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Even though humans have the capability to be compassionate towards others when they haven’t experienced the same themselves, it has limits and you can't truly understand what another person is feeling until you are put in the same situation.

But when they do suffer through the same thing, they have a different level of appreciation of those people. When Reddit user allycakes asked Redditors “How has having a s****y job changed how you act?” most people admitted that they mostly just try to be as kind and helpful as they can to certain workers so they'll feel better that day.

Have you ever had a job that changed they way you do things or talk to people? Let us know your stories in the comments!

More info: Reddit

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job Since I've run bookstores in the past, I tend to reorder the shelves at my local Barneys & Ignoble. I once spent two hours doing their history section. A manager came over, asked what I was doing, checked my work, walked away, then came back with a job application and a free drink from their cafe.

anon , Martin Cathrae Report

Final score:
227points
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#2

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job Because I worked fast food when I was younger, i'm always polite and calm when getting food. Even if they are seriously f*****g up, and i'm in a terrible mood, I make sure to stay calm and polite.

anon , David Stanley Report

Final score:
226points
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LagoonaBlueColleen
LagoonaBlueColleen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have flashback still of the abuses I endured by management and customers. I never want to make anyone feel like that. It sticks with you for years. If I do see a mistake I'd rather help them learn than berate them. You learn by f*****g up.

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#3

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job I clean up my goddamned food after I'm done watching a movie.

AcheronRed , Bennilover Report

Final score:
218points
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Lyd
Lyd
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Former Movie theater worker here--can confirm there are teenage kids who have to go through and pick up your drinks and sweep up your popcorn and whatever else you leave. If it's a busy time and they only have 5 minutes, it gets swept under the seat. Crazy to me how much people will leave behind when they're in the dark and have no accountability when they would never do that in a well lit space.

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#4

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job I used to work in customer service, so I'm always kind and patient with customer service personnel. Even the ones at the DMV. If you're nice to them, most of the time they'll be nice to you!

jonesie1988 , Micah Sittig Report

Final score:
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LagoonaBlueColleen
LagoonaBlueColleen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It just makes everything, even a problem, go so much more smoothly.

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#5

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job It wasn't a s****y job but I raised my three-year-old daughter by myself for four years. As a 70's guy, I learned to cook good foods, clean a house correctly, buy children's sizes and even braid hair.

I also can appreciate how hard it is to be a single mom...

vihrea , Tony Alter Report

Final score:
170points
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#6

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job Not that I ever did this, but after working in a grocery store, I'm always extra diligent in returning the shopping carts to the correct place.

HawkeyeFan321 , Polycart Report

Final score:
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#7

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job Delivery driver. I now make sure that my house number is clearly legible from the street.

abow , Mike Linksvayer Report

Final score:
148points
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#8

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job I used to deliver pizzas. I can't tell you how bad it sucks to deliver a pizza to a huge house to a well off family in either 100 degrees in a car with no AC or in the pouring rain (summer job) and then get a 50cent tip. So now I always try to round the bill up to the next 5 or 10 dollars when I order delivery.

CenturionGMU , Michael Coghlan Report

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GirlFriday
GirlFriday
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I used to work in food service and because of that, I tip really well.

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#9

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job I used to work as a dishwasher in a restaurant, so now I always check what time a place closes before going in to eat. If it's less then say, 30 minutes, I find another place.

anon , Jeremie Dela Rosa Report

Final score:
132points
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Fintch
Fintch
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Normally, dishwashers have a 30 minutes longer shifts, than cooks.

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#10

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job I worked at a Wendy's for 3 years, now whenever I go through a drive-thru I always ask how the employee's doing. It always threw me for a loop when someone would ask how my night was going, it was so rare but it pumped me up for the rest of my shift every time.

tokyovalley , Mike Mozart Report

Final score:
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#11

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job When I'm out drinking, I always take the empty glasses and bottles on mine and surrounding tables, up to the bar. Once a bartender, always a bartender.

Jazbad , Lee Haywood Report

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Benita Valdez
Benita Valdez
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes. I do it too on the rare occasion I can't get a seat at the bar. I was a bartender too and that little bit is so helpful sometimes and always extremely appreciated; it's like an extra tip

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#12

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job Every time I leave a hotel, I strip the beds, fold the toilet paper into a triangle, put the used towels into a pile, and leave a tip for the maid because I used to be a maid and I know how much it sucks.

allycakes , Mace Ojala Report

Final score:
119points
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Nizumi
Nizumi
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Me too! If I can, I hand the tip to the maid herself 'cos I know the minibar folks would sometimes steal tips left in rooms. And tip every day as it's not always the same person cleaning the room every day.

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#13

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job Used to wait tables. Parents would bring in kids 3 and under, and 8 out of 10 times the floor would be a mess. I totally get that kids are messy, I see no issue there, but just leaving it? For me to clean up?! After asking for 87 napkins?!

When I go to restaurants with my kids, I get on my hands and knees and clean that s**t up. Usually am asked not to, but I don't care. MY kid did that. If I ever do give in and not clean it up, server gets a greater tip.

aweebitevil , Eric Chan Report

Final score:
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Benita Valdez
Benita Valdez
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My best friend does the same thing and we were both waitresses. I don't have kids but I make sure to keep the area clean

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#14

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job Well, obviously I tip since I worked jobs that depended on tips: valet, bellhop.

But I often find myself trying to be organized and punctual in ordering at a restaurant, even though I never worked waitstaff. Like, know what I'm going to order before the waiter shows up, including sides and dressing.

