I work at a grocery chain in California and 99% of the time I like my job. My co-workers are nice, and management is usually top notch. I have no complaints about the culture of the company. The problem is that I have a pretty severe phobia of large birds, like parrots and macaws. Usually this wouldn't be a problem, as most people don't bring large birds to the grocery store.
Except one woman. She comes in at least once a week with an enormous white cockatoo on her shoulder. I've made arrangements with the management that if I see her come in I will make my way to the employees only area in the back. Today, however, I was not able to. I was on a ladder in a corner area and the woman comes behind me to look at another area. Immediately I start panicking, and I freeze up and start hyperventilating. Eventually she moves away enough for me to flee to the back. My co-workers notice as well as other customers and a manager checks on how I'm doing and lets me know when the woman has left.
Now, my general manager has had problems before with her, as pet birds should really not be allowed in the store. His predecessor even brought it up with the head office, but apparently this woman fought with corporate and won and we have been told not to question her or her 'service animal'.
She's come to my register at least once and I had to figure out a way to get out of the situation but today I had no way out. I am in therapy for my phobia but right now is there anything I can do to avoid things like this happening again? She only comes in for a banana usually and to have people comment on her bird, so it almost seems like she's just rubbing our face in the fact that she's untouchable.
Written By: pm-me-unicorns
Source: http://bit.ly/2VyzFuH
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