The position of power and flirting.

"abuse of power" - nope. 

Unprofessional, unethical, and sexual harassment - definitely. 

Mark

Flirting with customers is sexual harassment?  Give me a break.

technically, I think, for it to be legally "sexual harrassment" the "victim" has to declare the treatment unwanted....

 
 just be careful.   if you are running the store you are also setting the tone for other workers.

Plus you have to be in some position of power over the person that's being "harassed".  The example described above is unwanted flirting at best.

Possum's right on both accounts. If your employees see it, it sets a bad example for them, and may encourage it amongst themselves too. If it's welcomed, it's not an issue, but chances are not everyone will appreciate it and that sets you up for trouble big time. 

You should just pass them a note with the receipt, tyrant.

"U and me shood make sweat love!"

Heh... 

I never tire of hearing,

"possum's right on both accounts..." (although as often as I hear it, you'd think I'd be very tired...)  

Nothin' for nothin'...but in the Groucho Marx ' I wouldn't want to be member of any club that would have me as a member' vein...

Are you sure you want to be making 'social' partner of anyone who is swayed into a 'social situation' by the ability to affect their pecking order at the local copy shop....

just sayin...

Ha!  Great point!  So just who has the power again?

Flirting with clients? Not a huge deal, except for the reasons stated by possum and others. But, come on, don't get a big head about your 'position of power' over your clients. Your client has all the power. You need to respect them, get them what they want and do it in the time frame they expect. You serve them.

More than whether or not you flirt, the delusion that you hold the power over your customers is a dangerous attitude to your career.

Bettylou - 2006-03-14 8:23 AM

kimj81 - 2006-03-14 10:02 AM

Flirting with clients? Not a huge deal, except for the reasons stated by possum and others. But, come on, don't get a big head about your 'position of power' over your clients. Your client has all the power. You need to respect them, get them what they want and do it in the time frame they expect. You serve them.

More than whether or not you flirt, the delusion that you hold the power over your customers is a dangerous attitude to your career.

I don't know....have you ever had your color copier die an hour before a major client presentation? The Kinkos guy has the power of the universe in his hands at that point and I would take whatever steps necessary (flirting, cash bribes, whatever) to get my printing!

LOL! Well, sometimes they're powerful, I guess. I just don't think it's healthy for anyone's career, if it's client-driven, to think that they're more important or powerful than the client.

That all depends on the quality of service you provide, irrespective of whether your customers respond to your flirtations.

If you withhold or sabotage their project because they don't respond to your flirting - or they are offended by your flirting or you are offended at being rejected - then I would say you are doing your customer and your employer a disservice. That's not about abuse of power; that's about being passive aggressive, creepy, and a crap employee.

If, however, you happily provide the level of service that Kinko's expects of their employees to all your clients - be they single or not, cute or not, flirty or not - then you should be proud of the service you provide and not lose sleep over whether you are compromising your employer because of your flirting.

You are paid to service the people who walk through your retail doors. The bricks and mortar were not constructed to facilitate your dating life. However, retail is a great way to be exposed to a great number of people and if, in the course of serving them well, you also get a date - more power to ya.

From what you're saying, it does sound more like you're just being friendly rather than flirting. So if that's true, why do you sigle out your cute girl customers? Don't all of them deserve the same attention?