Note to restaurants: list the dressings for salads in the menu and we'll all order more quickly if we don't make the waitstaff names salad dressings for EVERY SINGLE patron. Ditto beers on tap.

stupidnickname , Lou Stejskal Report

Final score:
105points
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Fintch
Fintch
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't know the USA, but in most european countries-where I lived/live and visited- the salads are listed with the specific dressing, because that goes the most with the dish. Sure, you can ask for something else (what you saw on menü), or just simple olive oil and lemon.

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#15

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job I still do serve, and no matter how awful the food is I would never take it out on the server. I also make sure that if I need something I ask everyone at the table what they need too, so we can ask all at once so the server doesn't have to make 15 trips.

Hinchburglar , Kurman Communications, Inc. Report

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#16

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job If there's a URL for a survey on my receipt, I try to make sure I catch the name of the person serving me at the counter. When I worked retail, we got $10 anytime someone mentioned us by name in an online survey.

secretplan , gauge opinion Report

Final score:
103points
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dream of delusion
dream of delusion
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

hmm, never noticed that was a thing. kinda want to try it now, guess i’ll just look closer at the receipts whenever we go out

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#17

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job If I get good customer service, I ask for a manager to tell them what a good job the employee did for me. I even ask to be transferred when dealing over the phone with customer service agents to their manager.

I had one person do that for me when I helped them when I worked in a call center. While it didn't give me a raise, it gave me a name in the faceless floor of 200 or so that I was working on.

Made me feel like I actual helped someone instead of just being a punching bag for them.

YakCat , Media Club Report

Final score:
95points
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T Kory
T Kory
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Compliments are nice But tldr: talk is cheap so put it in writing. I suggest not asking to talk to the manager. Instead, ask for their email and send the compliment via email. An email compliment can be added to an employee file and be used as evidence when pushing upper management to give that employee a raise. Also, front line managers are usually very busy and having to drop everything to go talk to a customer who wants to see the manager (even for a compliment) is annoying. It is better to email.

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#18

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job At restaurants, I always help stack the dishes with all the food on the top plate. Washing dishes is not fun.

anon , Jen Russo Report

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LagoonaBlueColleen
LagoonaBlueColleen
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My mom just taught me to place my plate near the edge with my utensils placed neatly next to each other and that's supposed to signify you're finished. I'm not sure that message gets across at a casual, family restaurant.

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#19

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job I used to be a server. Now I look them in the eyes, say thank you, and tip well.

anon , ella Report

Final score:
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FreshGanesh
FreshGanesh
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And, as with all workers who deal with you in public, if they have a name tag or tell you their name refer to them by it.

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#20

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job After working 3 years in a grocery store, I bag my own groceries.

politicaldan , Beau B Report

Final score:
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Fintch
Fintch
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

???? How the other way? They are still people employed just for bagging, like in those old movies?

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#21

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job Dont put napkins in your F*****G glasses!

DAHENNERZZ , ttarasiuk Report

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Kusotare
Kusotare
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But...but...but that's where they were when I sat down!

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#22

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job I used to work movie theater concessions.

I no longer buy food from the movie theaters.

CherrySlurpee , Bennilover Report

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zak
zak
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If it's not in a sealed package (candy, bottled water), then I'm not buying it at a movie theater.

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#23

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job I now always have my money ready for my cashier before the cashier announces my total. They (at least where I work) try to go fast and it's an odd pace to maintain.

JYehsian , Myrtle Beach TheDigitel Report

Final score:
52points
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Nimues Child
Nimues Child
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I do this, too. I had an old boyfriend who would wait for the announced total then verrrrrryyyyyy slowwwlllllyyy would take out his wallet, thumb through his cash and lay his money down. That behavior was so self-absorbed and rude to the cashier and those behind us in line, so I changed my behavior to have my payment ready to go.

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#24

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job Drama teacher, kids aged 4-16.
I'm considering tying my pipes and am determined never to have my own, because of the kids I've encountered, but mostly due to the parents, who will often offload onto me while I'm waiting for them to get their coats.
Turns out one of the boys doesn't know his *real* Dad works at his mums office. Oh, and the mother of triplets still cries because she never wanted more than one, now she has four (including their brother). Can't. Deal.

Melivora , Lisa Stevens Report

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Elvira Dirge
Elvira Dirge
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe they see you as a trusted source to confide in. I've gone through a lot as a teacher, but I'm also a parent. I've been told WAY tmi at times, but I see it as a sign of trust.

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#25

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job I work in retail, stockin' shelves and helping customers. I have learned that just because they have a badge they do not know *everything* about every product in the store, especially stuff outside of their normal section (for example, half of the K-Mart where I work is apparel; I have *no idea* where any specific type of clothing is, and if you ask me I'll point in the general direction and say "that way"). Also, unless the store is brilliantly organized with its extra stock, checking 'out the back' for something is really annoying and time consuming and the marjority of the time if it's not on the shelf there's none out the back (at least where I work; we're pretty good with keepin' our shelves stocked). So now I'm always super polite (which I was beforehand anyway), if I ask someone where something is and they're not sure because they don't work in that section I'll just thank them anyway and keep lookin', and I don't bother asking for them to check out back unless I urgently need it.
TL;DR: Floor-workers in retail stores *do not* have omniscient knowledge of all stock in their store.

Giant-Midget , JJBers Report

Final score:
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Fintch
Fintch
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In big supermarkets there is no customer service. Big supermarkets are in fact warehouses with self-service, therefore can they be cheaper. People working there, are just filling up the shelves, sometimes they are not even the supermarket's employees, but of the companies whose products they are filling up. If you want customer service, go to your local small grocery store at the corner.

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#26

Folks In This Online Group Shared 26 Habits They Picked Up From Working At A Lousy Job I used to cook chicken wings in a bar. I never send back food unless it's inedible.

tcorio , stu_spivack Report

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Kalevra
Kalevra
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Uh if i my ordered food is inncorrectly prepared...its going back.

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