No, I Don't Want To Watch You Eat!

Written By: Danielle Silva Heckenkamp

Cedarburg

This past weekend was Strawberry Fest in Cedarburg, Wisconsin. So after a morning of picking strawberries we headed over to downtown Cedarburg for a bit of shopping and an ice cream cone. It was a lovely day and even though it was warm and humid everyone was so nice and sweet. Unfortunately, I witnessed one major etiquette no-no...

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We stopped at one of the small shops to browse and just as we were about to leave, I noticed the cashier who was a young high school student eating an incredibly large piece of pizza at the checkout counter while a customer was making a purchase. It saddened me to watch this young girl find nothing wrong with eating in front of anyone. When I was in college, I worked in several retail environments but under no circumstances were we allowed to eat in front of customers! Not only is it rude, but don't you feel awkward chomping down on food in a professional work setting?


How has our society become so immune to these common courtesies? We were always taught as children that if you plan on eating in front of everyone else, you better have enough to share with everyone! I found it even a little more disturbing because these girls were wrapping beautiful merchandise while also eating a greasy slice of pizza. I want to give the girl a little benefit of the doubt since she was a little hesitant as she attempted to take small dainty bites, but unfortunately that doesn't make the action any better! Just remember, politeness is the greatest form of respect and this should be followed in every area of our lives.

Word to the Wise ~ There is never, under any circumstances, a reason to be eating food in front of your customers! Either take a break, or if it's too busy you just suck it up and wait until your shift is over. Self-control, please!

How to Leave a Job Gracefully

Every person gets to a point in their lives when it is time to move on from a job into a different one. This transition can be intimidating, scary, awkward, stressful or overall you can make it down-right GRACEFUL! Leaving a job can be graceful? You bet! But in achieving this end result it is all up to you!

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We have all heard the saying, "don't burn bridges". Well, there is truth in this statement and it can be applied to many areas in life, but especially to our professional careers. Whether we work in an office, a hospital, a bank, a grocery store, retail, or dinning services, it doesn't matter the job, professionalism is always a necessity. Whether you are moving to a different job for personal or professional reasons, there are always a few protocols which should be followed:

• Always put in a two week notice. It doesn't matter if the company probably won't keep you on for the whole time, but it is a courteous to give them a heads up to either train a new employee or begin the hiring process.
• While you finish out your two weeks, don't slack on the job. Your work ethic should remain in tact and it will follow you wherever you go.
• Don't walk out in a huff. Your finances may require you to remain at a job until you have a second one secured. Don't make a rash decision!
• When putting in your two week notice, it is not necessary for you to go into every aspect of the job you dislike or could use improvement. Keep your message short and sweet with little room for misinterpretation.

            "It has been such a pleasure working for you, but I have been offered an                 opportunity I cannot pass."

            "This job has been such a great experience and I would like to thank you                 for the opportunity to work for you, but I would like to move in a                           different direction with my career."

• Keep your negative comments to yourself. Never speak ill about your boss or co-workers in public, to other co-workers and never, ever on any social media website. You never know who will hear or read those comments and they cannot be taken back. They will follow you forever!
• If you have been fired or laid off, always keep an air of sophistication. Refrain from speaking ill of your previous employer and never gossip about work "problems". The more private you are about the circumstances, the more respect you will gain from others around you who may have connections that will help you find your next job.
• Say good-bye to your co-workers. This doesn't mean a personal note to each person is required, but those you were close with deserve at least a "good-bye". 
• Most importantly, always remain professional! In our fast-paced world, your actions, whether good or bad, will catch up with you quickly.

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