Watching CCTV by the Store Owner and Giving 'Minute-by-Minute' Work Instructions
Demanding Diligence, Proactiveness, and Harmony... "It's Not Even Worth Praying For"
The story of a convenience store that hired part-time workers a staggering 169 times in one year has become a hot topic online.
On the 29th, a post titled "What do you think it takes for a convenience store part-time job to change 169 times in a year?" was uploaded to an online community. The post included several photos capturing text messages that appeared to be from the convenience store owner, attracting the attention of netizens.
The store owner, saved under the convenience store's name, sent multiple work instructions to a part-time worker via text message on the 21st of last month. The photos show messages such as "Do not sit down when there are customers in the store," "Do not wear the uniform unbuttoned; zip it up properly," "Absolutely no eating or drinking at the counter," and "Make sure to read the work guidelines posted on the POS."
What stands out is that the owner's instructions were given in 'minute-by-minute' intervals. After the part-time worker replied "Yes, understood," new instructions kept coming every 2 to 7 minutes. Among them was a message like "At 10 o'clock, you roughly checked the cigarette stock, but you need to check the whole carton," suggesting that the part-time worker was being monitored through the store's closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage.
When the part-time worker responded with "Yes, understood" again, the owner suddenly replied, "OO, you are banned from working here after today. From now on, when the boss speaks, I hope you don't just talk back but act accordingly," delivering a reprimand.
Along with these text messages, attention was also drawn to the hiring requirements of the convenience store. According to a job posting on a job search app, the store listed qualities such as diligence, proactiveness, and harmony as conditions for recruiting part-time workers.
First, it demanded diligence, stating, "It is rare for someone who did not study in middle school to suddenly excel in high school. For those entering the workforce for the first time, the habits you develop now will determine your social life."
It continued, "There are many things here that will help you. However, you must have the mindset to actively gain from them for them to become yours," and "You see only as much as you know, and you develop only as much as you ponder."
It emphasized proactiveness by saying, "I hope you do not foolishly exchange your precious youth for hourly wages with the mindset of just killing time to earn pay."
Next, regarding harmony, it advised, "Young people may not realize it now, but connections are assets and abilities," and "From now on, cherish the people you form relationships with. You never know when, where, or how you will meet them again."
At the end of the posting, it added, "I pride myself on having lived without losing goodwill anywhere so far. I strive to be a person who is beautiful when parting rather than when meeting, someone with a kind heart," and "I want a friend to think together with, not a one-sided command-and-obedience relationship."
Netizens who saw the post responded critically. They pointed out that the store demanded somewhat excessive virtues when recruiting part-time workers, and contrary to the job posting, suffocating instructions were given.
Comments included, "There are too many store owners who monitor part-timers with CCTV," "There are plenty of convenience store part-time jobs these days, so there's no need to work under such an owner," and "It's ridiculous to demand diligence, proactiveness, and networking harmony from a convenience store that pays minimum wage."
Meanwhile, some pointed out, "It's true that many part-timers think they can just pass the time at convenience store jobs," and "It's a proper workplace, so you should be diligent during working hours. Most part-timers at convenience stores don't even greet customers and just look at their phones."
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