Archived Is there a "class divide" at your store?

[redcharmander10]

Everyone at my store gets along well with each other, but I notice that there are definitely two groups of people working at our store: the "haves" and the "have-nots."

Haves: Usually full-time students, all under 30 - if not, they are not far removed from their student days; Live at home with parents, most likely for free; if they have a car, it was most likely bought for them; Biggest money worries are probably paying for school and/or gas prices. Use the money saved from working at Spot to buy the latest gadgets, trips across the country or overseas, eating out, drinking, clubbing, concerts, raves, and other fun stuff. And will broadcast their lifestyles on social media for all to see.

Examples:

• when one of my co-workers started and got his first few (big) paychecks, in quick succession he bought a new iPad, a PS4, and an iPhone 6.
• one of my other co-workers bought TWO game console packages during a Cartwheel promotion, not worried about being out hundreds of dollars for a time (he intended to only keep one).
• A number of us have been on trips overseas, or are planning to do so.

Have-nots: Live on their own, or with spouse; tend to be older; likely have children of their own; Pay rent, bills, and all the grown-up things; are probably on some form of public assistance; may have another job to pay those bills; they are not the ones broadcasting an extravagant (For minimum wage) lifestyle on social media; are not always enthused or interested when seeing the "haves" live their lives.

Is this the case at other stores or just mine?

 

[Flabbergasted]

None of this sounds like anything that goes on at my store. Not even remotely close. Do you live in a wealthy area or something?

Spot's paychecks aren't anything to write home about, for anyone. Of course kids w/o any responsibilities or bills are going to splurge on fancy toys; who wouldn't at that age?

 

[commiecorvus]

Absolutely.

In my store the flow team was made up largely of Hispanic workers had absolutely nothing in common with the ETL-HL who was was still living at home after graduating from college (It's a separate apartment in the house doncha know.) who insisted on showing everyone pictures of her last vacation.
Despite working right next to each other many of the people there might as well have been living on different planets.

 

[Guest]

I don't put my nose in other team members' business. If they mention it then I will converse with them. I also don't care. I have my own drama to think about. I'm also not going to rub in it if people have misfortunes or are the have nots.

 

[redcharmander10]

None of this sounds like anything that goes on at my store. Not even remotely close. Do you live in a wealthy area or something??

My store is in a generally-working class, lower-income city; there are newer, more affluent parts and there is a college here (we get a lot of students), but it is a low-key school and if you don't live here you probably wouldn't notice it in passing.

It borders another town that is much more affluent, green, and conservative (several of the "wealthy" TMs live there) and another that is somewhere in the middle (where I live).

 

[PinkZinnia]

we have a mix of everything

 

[Signkitty]

I think this is more of an example of diffrent lifestyles and age.

When I was young and lived with my folks I could buy cool things because I didn't have very many bills or responsibility. My dad even gave me his old car that was paid off so I could drive.

When it was time to move out it changed, I barely had money for bills and food. I looked back and was disapointed in myself for not saving the money I had when I lived at home.

Now life is comfortable, my husband has a good job and we can pay bills and buy cool things. I learned from the past though and have been saving money for later in life.

 

[trowa03]

The thing about the divide that bothers me most is not that those who have no knowledge of it who flaunt their life, but those who do.

 

[Dr Laytex]

We should all be ashamed of the things we have. Everyone should pool their checks at the end of the week to make sure everyone has the same amount.

Inb4 high school socialism.

 

[Jill of All Trades]

Criticizing someone for "flaunting their lifestyle on social media" is basically saying you think they should be ashamed of their lifestyle, which is shitty. There's nothing inherently shameful about having money, especially when you're working for it. Sure, when it comes to young people a lack of social responsibility often goes along with wealth, but that's not what we're talking about. But what seems to you like "flaunting" is just them interacting with their friends.

Compared to what my co-workers drive, my car is flashy and new. Should I park around the corner so nobody feels bad? Should I leave my designer purse and iPhone at home and carry my wallet in a paper bag? Yes, my household earns more than most target employees. My husband and I work hard and we've been lucky. But when we were just starting out with nothing we never apologized for being poor, and we won't start apologizing now.

