Front office staff - why are some so rude?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know if he counts, but the man who works the check-in at Robinson is a piece of work. I appreciate having security, but assuming everyone who walks in the door is there for nefarious reasons is really weird.

Given the way y’all talk on here, I figured you’d want someone at the front door who’s wary of anyone he doesn’t recognize.

I guess it’s fine when it’s other people but not when it’s you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t blame OP at all. Front office personnel is underpaid, but it’s a public dealing position. Don’t like dealing with people and their questions, get a new job, but don’t be rude.

The OP is a substitute teacher trying to help out the school. I believe there is a shortage of subs too. OP is certainly not doing the sub job for the pay or benefits. I think bus drivers get paid more than subs. So to deal with some rude office staff on top of the kids all day would turn me off.

+100
Exactly this.

+1. Our private had a horrible, mean, officious woman at the front desk. The headmaster - who was a weak-kneed simpleton did nothing. I thought it was a shame to put her out front and make her the welcome face of this school. Many families came into the school to pay good bucks for summer programs and were treated horribly. Not a goodwill ambassadress. We left. Next headmaster canned the woman but it was too late for a lot if families that marched away with their wallets

I find posts like these funny. How many times could you have possibly interacted with this woman in one school year that families decided to leave the school and go someplace else??

NP, but it sets a tone. If you're applying at a school and go for a tour and the person who greets you is nasty to you, it makes a bad impression that takes alot to overcome. It's not such a niche job that it should be so hard to find a friendly person to do it. Especially at a private school where presumably you'd have more flexibility in personnel decisions.

[Anonymous]

I’m the PP who went to two high schools in one day.

I think office staff got used to controlling who came into the schools during COVID. School offices were open but they limited everyone from entering. For example, at the rude HS, we had to pick up a textbook. Office staff met student outside with the textbook. Student wasn’t allowed into the office. It was fine and understandable then.

That said, the rules around people entering the schools have returned to normal - games open to public, theatre events open to public, etc. Heck I was dropping off the form when there was a field trip of elementary school kids at the HS. No need to be short or rude about putting a form into a staff member mailbox - which by the way, staff member said couldn’t be emailed.