THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2018
FEATURES
Employer has us working dumb hours
Dear Annie: I work in health intense. This is pretty much how the
and wellness for the largest retailer day goes — dealing with irate cus-
in the world. I love my job, but tomers and getting no sales.
What can we do to let members
there are so many things I don’t
of management know there are bet-
understand.
Management is always on us ter ways to treat their employees
about making money (which I and still save money? They simply
understand), but no matter what we will not listen. It’s typical top-down
do, it is never enough. We
management. Things are
DEAR
reside in a depressed area
good for those who are on
and really do quite well for
top but frustrating for those
ANNIE
where we live.
who aren’t so far up the
With all the pressure
ladder. — Love My Job but
management puts on us
Just Don’t Understand
about sales and eliminat-
Dear
LMJBJDU:
ing waste, our district man-
Many companies today
ager demands that we work
have wised up to the value
such wasteful hours. We
of employee feedback and
Lane
are at the office until 8 in Annie
started conducting periodic
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
the evening even though
reviews. If your employer
no one comes in that late.
does, take the opportunity
I keep looking for something to do. to share your insights. Focus on
We work from 12 to 5 on Sundays, what the company stands to gain
and usually there are no customers by cutting back during low-traffic
— just people walking by asking, hours. Your case will be more con-
“Why are you working on a Sun- vincing if you can offer some con-
day?” On Memorial Day, Fourth crete examples — so the next time
of July, Labor Day and other holi- you’re working one of these shifts,
days, we work from 9 to 6. It is not take notes on sales, staffing, etc.
unusual to have customers who are Because it’s such a huge retailer
on vacation and want trial contact with stores nationwide, there may
lenses because theirs are ripped or be blanket policies that your manag-
lost. When we can’t give them what ers have to follow even if they don’t
they want (we need a doctor’s per- make much sense at your location.
mission to give out contacts), they But it’s worth at least proffering
become irate. Sometimes it gets your two cents.
If management brushes you off
and things continue not to change,
it might be time to channel your
frustration into filling out some job
applications — preferably with
smaller companies, where you
might be able to play a bigger role.
Dear Annie: While shopping
at our local grocery, I overheard an
elderly woman complaining that the
new digital coupons limit her from
getting the reduced price. She does
not have a smartphone with which
to pull up the coupons, nor does she
know how to use a computer. She
expressed that this is unfair to older
people (many of whom really need
the reduced prices) who would like
to be able to participate in this pro-
gram. I wonder whether any of the
companies that have gone digital
have considered this problem. —
Digital Age Discrimination
Dear Digital Age Discrimina-
tion: A smartphone isn’t always
necessary, as many companies allow
customers to download and print
coupons from their websites — but
that still presents a frustrating obsta-
cle for seniors who aren’t familiar
with using a computer or don’t have
access to one. Rather than give up,
I would encourage anyone in this
boat to call the Eldercare Locator
(800-677-1116) to find a class for
people new to technology.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Social grace
is at least as much about knowing what to
say as it is about leaving room for others to
be themselves. You’ll nail this and enjoy the
spontaneous trajectory things take because
of it.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). When it comes
to making others happy, no striving or strain-
ing will be necessary. Do what’s natural, and
then rest. Working too hard to please people
will only make you a prisoner, trapped in the
bars of needing their approval.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It’s the same on
the “Wheel of Fortune” board as it is in life.
The more turned letters you have, the easier
it is to fill in the blanks. Ask for more clues and
the next correct action will be obvious.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ll be
connecting with those you haven’t seen in a
while. You might feel like you can’t get to the
hanging out part until you play catch-up, but if
you only have limited time, go for the hanging
out. It’s what you both need.
must, or 2) you follow the impulse to make
them happen.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). If you choose
something that, it turns out, you don’t like
so much after all, do not stick with it out of a
loyalty, fear or a sense of challenge. It won’t
serve anyone in the long run, least of all you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). It’s an ex-
cellent habit you’ve developed — not offering
up information unless you’re pretty sure. This
works toward building your reputation. People
will trust what you say because you say what
you know to be true.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Clicking
with someone’s sense of humor is nothing to
take for granted. Humor requires a match of
so many factors that it’s quite rare for people
to make each other laugh on a regular basis.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Meetings
will be far more interesting when you have a
stake in what goes down. Prepare yourself
with questions and relevant information about
your side of things.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). It’s not the big events
that determine what a relationship is, not
really. It’s the forgettable Wednesdays that are
made somehow unforgettable by the unique
laughter and love you share with each other.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). When you
show up, you aim to do so with at least as
much enthusiasm as you had back when
you accepted the invitation. You’ll keep this in
mind before accepting new invitations today.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The deep
conversation between I and me will not lead
anywhere productive, rather it’s a dialogue
that tends to corkscrew down to a basement
of moods. For a lift, focus your energy on
others instead.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (May 30). You
long ago realized that you’re the one who
gives your life meaning and the lengths you’ll
go to do that will make this a magical year
indeed. You’ll make a courageous move
before June is over that sets the tone for the
year. Business favors you in July and August.
New friends being joy and fun to 2019. Leo
and Virgo adore you. Your lucky numbers are:
19, 2, 22, 28 and 39.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). There’s not a
“right” moment for things to happen, just a
moment in which things do happen because
1) they have built up to a place in which they
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE