As a male adult who doesn’t go shopping often, I’ve never had the “IDontWorkHereLady” experience. However, my daughter had her first today.

In her words.

“An older lady asked ‘can you help me find this jacket darling?’ I did not want to be mean so I helped for a sec and then a real worker said ma’am she doesn’t work here.”

It was a short, harmless interaction and the store worker did great. The fun part is my kid is 11.

Not me but I saw it happen today. I suppose he technically did work there but I felt bad for him.

A Walmart employee was walking with his vest slung over his shoulder (presumably to clock out) and was approximately 4 feet from the back stockroom doors. A couple intercepted him and asked "do you work here?" He started at them, then longingly at the back doors, and sighed audibly. Finally he said "yeah, I guess I do".

I was checking out at Whole Foods, stuffing my groceries in a bag, when an older lady asked me where something was. I'm Generation Jones and she was older than me, by maybe 10 years.

I didn't quite understand what she wanted to find, so I told her "I'm just a customer". I asked her to repeat it, because maybe I could help, but she was very apologetic, and walked away.

I have some hearing loss, and it can be hard for me to make out what people are saying in a noisy environment. Especially when they speak softly.

If I were doing it again, I'd just ask her to repeat what she was looking for, and help if I could.

Today is my mom's birthday. We were at the local grocery store bakery section , standing in front of a case of little cakes I planned to treat her to, she was picking one out. All of a sudden a lady comes up to us, steps in front of us, and asks especially me if we have baguettes? Now, I'm wearing baggy black pants, a Super Mario t - shirt with princess Peach and Toad on it, and most hilariously, since it was cold out today, a baby pink hat with two fluffy pom poms on each side. I said, "Uh... I don't work here..." The lady said, I thought you two are working on this case? " My mom (dressed in a beautiful outfit-because its her birthday! ?says, Nope, but Baguettes sound good!" The lady ignored her and went in search of someone to help her find bread. Thought it was funny!

I usually dress up for work, even though I work from home most of the time. Think of trousers, a nice dress shirt and tie, sometimes the occasional suit. I usually don't change clothes until I'm ready to go to bed, which means that my daily runs to the store are also done in this attire.

This is usually not an issue unless I'm shopping at a men's formal wear store or the mall, where workers tend to dress similarly to how I dress. But at the grocery store, it is very clear that I am a customer and not a worker.

Or so I thought, until today, when I was doing some morning grocery shopping to avoid the crowds in the afternoon prior to Thanksgiving--and even then the store was busier that usual. As usual, I am well dressed, even wearing a vest to go with my shirt and tie. But unlike other times, I have my sleeves rolled and I am wearing bright pink sunglasses with white frame (this is a very important detail).

I go into the store and walk the aisles, collecting my items. Then, as I am walking around the cheese section, pushing my cart full of items, holding an aged goat cheese in my hand, an old lady approaches me and rudly asks the dreaded question: "do you work here?"

Me, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the amount of people at the store, reply in a similarly rude tone: "Do I look like I work here?"

I could see this lady's head gears turn, so before she says anything else, I follow up with "Would someone who works here be pushing a cart full of items, wearing pink sunglasses while dressing this snappy?" And as I said that, I walked to the check out line, paid for my items, and left the store.

Sometimes, the best you can do is not give these people a chance to say anything!

My husband and I went out Christmas and birthday shopping, minding my business walking around Ann Summers I had multiple items in my hand. These included a few outfits, a ball gag and toys a lady walks up to me as I stepped away from my husband and asked if I had a bra in another size, admittedly I was wearing all black similar to the staff except I didn’t have a lanyard or name badge on.

Her ‘can you go out back and get this in xx size’ I looked at her and said I don’t work here she screamed in my face Aaarrrggghh all while clenching her fist. She then said ‘your clearly lying to me and was helping that man’ I told her all I was doing was listening to him tell me what he planned on doing with said items in my hands. She then proceeded to follow me all around the shop muttering under her breath how disgusting I was to be buying the items we had until I got in the queue to pay. Yet while she was following me she walked past two members of staff that could have easily helped her!

I know it’s coming up to Christmas and people get stressed shopping I just don’t get why she wouldn’t believe I didn’t work there!!

My mom and I stayed at a hotel recently and we had gone down stairs for the included breakfast. Well the buffet line was out of biscuits so the lady a couple feet behind my mom says "excuse me, hey, excuse me" to which my mom did not respond.

