when one local dollar tree store closed
my favorite enthusiastic manager
moved to the new location
and judging by my recent visit
he has not lost one bit
of his dollar store fervor and expertise.
this was a conversation between bob (the manager) and evelyn (my cashier) as i was checking out:
E: “bob, you’re really good at remembering all of the balloon numbers to ring up and knowing each one of them without looking.”
B: “well, i’ve been doing it a long time. once in a while a number will change or a new shape will come in, like a unicorn, but it’s part of my job to keep up with it.”
E: “when i worked at the grocery store, i knew all the prices for the cucumbers, the peppers and tomatoes. the easy ones”
B: “some are trickier, like avocados, and for some of those things you only see sometimes it’s harder to remember the all the plu’s.”
E: “it’s really a skill, bob. to be able to do that.”
customer john interrupts:
J: “hey bob – so this is where you’ve got up to – how are you liking the change?”
B: “hey, john. good to see you. it’s great. every day is great. i’m so lucky to be here.”
and how lucky is dollar tree to have bob as a manager?
a man who truly loves his job
takes pride in all of it
is always smiling and helpful
knows exactly where every item in the store is located
and who happily learns the number for the new unicorn balloon.
― c
Whaaaat no way, I got totally invested when reading the background, then Read the top of your post again and could appreciate the shock!
Being overworked is such an unnecessary occurrence.
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yes, he was someone who really cared about his job and finally just got too overwhelmed without support, I’m guessing
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This is so sad. I don’t even know him but can only assume it took a turn at the Dollar Store. Great post
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yes, and he took his job very seriously
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Aww, so sad.
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yes, he was such a gem
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Sadness 🥲
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Sad for the store to lose such a lovely manager…. yet he is right if he does not want to risk his health with all the stress!
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it must be incredibly hard to work at a dollar store and he was the perfect person to be the manager
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sad, Beth; things change, people move on; as Johnny Cash says: ‘I don’t like it but I guess things happen that way’
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yes –
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It is sadly all over. Fast food restaurants (some of the biggies) in my neighborhood are closing 6 to 7 hours early because of no staff. One store had a big piece of cardboard that changed daily with their “Hours of Operation” So many stores closing and so many people quitting. I love my job, but I am looking. The daily stress and burnout are a sad reality
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workers finally have some say in what they deserve
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To repeat what has been written, this is very sad and a sign of the times we are living in. An acquaintance of mine wrote that he is currently trying to get fired. He put in thousands of hours in OT and covered for his coworkers. He got a mediocre review to justify a paltry raise. It isn’t about the raise. It’s about the thousands of unappreciated extra time he will never get back. He says if they fire him, the unemployment might help him recoup a little of what he lost. He says he will never quit.
So sad.
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yes, a sad situation and hopefully workers without much power in the past will have some space to get what they deserve for all of their hard work
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Lovely story.
Lucky are those who love what they do and do it with pride.
Hope Bob finds a job where he is truly appreciated.
Best wishes, Beth.
Chaya
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))
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Lovely story.
Lucky are those who love what they do and do it with pride.
Hope Bob finds a job where he is truly appreciated.
Best wishes, Beth.
Chaya
Sorry Beth, my above comment appeared as anonymous!
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me too, and thanks for commenting, Chaya
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It’s 11.30pm here in Geelong, and I seem to have overdone it today, I’ll quit now, and see how I am in the morning .. 😉😴
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great plan, Ivor
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Definitely a man in the right job! He touches so many people with his gift.
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right, he was great at this
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I would like to imagine that the shop owners will regret his leaving, and wish they had offered him more support.
Sadly, I doubt they even know his name…
Best wishes, Pete.
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Unfortunately, caring about your employees fell by the wayside after the 80s. I was just talking with someone about remembering how paid health insurance was a benefit with almost every full-time job and how overtime was not chastised but merely meant the employee was dedicated to getting a job finished by giving up his/her own time to do so. From what you’ve shared about this manager, it seems obvious that he had reached the ceiling on how much neglect and overuse he was willing to take! I hope someone quickly latches onto the kind of worker he is!
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I think you are spot on
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The employment market is wide open nowadays. People with the devotion and passion of “Bob” will not be unemployed for long. In leadership positions, this is not how anyone wants to end their employment, but sometimes you must act in your own best interest, especially when your employer is not doing do.
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I agree with every word of this, brad
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Interesting…
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I do understand it, he had reached his tipping point
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I would say so, for sure!
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🧸❤️🩹🧸
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Nice tribute. Hate to see good people quit. Sounds like the type of worker who will be one an asset elsewhere.
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I think so too –
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What a shame…
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the world needs more people like Bob!
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here’s to more bobs in the world!
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I am SO fortunate that I retired when I did. So far, my timing in many things has been pretty darn good.
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lucky!
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I’m sorry to see that the pandemic grind in the dollar store wore a great worker like Bob down so much he had to quit … and since he was the ONLY manager, the store had to close. Bad for him, bad for the customers, bad for the community, and a microcosm of what we’ve got to overcome in so many places, Beth.
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all so sad and so right, mark
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What a shame – I hope Bob finds a better job – I’m sure he will be excellent at it.
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yes, I do too, and I feel he will give his all to whatever job he does
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Nice post
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thank you
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Seems like he deserved better and I hope he gets it. What or who drove him to quit oughta be whipped.
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yes and yes
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A sad story, and so typical of The Great Resignation.
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indeed –
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HI Beth, this is a really lovely post.
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thank you so much, Roberta
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Terrific story, so sad that he couldn’t take it any more! We take great workers for granted sadly!
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we all have our tipping points –
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Awesomeness!!!
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❤️
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So sad with no end in sight. 🥴
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Right
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This is what happened at our local museum. I have no idea if it will ever open again.
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Such a loss ,I’m sure
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It is — to me definitely but to the Valley as a whole, too. It’s not unexpected — she is in her 80s, has some physical challenges and other personal stuff going on plus the usual political stuff of a public position in a small town with a board, etc.
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So many things and people are getting lost. Sounds like a wonderful person.
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Yes, so much lost and hopefully he will bring his passion to a new endeavor
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I sure hope things work out for Bob. Maybe this will be the best thing for him in the long run, and he lands back on his feet in a better situation. I love that he calls his customers by name.
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Yes,I hope that for him too
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Sad to say I see signs like these often on social media these days. I’ve always appreciated passion in all aspects
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it is sad, and I appreciate it when I see it, too
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That’s a true loss for the dollar tree.
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it really is, who else would replace someone so caring and passionate about this job?
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Exactly.
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This is sad, on so many levels. I hope Bob is okay.
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it is, and me too –
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I feel for him. I see the indifference in employers for employees all over the country and there is a shift happening to so many. We have forgotten to care for each other and offer dignity. I’m impressed with his ability to take his life back and start again. Lots needs to change.
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yes, and i’m sure it was way overdue –
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Crazy. It’s probably a result of the time we are living through.
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i’m sure it’s reflection of all that’s going on and no one appreciating all that he does with no end in sight
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How sad! What a beautiful tribute you wrote to him. His departure will impact so many. We just opened a new Dollar Tree. It’s about 3 miles from the Dollar Store on the “other” side of the tracks. I continue to shop on the “other” side due to the manager. It’s only cleaned and stocked when he’s there. He can’t retain workers and is exhausted. He’ll continue to get my business and I hope a handwritten sign doesn’t appear. But I get it.
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yes, it’s all about the people and i hope not too
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❣️
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I hope he just needs a break and will return soon.
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