Check-out clerks lacking basic hygiene - my short rant

I was at the checkout of my local grocery store, when the clerk coughed in her hands and then continued to scan my items. I looked at her in disbelief. I asked her to use Purel gel, but she said, "I'm not sick. It's just allergies." I said that it didn't matter, I didn't want her germs. She didn't use the gel and we finished our transaction as I was growing more uncomfortable. She was handling my produce. I suppose I could have called the manager at that moment, but I'm not good at confrontations.

I got home and continued to stew on what happened. I got frustrated enough to call the manager, who knows me, as I've been shopping there for years. She asked if there was anything she could do to make it "right" and all I asked is for her to talk with the employee and go over basic hygiene.

Ever since that incident, the employee still treats me a little rudely. I didn't mean to offend her, but her actions were gross. As a preschool teacher, we teach our kids that when they cough, to cough in their elbows. They're 4 and can learn that, why can't she?

days before the cashier touched it. Does the cashier use Purel after each time she handles money? Sorry...seems like kind of a small thing to get hung up about.

but who knows what else has handled the items you bought.

I try not to think about it but then again I don't have a germ phobia, so it doesn't really bother me. I do try to be considerate to others. If anything, excessive use of those hand santizers has been found to be just as bad as lack of use.

he coughed in his hands and he didn't think to change his gloves. the customer reported him to the manager who reemed him good but gave him a second chance. he learned real good!!

anyone touching it.

Everyone needs to be more conscientious about it, and the clerk should have been more customer-oriented in her reply, whether she agreed with you or not.

It is very true that handling cash is pretty filthy business.

in the produce section. They can see through it just fine, read and scan the little sticker and everything.

I also wash everything before I use it.

allergy and asthma are a v. common part of the american experience

when you get home, wash your own damn produce or else cook it

i have to admit i'm weary of wanna-be OCDs getting on my case for the crime of having an allergy

admit i wouldn't have been so bold as to cough into my hands, but allergies are not communicable and asking her to wash her hands every other minute in a purel jel doesn't do anything except humor your own mental compulsions

I'm glad I dont work retail anymore so random people cant talk down to me anymore.

why you always have this compulsion to be rude and nasty? No one deserves that and if you wish people to understand your point of you, this is not the way to go about it. Really.

Even though allergies and asthma are not contagious, it does no harm in asking employees who work with the public or anywhere for that matter, to observe a little common courtesy with regards to the bodily fluids that are expelled with a cough. Do you or even does she know for certain that she isn't carrying some other communicable bacteria? No. And even if she isn't, it's still common courtesy to cough into a tissue. If you have these allergies, surely you carry tissue.

Please stop snarking and snarling at every person you answer. :hi:

Would you feel the same way if your waiter sneezed/coughed into your plate as s/he carried your food to the table in a restaurant?

I am only curious because I work in food service and the way different people react to things is fascinating to me. SO I am just wondering if it would matter more (to you) if it was prepared food at a restaurant or if you don't give a damn like at the grocery store.

along with over-reliance on antibiotics. There is a reason that the Vikings notoriously never got sick...it has to do with having strong constitutions and immune systems because they were exposed, built up resistances and went on with their daily lives without a pants-load full of worry. A little earthiness is good for you.

Germs than what she probably carries. So an encouragement to the management to review hygiene with their employees is a good idea.

As an allergy sufferer, I don't care if someone is coughing because they have an allergy or a virus - it is the act of coughing that distributes whatever germs the person has. We have all germs, maybe some are more contagious than others, but a cashier would be exposed to more than most people.

Maybe YOU should use purell before you touch anything. If you are gonna be that hung up about germs I mean.

rather than cough or sneeze into your hands (which touch everything) you do it into your sleeve which will dry up and then the germs will dry out and die.

because you dont touch anything with your elbow. I think that is the latest word.

having someone coughing or sneezing in a public job like that demands a little extra effort. I don't think the Purell suggestion was out of line.

BTW, I don't cough in my elbows and don't think that I ever will. Into the tissue or hands for me. I wash my hands frequently regardless.

Or all over her hands and then your groceries. I mean, come on! Of course we all know to wash our groceries before we eat them. We all know cash is dirty and carries germs. But there is a certain visceral reaction to someone coughing into her hand and then handling food. And it may be that she has more than allergies. I can't always tell the difference if I have allergies or a little cold, but I do know that cold germs are airborne and expel when you cought.

I cannot believe that people here think that is acceptable behavior on the part of the cashier.