Thoughts Away From The Game: Life from the Other Side of the Counter

We all are blessed with talents; each uniquely different from others. It is our moral obligation to use and hone these talents because it serves a greater purpose: for us to be able to give glory and honor to God. Whatever society may dictate, each and everyone of us has a dream that we want to achieve. These talents help us realistically set our own goals in life. Goals that we hope to achieve and attain.

Last week, I was able to be given an opportunity to work in SM Megamall Supermarket as a Sales Associate, which is simply just a fancier way of saying bagger boy. This job is the lowest of the low and seemingly appears easy to the naked eye. We think that bagging groceries is so easy that a degree is completely unnecessary for one to 'succeed' in this job.

Think again.

The baggers I've met and interacted with all have a flash of diskarte. They meticulously observe how a certain thing is done and hone it through countless repetitions (Literally thousands). Yes, they don't have a college diploma or they weren't given the opportunity to study at a good school like Xavier but yet they possess the most necessary skill to survive: observing and adaptability.

Their current working situation is abysmal. They stand for a long period of time and feel a high degree of pain. They work long eight hour shifts sometimes even extending to ten to twelve hours WITH NO EXTRA PAY. Sometimes, these workers aren't paid overtime money and instead are paid with a countless number of thank yous. Saying thank you feeds the soul but sadly doesn't put food on the table. They feel disheartened whenever their efforts aren't rewarded with the right salary.

These workers earn roughly around the minimum wage here in Metro Manila but sadly this isn't enough to provide for their family and themselves. They again use diskarte on how to budget and allocate the limited amount of money they have. What's worse is that if the bagger or cashier commits a mistake how little it may seem, they are charged for that. These cashiers are not machines that are immune to mistakes. They are people who work like machines because they work fast and efficiently thus their "work" becomes a habit (muscle memory).

What I admire from these workers is that amidst these conditions, they still manage to find purpose for their work and that they always have a smile on their face. They try to be optimistic with whatever life throws at them. They also have earned my respect because despite these, I don't see them complain. I never see them stretching their feet and saying that the pain is not anymore tolerable. They are able to withstand pain because they push themselves beyond what their bodies can do. Pain is nothing as long as the reward is gratifying.

These people aren't poor because they earn meagre salaries but rather because they lack opportunities to succeed. We can't brand them as lazy or stupid since they find ways to do things an educated man will have a difficult time doing. They work their asses off so as to provide for a hungry family.

I believe that the workers should be treated with more respect and treated as humans and not as dogs. These people have feelings as well and their job is harder than it seems. It requires a lot of patience and on the spot thinking to keep up with the bustling crowd. The way they treat you should be the way you treat them as well. 

These are the people responsible for SM's success. They are the ones who carry the principles and values the company stands for. They are the ones who entice the customers to keep coming back and I believe that these people should be treated better not only as a worker but more as a person.

Part two???