
Photo via http://www.schuminweb.com
From someone claiming to be a station manager:
A station manager knows things about their stations that could potentially save thousands of lives in an emergency situation. We are trained in many areas.Other items:
You customers should try looking at station managers as people, not your servants.
We are not police, mechanics, revenue (we can't give you money back), we also don't set policy.
Our job sometimes SUCKS because of the attitudes of our customers.
If you are having a bad day, remember, it's not our faults. We are just supporting our families just like YOU. All managers are not jerks, so please don't generalize.
I love my job. I love helping people.
For the most part, they are very happy when I explain solutions to whatever issues they might have at the time. That fills my day with little moments of joy.
See, not all Metro employees are bad people. I concede that many are nasty, but not all.
Track work this weekend (WMATA)
Two Metro workers "fired" (Examiner)
Metro slightly less screwed/chance to sound off about budget (WMATA)
Major work for Memorial Day (WMATA)
Corresponding Toads · 725 weeks ago
Pete · 725 weeks ago
b · 725 weeks ago
@kara_h · 725 weeks ago
straighttalknoshit · 725 weeks ago
Guest · 725 weeks ago
You don't KNOW me! · 725 weeks ago
abc · 725 weeks ago
natgeo · 725 weeks ago
abc · 725 weeks ago
James · 725 weeks ago
@kara_h · 725 weeks ago
Oh, and in case you did not get the message? Yes, you are overpaid.
straighttalknoshit · 725 weeks ago
dcn8v · 725 weeks ago
In your eyes, what is the number one problem that occurs in your station? What are your thoughts about how to fix it?
straighttalknoshit · 725 weeks ago
James · 725 weeks ago
Try that next time and people might take you seriously.
Ever and Anon · 725 weeks ago
straighttalknoshit · 725 weeks ago
Scoot · 724 weeks ago
Customers are the paying users of the system and so yes, things should go their way, but I don't doubt that station managers regularly encounter a lot of spoiled, entitled, angry, impatient customers.
Sizzle · 725 weeks ago
My mistake.
Sam · 725 weeks ago
Ever and Anon · 725 weeks ago
The fact your job sometimes sucks has no relevance. WHO in the ENTIRE world has a job that does not suck at times? Remaining civil during those times shows your self control, intelligence and ability to maintain perspective in your life.
Providing for your family has no relevance either. Why do you think the rest of us work?
I agree you are an employee, not a servant. You are also not royalty. Saying, "You customers" immediately separates yourself from all others. Thus, you deflate your own argument with your own words. (Pete and Toads are correct.)
straighttalknoshit · 725 weeks ago
Guest · 725 weeks ago
straighttalknoshit · 725 weeks ago
StraightSpeller · 725 weeks ago
Sam · 725 weeks ago
No apology. Nothing. Whenever Metro is ready to send that apology over to me, please let me know. Until then, I'll continue thinking that station managers are the scum of the earth (except the one at Archives who is a hell of a guy, keep up the good work whoever you are!)
John · 725 weeks ago
You say managers are very happy to explain things, yet when my card doesn't scan they act like I ruined their entire life.
I'm sorry if this guy is in the minority. Sure, I've encountered station managers who are alright, but a lot of them can be flat out dicks.
Props to him if he does his job with a positive attitude, we need more like him.
Good thing he remained anonymous, Jackie Jeter would have had him fired if she known he was helping people while on duty
EXWMATA · 725 weeks ago
horseydeucey · 725 weeks ago
@Hell_on_wheelz · 725 weeks ago
On the other hand I have also had very unfortunate incidents where station managers have been hostile, rude and incredibly unprofessional (within the past 6 months at Ft. Totten and Takoma Park).
@kara_h · 725 weeks ago
Frustr8dCommuter · 725 weeks ago
Anonymoosh · 725 weeks ago
ANON · 725 weeks ago
tengoalyrunr30 80p · 725 weeks ago
KWM · 725 weeks ago
You say you are not a servant, but that's not true -- you are, just as I am, and just as most of us are (unless we own our own businesses). But, there is no shame in being a public servant. No one can make you feel inferior without your permission. Metro employees could start learning how to take some pride in their work, respond to situations with a little bit of grace, and a little bit of ownership. It's the bare minimum the rest of us -- the ones without a union to protect us when we fail -- MUST do every day.
LoxyBrown · 725 weeks ago
John · 725 weeks ago
The union that represents Metro is one of the most corrupt and ridiculous organizations I have ever witnessed.
They got a bus driver his job back (with back pay) after he punched an off duty police officer dressed as McGruff the Crime dog.
They got a bus driver his job back (with back pay) after he ran a red light , hitting a taxi driver and killing a man.
They got employees their job back (with back pay) for stealing money from ticket machines, they were caught on video.
When people complained to the union leader, Jackie Jeter, she played the race card, saying they believed in slavery.