I told the lady my mom didn't work there, and we all had a good laugh about my mom wearing a black shirt like the ones all the breakfast staff were wearing.

Hears the funny part though, my mom didn't respond for a couple reasons: 1. She didn't really put together that she was Also wearing a black shirt like the staff and 2. She thought the lady was talking to me bc I do work for that hotel chain but I was obviously off the clock and out of uniform but somehow guests still know.

Walked into Ulta today. I was looking for recommendations, and very rarely buy makeup. The workers seem to wear black shirts, but I was walking around sneakily trying to determine if they were working or shopping. Eventually, I just got back up to the front and asked a cashier to get one of them for me.

I was shopping at the mall today and I am clearly not a worker. I’m dressed grungy and my face was unapproachable.

I was Inside Macy’s with a few bags of other stores items, my purse around me, on my phone, and looking through clothes.

This lady SCREAMS at me as she walked into Macy’s, EXCUSE ME, EXCUSE ME, DO YOU WORK HERE!?”

I screamed back NO!

End of story.

Haha

Recently I was in a hospital gift shop sort of place, looking for a gift for a friend who had kidney surgery. I was minding my own business. A young woman wouldn’t leave me alone. The conversation went like this:

“Do you work here?”

“No.”

Pause

“You look like you work here.”

“I don’t”.

Pause. I continue looking at merchandise.

“Are you sure you don’t work here?”

“No, I don’t work here. I’m looking for a gift for a friend.”

“You look like you work here. Maybe it’s because of your posture, mannerism, and the color you’re wearing.” I was wearing a casual, comfortable but neat outfit, with gym shoes.

Then I had someone else in the elevator ask me if I worked there, and it was a somewhat similar conversation.

It was the weirdest experience ever.

Two days ago (Sunday) I was picking up a couple of things at the local market and I was speaking with the checker for a moment and a woman asked: Young man, could you go ahead and bag my groceries since I wasn’t busy. Now I’m a lot of things but my head of gray hair suggests I’m not young. She was even more ancient than I so “certainly, I’d be happy to help”. It was just a few things and I winked at the checker that it was all fine. I asked her if she needed help getting them into her car. That would be appreciated she said. On the way to her car she seemed confused that I was carrying an extra bag with hers. I said those are mine and the light came on in her head that I didn’t work there. She was a little embarrassed, but I told her she had me hooked when she referred to me as young man.

I stopped at Smart and Final (a non-club warehouse store in California) after work, still wearing my lanyard. I had on a grey shirt and black jeans ( employees wear black shirts) and pushing a shopping cart with milk and detergent in the cart. As I walked through the dairy section, an old dude stops me and asks if I work there. I looked at my basket and back at him and said “Nah man, I’m shopping just like you” he says “but you have a name tag.” I replied “Yup”. And we stared at each other for a full 10 seconds before I just walked away. Lol, he looked so confused.

I had gone into an “upper scale” department store in the mall to look for a dress for an occasion. It was my day off so as per usual I was rocking my ratty converse, shorts, a tank top with a band logo, and hadn’t done my hair, sunglasses on the collar of my shirt. I was feeling a little dorky for going into this store in the first place looking so under dressed as my true self usually is but was approached by a guy who asked “You work here, do you know where the bedding is?”

My brain literally stopped working because I had no idea why he would have thought I worked there at all since in no way, shape, or form would I meet any kind of dress code for a department store that day.

I shook my head laughing “no, but I do work retail at a different store, I must have the retail worker scent.” He walked off silently, I think I weirded him out.

Went to the mall on my day off from work... So imagine me. Wearing athletic sneakers, blue skinny jeans, and my favorite Tortoise and Dino hoodie. With my car key around my neck.

I got stopped by a woman, who asked if I work at JC Penney. I said no, and then was asked where the men's section was. I told her... Then she found an actual employee who confirmed I was right.

As that was over, another customer asked if I worked there. I said nope, then pointed out a lady in a gray top and black dress pants. There's your employee.

Neither customer was mad.

