Speak up regularly to your bosses and to HR. Do what you need to do at work to protect yourself. It's always better to explain later rather than ask first. I've walked into the break room a few times to escape pesty or creepy ones.
This was a long rant. I'm just deeply frustrated at the audacity. (And for the lurkers I don't wear makeup, and I wear the ugliest and most modest baggy clothes to work)
Ugh, I also had a man call up my office to jerk off to my voice. I didn't even work in any sort of forward-facing position, he just dialed up our number and kept pressing extensions until he got a woman. How sad is this that it's a thing women experience?
Op, I am so sorry you're going through that. You deserve to feel safe at your job. REMEMBER THAT.
I swear working in retail leaves you scarred for life!
Like I remember one-time I was assisting a customer and I told him I couldn't continue helping him because I was going on my lunch break. To my surprise, he asked, "Oh, okay? Where are you going to go eat?" I thought it was an innocent question, I told him, "Oh, maybe somewhere in the mall. Whatever peeks my interest." Then he had the nerve to tell me, "Alright, hold on, let me pay first, and then we can go together." My co-worker and I were looking at each other like is this fucker for real? He ruined my lunch. I took my break in the backroom of the store and starved. I'd rather starve then have this weird motherfucker stalking me at the mall.
Tbis was exhausting just to read. I hope you'll be able to get into another line or work soon.