When Your Employees Lob Grenades at You, Let Them Go.

To the stunned women who own that cute boutique in the Southpoint mall:

Your saleslady just detonated a concussion grenade.

While you’re picking up the pieces and processing the drama, let me reassure you that yes, it did happen, no, you are not crazy, and yes, you should fire her.

You’re a little disoriented now, so let me recap for you:

As I’m still making my way through the racks, your saleslady started to ring me up. She tells me that my total is $38. I am puzzled. The price tag clearly said that it was $98.

“That’s not right,” I say.

“Yes, it is,” she replies.

I see you frantically trying to get her attention to correct her.

You gently point out she’s read the tag of the NECKLACE draped on the hanger of the display dress. She didn’t even read the tag on my dress.

“That’s misleading,” she protests. The necklace has a big square label. The dress has the usual price tag hanging from its label.

In case you’re doubting yourself, let me tell you: There’s no mistaking one for the other, let alone it being “misleading”.

“But no one would pay $100 for that dress,” she adds.

You are having kittens now, choking on the words you don’t let out.

Someone was willing to pay $100 for that little black dress. Me. The customer standing right in front of her.

You take over the register, tell her you’ll fix it, and ring me up.

She leaves the store in a huff to take a break.

Let me ask you this:

Do you see how she screwed up, but now YOU’RE expected to smooth her ruffled feathers?

She made a mistake but doesn’t own it. She blames everybody and everything else.

Accuses you of sleazy merchandising techniques. Accuses me of stupidity.

That amount of defensive gaslighting is toxic.

When someone can’t own a mistake and has to create drama to deflect attention and ask you, the injured party, to take care of them, more training or a heart-to-heart isn’t going to do shit.

You’re nice people.

It’s not your “fault” you have necklaces with different prices than dresses.

You deserve better. Your business deserves better.

Toxic employees cost you way more than their salaries: they cost you customers, profits, and worst of all, they rob you of something priceless — your well-being.

Your business should be like coming home for you, a safe place for you to create financial magic.

Fire her now.

Me wearing the dress in question. Photo by Anna Norwood Photography