Following our discussion about how to handle repeated excuses from a perpetually late co-worker, a listener sends a snarky solution from a stylist in her hair salon. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “A Snarky Solution to Late Arrivers”
You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it.
I’m Grant Barrett.
And I’m Martha Barnette.
We had a call a few weeks ago from Casey in Dallas who was talking about the fact that there was a co-worker who kept showing up late for work and would continually apologize.
But that apology wasn’t really that useful, right?
It was more like an excuse.
Right.
And so Casey wanted to know how to deal with that.
We got a lot of great responses from listeners, and one of them came from Kat.
She works as a receptionist in a hair salon, and she says, a big part of my job is to make sure that all the appointments run as smoothly as possible.
Many times this goal is hindered by clients being tardy for their appointments.
Management, stylists, and the front desk team are constantly trying to devise creative and non-offensive ways to tell the client they’re late and kindly suggest they show up on time for their next appointment.
Some have worked better than others, but my favorite so far has been what the owner of our salon and a stylist of more than 40 years always says to her clients when they’re late and they apologize for the dozenth time.
She says, okay, well, we’ve got a lot of work to do, so let’s get started.
But she’s not really saying you’re late.
You’re stopping everything.
No.
Why is she saying only that?
She’s saying we’ve got a lot of work to do because you don’t look so good.
Oh, see, I did not get that at all.
So it’s the little jab.
It’s the little sugar-coated snark.
Right.
But apparently it works.
You look like hell.
Let’s get to work.
I need lots of time.
Right.
You being late means you’re not going to look that great.
I know.
So I’m not going to be late to Anthony today.
I promise, Anthony, if you say that.
We’re still taking your comments about what to say to people who are late that will hopefully make them not be late again.
Email words@waywordradio.org.
Or call us and talk to us about anything related to language or slang or new words or a fight you had about usage or something like that.
You can also talk to us on Twitter @wayword.