I was on vacation almost three years ago in New York City and had a very nice hotel about 8 blocks from Times Square. Since it was so close and most of my itinerary revolved around Broadway shows, I would tend to walk everywhere I was going. Couple times I passed a couple guys standing on a corner and they called me out saying I was a police officer. "Good evening officer!" I chuckled and continued on my way

Edit: fixed that one typo

This just happened to me an hour ago…

I went to Costco after work today and was perusing all the cute Christmas decor. All of a sudden, I heard a loud “DO YOU WORK HERE??!!”

I looked around me for this loud voice and a Karen was walking toward me. She had the haircut, the yoga pants, the impatient look on her face, the whole 9…

I ‘m a nurse. I was wearing PURPLE SCRUBS. Nothing about me looked like I worked at Costco…

I asked her if she was speaking to me. She confirmed. I said NO. She said “NO??!!” like I was brain damaged. I said “NO…i’m wearing SCRUBS?”

She tsk-tsk’d and walked away, shaking her head like I was the dummy!

This was a few years PC (pre-covid). A new Target had opened up in my city and I thought I'd drop in on my way home from work to pick up some things (Band-Aids, Water bottle and snacks for the car, etc). At the time I worked in an office that required us to dress VERY professional (suits with ties for the men, and for the ladies dresses, jackets, blouses, heels etc). On the date in question I had on a black suit and jacket and an emerald green chiffon blouse and 3 inch heels. Lady came up to me while I was looking at Band-Aids and she's holding a shirt. I wasn't really paying attention to her so I missed her question (I presume it was - do you have this in more sizes/colors?) but she started berating me saying "oh so you're just going to ignore a paying customer?!"

me: are you talking to me?

her: yes! who do you think I'm talking to? so rude.

me: you know I don't work here, right?

her: oh you're not fooling anyone missy! I KNOW you work here. I've seen you here working many times before. you're going to be in so much trouble when I find your manager.

me: I really don't, never have. I am also a customer, trying to do some shopping points to basket

( I also checked to make sure what I was wearing. Yep Black and Emerald Green. Definitely NOT target colors.)

she storms off and comes back maybe 5 minutes later with a man wearing Target-Red and a name tag saying "there that's her. I expect you to fire her. she was so rude the whole time."

he proceeds to look me up and down and then apologized profusely to me. He then turns and tells this woman "I've been the manager at this target since it opened a few months ago and I've hired everyone here. This woman is not now and has never been employed here. She is also a customer. Is there something I can help you find?"

I'll admit I watched her face change colors with a certain deal of amusement. She settled on an angry shade of red, screaming at him to "stop protecting her [me] just because she's pretty" and that "she was so rude to me, just ignoring me, and not offering to help me." With him trying to explain that as another customer I'm not obligated to help her - and that she shouldve just looked for a staff member with a name tag.

she was still yelling at him (and at me) when I ultimately just picked up my items and left for the registers.

So a couple weeks back my mom was hospitalized for some kind of rash, they never figured out what it was but she got better so all's well that ends well. Anyway I went to visit her in the hospital and since they didn't know what she had I needed to wear a gown, mask, and gloves to see her just in case it was contagious. As I'm putting all this on in the hall outside her room a nurse rounds the corner and greets me, of course I'm polite and greet her back and she asks what I'm up to. I tell her this is my mom's room and I'm going in to visit. She coos at that saying "oh god bless your mom, anyway..." and starts going on about what this other patient down the hall needs. I just stare at her all wide eyed like "why are you telling ME this??" Before sheepishly telling her "uh... I don't work here". And she stammers, clearly embarrassed by her mistake, saying I look just like one of the other nurses on the floor. I wasn't aware there were other 6ft red headed women in my area but hey makes sense I'm not the only one in 8 billion people I guess. Not the place to joke like I do actually work there since I don't have a medical degree, that would be a crime lol.

I'm not sure which sub to post this. If this is not the right subreddit, please let me know.

My sisters and I were talking about clients who "attach" themselves to some workers. I had clients as a teller, who would wait just to see me, but my sister had the best story of all.

She worked the front desk at a dental practice with a storefront on the busy village street. One day an elderly gentleman came in and my sister could see his eyeglasses were very dirty. My sister asked if she could clean them for him and he agreed. He was so delighted when she returned them, he started dropping in once a week, so my sister could clean his eyeglasses. I just love this sweet story. Yes, my sister really is this sweet.

I've posted this here because he came in for a service they didn't provide. I'll happily move if there is a more appropriate category.

