Is it normal for employees to brush off customers even if employee is on a break? I saw a customer ask an employee who was reading a magazine if customer service was closed. The employee said "yeah." And went back to reading. Didn't ask what they needed which would have taken less than 2 seconds. If the customer said a money order or a refund then couldn't the employee have politely directed the customer up front to see about a money order or if the employee was near a phone just call and say "customer service to the booth?"
Or if it's a location call and say "location of xxx product"
I understand about breaks, but damn...if you don't want to be bothered with customers take your break outside or in the break room.
First of all, if customer service is closed, then calling someone to the customer service booth isn't going to accomplish anything. Closed means closed. Daily reports have to be generated for accounting and once something is shut down, it's shut down for the day. Also, what if the customer had asked the employee to help look for an item that the employee wasn't quite sure of the location? Does the employee just give a general location or does the employee interupt their break and go look for the item? Also, how do you know the employee was only on a break and not completely done for the day? If I'm planning on doing my shopping when I get off work, I try to remember to bring a change of clothes so people don't see me in my Kroger uniform. If I forget, I make sure to remove my apron and name badge. Even then, people will still recognize my Kroger shirt and try to ask me something. I've had to tell people if you don't see me wearing a name badge, then I'm just another person who happens to be wearing a shirt that looks like a Kroger shirt.
Wearing a disguise if there is no safe place to hide is common and sensible. The break room is a trap if managers want to be abusive. Breaks are short, legally "important" and psychologically vital.
If crazy bum customers or managers are allowed to screw up breaks the work place is no good.
