I think I ticked off my manager today. Why? Because I actually talked back to her when she kept telling me I was wrong. And you know what? I am right. But she can't appear weak in front of me, so instead, she told me to clock out a few minutes before my shift ended (as soon as I can without needing a manager's approval code, that is) and then she averted her eyes as she said good-bye and the obligatory thank you to me.

So what's the deal? Well, it started yesterday. We have a new policy that was instituted about a month ago where we couldn't store our jackets/purses/etc in the back room while we were working, and instead we have to store them in the staff restroom. And the key to the restroom is held by the shift lead and we have to get the key from that person whenever we want to go to the restroom, which, btw, doubles as a storage area for cleaning supplies and bathroom supplies for the customer restroom. Yes, that means that in the midst of all the busy goings on, we can't do something as simple as refill the toilet paper without bugging the shift lead.

And... to make things worse, we only have one key to the staff restroom. One... frickin'... key. Well, actually, strike that, I think the store manager has a copy somewhere, as does one of the assistant managers.

So... if you've figured it all out, if the restroom key gets... oh, I don't know, locked in the restroom (cuz... well, the door locks behind you), then you can't get in. So, if the customer restroom runs out of toilet paper, oh well. Buuuuut... perhaps you've figured out the other problem. Since we have to keep our purses and jackets in there, if the key gets locked in... well, that means that at the end of our shift, we can't get in there to get our stuff so we can leave.

Oh, it's already happened once, when one of the bussers locked the key in there and we had to wait an hour and a half when the assistant manager with the other key got to the store. Did I mention that I was parked in a paid parking lot at the point? The first two hours are free. Then... it's a dollar every half hour. Oh, and when the assistant manager got there, the other busser took it so he could do a number two in the staff restroom. So... there's me, yelling at him to hurry up or else just let the door open a crack so I can grab my stuff because literally, time was running out. And it did. If I could've gotten out just two minutes earlier, I could've avoided paying a dollar. A dollar means a lot to someone who's watching every penny.

Okay, so I thought that was a good lesson on what we need: a spare set of keys. Buuuuuut... apparently, our store runs on beuracracy not unlike our government. It just never got done.

Soooooooo, that brings us back to last night. I'm ready to go home, I ask the shift lead for the key, she doesn't have it, the other people don't have it, it's nowhere to be seen.

Our solution? We had one guy break in to the staff restroom using two flathead screwdrivers borrowed from the bookstore. Break in. How stupid is it that our "back up system" in case our only set of keys are locked in, is to break in to the frickin' restroom! (Turns out, it was locked in there.)

So this morning, I decide I'm not going to risk it, I'm going to put my damn purse in the back room, store mandate be damned. Well, the store manager tells me to put it away in the restroom. I tell her, I thought we don't have the keys. She says, no, I have it. Then I try to tell her, look, I was stuck here last night for 45 minutes while someone else had to break in to our restroom cuz the keys were missing. She says, the shift lead should have it. Okay, I'm thinking, is she deaf? I just told her that the keys were missing. I told her, she didn't have it, no one had it, and I don't want to put it there until we have a spare set of keys. She says, it's only happened once. I say, no, twice. It happened last night. (Oh, so help me, if it happens a third time, heads will roll!)

Well, pretty much, she tells me in no uncertain terms that I am to put my stuff in the restroom. And furthermore, apparently something I had said (which I don't recall saying, but oh well) had gotten her in trouble with the district manager. Well, she didn't admit that, but she said that I had remarked to the district manager that we're always running out of stuff, (which I don't remember saying, but even if I had, it's true) we need the space in the back for all our supplies.

There were other instances this morning where I got a little indignant. ("Could I get some sleeves?" "Okay, stop yelling." "I'm not yelling, I'm requesting above the din of the store." which I don't think she appreciated, but hey, it's true. It's the same tone I use to call out drinks. It's really loud with the music, the espresso machines, and if the blenders are going? Forget it.)

Anyway, all in all, she was not happy. But I couldn't care less. She can't fire me for it, she can't give me a bad review, at worst she can write me up for "insubordination" which is stretching it. And if she does... oh, I've got the number to the district manager and I think she'll agree that the restroom key policy is stupid, especially with only one copy of the key.

So, dear readers, please chime in with your opinions on this stupidity. I look forward to it.