Still think this union is practical?
n2deep · 725 weeks ago
KWM · 725 weeks ago
But, my point was not to start a discussion about unions, or Metro employee benefits, or anything else like it. It was simply this: I have to do my job, and be pleasant about it, in order to keep my job. If I fail at this, I have made my bed and I must lie in it. I don't expect my customers to give me what I refuse to give them. Not every day is fun, and I don't get a pat on the back from everyone I encounter, nor do I expect it. That's life. Let's stop making excuses and get on with it.
abc · 725 weeks ago
bet · 725 weeks ago
Rich · 725 weeks ago
cathy · 725 weeks ago
Annie · 725 weeks ago
AMetroRider · 725 weeks ago
Kat · 725 weeks ago
Corresponding Toads · 725 weeks ago
^ Just saw this in the Unsuck feed, via @IMGoph. love this guy! he must be feeling extra affectionate today, with the royal marriage and all
Anony Mouse · 725 weeks ago
bmfc1 · 725 weeks ago
aleonard · 725 weeks ago
"We are not police, mechanics, revenue (we can't give you money back), we also don't set policy."
So, what exactly *do* you do?
@kara_h · 725 weeks ago
Sam · 725 weeks ago
@dc_chickie · 725 weeks ago
abc · 725 weeks ago
abc · 725 weeks ago
hostagehoosier 45p · 725 weeks ago
stupidraidersfan 80p · 725 weeks ago
I feel your pain, you work in customer service as do I. Dealing with *customers* does suck most of the time but that's the nature of the field. And without these people you wouldn't have a job. If the company you work for had any competition they would have been out of business a long time ago.
guest · 725 weeks ago
Guest · 725 weeks ago
MadAsHeck · 725 weeks ago
I would reclassify these jobs as "Fare Gate Attendents". Maybe that would reduce their holier-than-thou attitudes.
Sam · 725 weeks ago
I'd reclassify them as "Orange Vests Make Me Look Important' employees. They, like the bag checks, are there to make it appear as though Metro is helping. Instead of "security theatre", it is "customer service theatre".
You don't KNOW me! · 725 weeks ago
Off topic a bit, but this grammatical error bothers the hell out of me. I moved to the DC area from a northern city where I do not recall ever hearing, "All (whatever) are not..." once. I now hear it at least two times a day it seems. It's not "all managers are not jerks," it's, "not all managers are jerks." If all managers were not jerks then that means no managers are jerks. Yes, I know the intent of their argument, but it's poorly said. Maybe it's a DC thing? Seems some people in DC revel and take pride in poorly spoken "English."
Idon'tknownobody · 725 weeks ago
abc · 725 weeks ago
abc · 725 weeks ago
So basically what they are saying is they are trained in many areas, but do nothing.
Basically I can sum this up as saying "I will help you if I feel like it and I like you". The point of customer service jobs is to help people and to serve them.
If the point of it is for us to make you happy perhaps you should start paying us to ride the metro rail system.
PS Have had encounters with metro workers that make me say wow their are some good employees out there-you and your post-not so much.
abc · 725 weeks ago
Really, now? · 725 weeks ago
...and then right below...
"I concede that many are nasty"
Which one is it? Or are you claiming they are all happy and nasty at the same time? Such a contradiction makes me doubt this Metro employee knows his/her ass from a hole in the ground. Pathetic.
Anon · 725 weeks ago
Kipp · 725 weeks ago
no one · 725 weeks ago
I like that this blog offers the opportunity to engage, on some level, with WMATA in a way they don't seem ready or capable of doing.
I hope the writer of this post and their fellow "good ones" are exerting some kind of peer pressure on the jerks out there.
Hats off to this station manager.
Ever and Anon · 725 weeks ago
AnotherMetroRider · 725 weeks ago
So the whole "you customers" is likely just poor grammar, and not a "us versus you". But thank you for recognizing that there are good metro employees. Though it's sad that there has to be a divide between good and bad employees. Ideally everyone would do the job that they were hired to do (which hearing stories about employees at Metro I sometimes wonder..) and there would be regular and exceptional employees.
anon · 725 weeks ago
abc · 725 weeks ago
Kat · 725 weeks ago
Dick · 725 weeks ago
When they are putting on their "show" of helpfulness and cooperation all is well with the world. When actually asked to do their jobs, which they cannot do, they get nasty.
What, no applause!
Metro employees are frustrated performers. Just listen to the announcements from some of them on the trains. Is it information that they are imparting or is it auditioning?
Pathetic. Typical.
anony · 725 weeks ago
Unfortunately, when "regulars" need help or direction, it's usually Metro's fault, whether it's SmarTrip problems or delays that call for station managers to control platform access.
BradK · 725 weeks ago
-Most Regulars assist tourists at some point during their metro experience (maybe once a month? Maybe more often? Maybe never?)
-"A large fraction of many station managers' actual work time is devoted to helping tourists and newbies figure out what to do"
Conclusion: derived from the Commutative Property (a=b, and b=c hence a=c)
Most Regulars are Station Managers.... I can haz paycheck?
masterblaster · 725 weeks ago
masterblaster · 725 weeks ago
BradK · 725 weeks ago
Not everyone can just "not use metro"... Not using metro would cost me an additional $300(ish) a month...
I totally understand what you are saying masterblaster, but there is HARDLY anything we can do... If there was an organized "dont use metro" day or something that would work... but it would have to have above 50% daily ridership participation (if not more)
I just dont see anything happening until a high ranking official gets chewed out by a station manager or other WMATA employee.
masterblaster · 725 weeks ago
abc · 725 weeks ago
L1 win · 725 weeks ago
That guy's the man.