 

[signingminion]

Criticizing someone for "flaunting their lifestyle on social media" is basically saying you think they should be ashamed of their lifestyle, which is shitty. There's nothing inherently shameful about having money, especially when you're working for it. Sure, when it comes to young people a lack of social responsibility often goes along with wealth, but that's not what we're talking about. But what seems to you like "flaunting" is just them interacting with their friends.

Compared to what my co-workers drive, my car is flashy and new. Should I park around the corner so nobody feels bad? Should I leave my designer purse and iPhone at home and carry my wallet in a paper bag? Yes, my household earns more than most target employees. My husband and I work hard and we've been lucky. But when we were just starting out with nothing we never apologized for being poor, and we won't start apologizing now.

We are at the upper earning range for tms with a spouse at my store. We bought our first home last year. My car is paid off and an 08 but still looks newer. Hubby has a beautiful older jeep with very low miles. We have galaxy 4 phones with Sprint unlimited data. But he gets paid more and has a hobby that earns as much a year as I do.

Yes there are plenty of kids who live at home and think they are adults cause they "pay their bills" aka food, gas, insurance, cell phone perhaps. I remind them they are at least $300/month better of than I am if they aren't paying rent and utilities. Most of then won't get it till they are on their own.

Plenty of upper management take fancy vacations and drive nice cars.

But here's the thing: you don't know what debt the incur in that lifestyle. Are those new tech toys and week in Aruba paid with cash? Or credit?

There is always an economic divide, I don't really care. I have a roof over my head, food in my tummy, and enough budgeting skills to buy what I want.

 

[Mhugh220]

I would call it a divide between Adults and Children. The only people making a decent wage are ETLs and above so having a class structure amongst the TMs would be ridiculous. Some just have different priorities (Xbox One vs food for my family). Maybe the people going on trips have saved up. Or because they still live with their parents they don't have similar responsibilities.

 

[Bullselle]

I'm gonna play devil's advocate and defend the "haves" here, because I think you may be making assumptions about what their lifestyle is really like. I think you're looking at maybe two or three TMs here and generalizing anyone else in the store who seems to fit the description. But how many of those "haves" do you really know personally? The thing is that people use social media to brag, so if you learned about them from reading their facebook profile, it's always going to seem like their life is going great. I only learned about my TMs' private lives after having deep, personal conversations with them. You'd be surprised how many young people are working two jobs to pay their rent, or paid their way through school, or even have kids of their own to support. And they look the same as the "rich" kids who still live with their parents because in a way they are the same. They all hang out with each other because there is no class divide to begin with. At the end of the day, we're all making pretty much same salary.

 

[Starry]

Let's see, I'm:

- A recent college graduate.
- Living at home with my parents, because A.) It's rent free and B.) in order to save up some serious money. However, I run errands for my parents and keep the house clean as part of my "rent".
- My parents do pay for my car, but they said once I get a career job, I'm on my own. Which is more than fair, in my opinion.
- Taking a break before I go back to school. Whether that means going for a certificate, another Bachelors, or a Masters is ultimately up in the air.
- Planning on taking a trip, but this is after a year of serious saving. And even then, after I take out the expenses needed to travel, I still will have a decent chunk of change in my savings, which will then be only for paying back student loans and other financial expenses.
- The only things I really treat myself to are Spotify and Netflix (both of which equate to less than $20 a month). Everything else is car related (gas, oil, engine troubles ,etc) or necessities (like food or clothes; which I only really shop at thrift, by the way).


Very much like how NASATS, perhaps not all the "haves" are the same, eh? Hell, I'm not even sure if the aforementioned really makes me a "have" in the sociological sense.

Besides the only real "haves", in the end, are going to be those in management who actually work full time and get real benefits. Everyone else works for peanuts.

Edit: also, my family and I are anything but affluent. If anything, we're working/possibly lower-middle class.