I 27 f with a physical disability and a cold, was shopping at our local homegoods store in our hometown with my mom to get her favorite candies and to see if there were any pet stuff I can get for my rabbit. While browsing the store I looked at espresso cups for an espresso machine I recently bought for my bf

I was just browsing wearing my office clothes since I work at an administration office as a receptionist at a trade school and then there was this early 50s maybe late 40s guy ask me, where is the kitchen utensils area, is and I said I'm sorry sir, I'm just a customer looking at cups but he asked me again so you work here? I'm sorry just a customer but if you go towards the back a couple aisles there it is. He says ok thanks. I said your welcome

Do I have a sign that says I'm a homegoods employee with a business office outfit on?

No.

We got the things we needed and left.

I (36 F) was doing grocery shopping a the local Walmart Neighborhood grocery store a few days ago. I had a cart full of groceries and I was looking for cleaning supplies when a man approached me asking where to find propane and propane accessories….

(Insert king of the hill references here)

Taken a back I told him I didn’t work there. He apologized and said that my jacket was blue so he thought i did work there. To be fair i was wearing a dark blue jacket and some black pants. Maybe I could’ve looked the part i don’t know. Perhaps I should be more aware of my clothing choices when going to particular “color” themed stores.

They're not even overly interesting, but they're the two that stick in my brain a lifetime later.

So, my first job was as a laundry attendant in a nursing home. Best friend worked in the kitchen and got me the job. Things didn't go well, I was let go over the phone and life moved on. 3 years later, same best friend's car is in the shop and he needed a ride home from work and I was off that day, so I obliged. I pull up to the place and there's a couple of residents sitting on the front porch having a smoke and they recognize me and I join them to shoot the breeze while I wait. A minute later the front door opens and the maintenance guy, Brad, pokes his head out.

Brad: "You know employees aren't supposed to smoke on the front porch, yeah?"

Me: "You know I got fired 3 years ago, yeah?"

Another time, I was at a Dollar Tree with my niece. Her mom was working at the register, and niece needed to use the restroom. She got the key from her mom and went to do her thing, I stood just outside the backroom, waiting so we could leave when she was done. I should note I worked at McDonald's at the time and was dressed accordingly, big M on the shirt and hat and all. Random dude comes up as I'm playing around on my phone
Rando: "Hey, where's x?"

Me: "No idea man, don't work here"

Rando: "Well, can you help me look?"

Me: "No, again I don't work here"

Rando: "I'm never shopping here again!"

This week I was at a conference, and wandered into the neighboring Paris Casino while chatting with some friends from the conference in their way to dinner. (There's was a company dinner so no hangers on...I was on my own for food.)

Less than a minute after leaving them at their restaurant, a couple of dude-bros got my attention and asked if I work there. I told them no, but I'm happy to answer the question if I know what they are asking, and they say, "Oh, you just look so competent." So that was a new one.

Their question was if the Eiffel Tower restaurant was open, so I confidently told them no, as they were standing in front of a big sign blocking access and saying that it was closed.

Maybe not the usual "I don't work here" situation but seemed close enough and was the most amusing reason I've ever gotten for being mistaken as an employee.

Had to have a medical procedure, local anesthesia but was told I might want someone to drive me home since I live about an hour from the hospital. My friend works for a dialysis center and she took off work to go with me. She was wearing scrubs but a different color than the hospital staff and hers has a logo of the center on the pocket.

Procedure was over, and we were walking away from the X-ray area a woman walked up and said "where is the pharmacy?" to my friend. Obviously, all she saw was scrubs and thought: employee. My friend looked a bit embarrassed and I explained that she was my ride and doesn't work at the hospital. The woman who asked made a sort of 'humph!" sound and turned away. I mentioned she might ask at admitting, which was right around the corner in the direction where she had come from. She went the other way, apparently looking for someone who knew more than we did.

As we got close to the entrance, one of the volunteer ladies was standing by the door. So, I said "there is a woman over there who is looking for the pharmacy." The volunteer laughed and said, "not here, the hospital doesn't have a pharmacy for the public." We left, but laughed and I said "now we have an "I don't work here story." I wonder what the woman did when she found out the hospital doesn't have a pharmacy.

I was interviewing for a position at Duke University in 2003. Had my best suit on, waiting for the shuttle to pick me up outside the hotel. A tall African-American man came up to me and asked me to help him with his luggage. I told him I didn’t actually work at the hotel and we had a good laugh.

