Working Retail Employee Stress Holiday Christmas

Photo: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg/Getty Images.

Working retail can be energy-sucking. You're on your feet for many hours a day, people badger you to give them lengthy explanations of stuff they're not even planning to buy, and if you punch in even a minute after your start time, you could get docked — and yelled at.

But over the holidays — even though retail workers may earn extra commission and are able to work more shifts — it can be especially hard, with customers getting even more stressed out and testy. Last year, we gathered holiday retail horror stories from our readers, and they taught us a lot (like that facial exhaustion from smiling is a real thing).

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Another thing that retail workers frequently bemoan this time of year? The constant onslaught of Christmas music. You may like yourself some "All I Want for Christmas," but after hearing it 50 billion times, anyone would wish for blissful silence. Repetitive holiday music could even take a toll on your mental health, as one clinical psychologist told us.

Long story short: Please be nice to those who help you with your holiday shopping this year. Say please and thank you. Don't wait until you're all the way at the front of the line to rummage through your wallet for the right gift card. If you spill your latte in the fitting room, at least offer to clean it up. If the store doesn't allow food, don't bring your latte. In a store that sells food, don't eat stuff that's for sale if you haven't bought it.

Because the employees will tweet about it. And about how much they hate Christmas music.

They all plunge you into the abyss. I haven't worked retail in a decade and can only just now stand Christmas music again
— Sarah Manvel (@typewritersarah) November 26, 2017

I hate working retail so much. Nobody understands how much energy gets sucked out of you when dealing with people on the daily.
— Gabrielle B. (@iamgabrielleb_) November 25, 2017

Reminder to be extra nice to retail workers tomorrow...Everyone’s working long ass shifts, starting in the middle of the night, dealing with insane shoppers and it’s really really miserable?
— KITTENS (@iamKITTENS) November 24, 2017

Working in retail has once again ruined my Christmas and it’s not even December yet
— jones (@shannjonesss) November 29, 2017

The best part of working retail during holiday... the constant shitty music....☠️☠️☠️
— Megan (@Mistress_Bliss) November 30, 2017

The thought of a whole 2 weeks off away from the stress that is working in retail over Christmas for the first time in 4 years is sooooooo good ??
— Ffi Lovelock (@__ffi) November 30, 2017

u don’t think u can hate Christmas music until u start working in retail an the same cd plays on loop for 9 hours a day ????
— ? niamh (@niamhhlewis) November 30, 2017

I hate working retail during this time of year because the holidays aren’t mine and I just wanna do head ass winter Christmas stuff with my friends and honey and I can’t cause I’m always working ??
— ✨anddy✨ (@_anddythechosen) November 30, 2017

Knowing that the Christmas music will be off at work after today is perhaps the greatest Christmas gift one can receive! #retailproblems pic.twitter.com/eFJgEHMDrf
— The Retail Job Life (@RetailJobLife) December 25, 2016