 

[POGguy]

I tend to only worry about myself. Whether or not a coworker wants to flaunt what they have is none of my business so I have no room to judge their situation.

Personally I like to keep my lifestyle outside of work private. I worked and took on a large amount of debt to get my degree but it doesn't make me better than anyone else I work with.

 

[pleb]

I live @ home because it's more economical but I plan to move out once I've saved enough for my own car.

 

[Mhugh220]

If you can live with your parents do it. Why waste $$$$ on a shitty apartment when you can save for later? Or save for a reliable car rather than a hunk of junk. Also, most people that live with parents help them out more than anything.

 

[signingminion]

If you can live with your parents do it. Why waste $$$$ on a shitty apartment when you can save for later? Or save for a reliable car rather than a hunk of junk. Also, most people that live with parents help them out more than anything.

Yup. We spent six months with my in-laws while we were buying the house...

 

[Backroom81]

I don't care at all about the lifestyles of other TMs who don't have much responsibility. I care more about their attitude and their ability to get work done.

 

[JuicedSoftball1]

So I was one of those Haves described in the original post.


I lived at home with my parents until I was 27 years old. During that time I graduated college, went on a lot of trips, purchased a car that was way more than I needed or could ever afford if I lived on my own, saved 7% into my 401k and saved a good bit of money for a down payment on a home. I am thankful for this opportunity and I hope to give my future children the same luxury if they so should want it. Not to mention I was a built in extra pair of hands to help with any task my Dad needed around the house that my mom could not help with.

Times are tough. I graduated college with a field that is "recession proof" in an area that wasn't hit as badly by the recession and it still took me 2.5 years to find a job outside of retail.

My story will probably become more the norm as times progress. Shoot among my closet inner circle of friends most of us had similar stores and its not because we were lazy it just didnt make sense. If my parents would have kicked me out and let me "struggle" I dont think I would have learned anything from it. If anything I think had they kicked me out it would have sent me on a downward spiral that I may or may not have ever got out of. I am thankful for all that my parents gave me.

I personally think unless you fall in love and get married and have 2 incomes it makes more sense to stay at home if your parents will let you. As long as you are doing your part to improve yourself and set yourself up for future success that is.

 

[redcharmander10]

OP here:

I definitely didn't make it apparent from my post, but I am definitely a "have" at my store. I am living at home rent free, and with the money I've earned working here I have bought a new iPad, a Nikon 3200D DSLR camera w/bag and lenses, a new laptop, and an upcoming overseas trip. I also go out all the time. Because many of my fellow TMs are following me on social media, they know all about my lifestyle.

My curiosity about "class divides" stemmed from a "have not" TM saying to me after I got back from a recent vacation in a lovely, judgmental tone, "You don't pay rent, do you? You just do whatever you want!"

 

[Guest]

What about living on your own? Isn't that an adventure? It teaches you to be responsible and frugal. Living with family puts you in a comfort zone and in a way makes you somewhat dependent.

 

[thatcashierdude]

"You don't pay rent, do you? You just do whatever you want!"

Well, YES! It's great. (in a shit-eating grin tone)

 

[oath2order]

My store's divide is between dayside-young and dayside-old and flow.

Dayside-young is typically under 30. Unlike OP's store, my dayside-young tend to be in college and living away from home but with a significant other, or raising a kid, living with a significant other.
Dayside-old is both the senior or senior-approaching cashiers, and the middle-aged TLs.

Flow is like 90% black people who speak French, 5% Hispanic, 4% white, 1% other (because I don't know ALL of them).

 

[Starry]

What about living on your own? Isn't that an adventure? It teaches you to be responsible and frugal. Living with family puts you in a comfort zone and in a way makes you somewhat dependent.

Not necessarily. Like I had mentioned, I live at home, but it's not really a "comfort zone". It's crowded, loud, and relatively hectic. If anything, it's a great motivator to find a good job and finally live on my own.

Also, living with one's parents doesn't really mean one isn't responsible or fugal. It just means that they have to build their way into finally being fully independent.