After the shuttle arrived (and he took care of his own luggage), I continued to chat with him. Very nice, soft spoken but funny. After he got dropped off, the shuttle driver said, “did you know who that is? That’s Luke Skyywalker from 2 Live Crew.” They were playing the night before. I wish I got his autograph

This is straight UP a weird humble brag, but I consistently get mistaken for an employee in:

1. Bookshops

2. Art Galleries

And it honestly makes me feel so cool and suave. I look like I know about art? And I look like I can read? Thanks so much!

I think I do always walk with a sense of purpose (I'm a stomper), so maybe it's just blind confidence.

Any others??

This happened to me this summer, so I thought I would share. To put my story into perspective, our uniform is a combination of grey and dark blue colours, but mostly dark blue, with black trousers and shoes. I was going about my day as usual when a man stopped me to ask some questions (not really important). He was dressed in a black suit and light blue dress shirt but had a jacket thrown over his hand as it was hot outside. I am not short, but damn, the man was towering over me, so when this woman came to us, she could probably see just the back of the man. So, in the middle of our conversation, there is an impatient tap on the man's shoulder with an obnoxious "Excuse me?!" He turned around with a confused expression, but she didn't even give him a chance to speak. She blasted him with questions while he unsuccessfully tried to tell her he wasn't working there. So I, also utterly confused, stepped from behind the man with "Can I help you?" You know me in the uniform, with a visible name tag confirming my position. The woman choked on her words and spluttered around as I told her that the gentlemen didn't work there and were of no particular help, but I would do my best to answer her questions. Seriously, it's probably the funniest interaction I have had this year.

Hey Everyone New Here. I did not think this was so common, but here goes mine!

I always find that when shopping- groceries, clothes, home improvement- I am approached by an elderly man or woman seeking help with a product or finding a product. I used to lead the conversation with something like, "Oh I don't work here," but if I could help, I would lead them in the right direction. I've discovered time and time again that leading with the phrase often leads to more confusion, apologies, and embarrassment. This would not be an issue if it didn't happen EVERY time I'm out grabbing what I need.

Now, when I'm approached I just respond as if I do work at the store and try to help. It's a few minutes of time, but honestly gives me a sense of community if that makes sense. And a grocery store is the same thing everywhere you go- so it's not rocket science, but if I can make someone's day a little easier, why not?

The last time I went grocery shopping I had a little old man approach me about baking soda. I took him to the isle and helped him pick out the right one, and even explained the difference between that and baking soda for the cookies he wanted to bake for his family.

I come from a service industry background, so maybe I just have one of those demeanors that screams "I work here."

Do you guys have experiences like this?

Hey there! Haven't posted here before but I wanted to share this story.

So I was with a friend at a bridal store. We were picking out a dress for her sister's wedding. I was wearing oversized black cargos(wranglers, iykyk), and a little Nike tank top(most likely no bra under).

We were in the dressing room, and my friend was trying on dresses. I spotted this girl struggling with her zipper, so I offered to zip it for her. She was appreciative, and through my friend trying on different dresses I helped her a few more times zipping and unzipping. No big deal, didn't inconvenience me.

By the end, we had an idea of the dress my friend wanted but not the exact dress, so we were heading out. As we walked towards the front doors, the same girl stopped me and asked where the bathrooms were located. I just kind of laughed and said "Oh-- I don't work here, but maybe they can help you?" And flagged down a stylist who did work there.

Needless to say, she turned beet red. I laughed it off as it was no big deal, and said something along the lines of "I just like helping out!"

Overall, a wholesome end to the wholesome story. I still don't understand how she thought I worked there with what I was wearing but I appreciate that she liked my style!

It was my family's weekly trip to Blockbuster back in the mid-90s. I was a teen girl with a total babyface.

Being indecisive, while I wandered the shelves I'd carry around multiple tapes just to make sure no one else grabbed one of those movies before I made my final choice. This combined with my nice new baby blue polo shirt made me resemble a staffer reshelving tapes.

A random white man, probably my dad's age, came up to me and quietly said, "Showgirls?"

Stocking such an infamously sexy movie at Blockbuster Video of all places was mildly scandalous at the time.

I turned toward him with a confused look on my sweet little baby face. He instantly reddened and stammered, "Sorry!" and booked it to the other side of the store.

My mom about died laughing!