2 retail clothing store employees feud over store sections they're working in: 'Aileen says... "They are always picking favorites here"'

Author image for Remy Millisky
Remy Millisky • Writer and Editor
Aug 9, 2025 3:00 PM EDT

Working in a retail job will give you skills you'll need for the rest of your career. Many of us start out working retail shifts as our very first jobs. They often pay minimum wage and require very little training, so it's perfect for those who are just starting out.

Some people make a career out of working in retail, though. They enjoy working with the customers, they find peace in folding dozens of pieces of clothes to tidy the shelves, and they enjoy swapping stories with their coworkers in between ringing up their customers' purchases. There are some people who start working in retail jobs and decide to make a career out of it, moving up to management or even becoming a store's GM. 

Many of these "lifers" get to know everyone in the store, forming strong friendships with the others who give years of their lives to the job. They might even get to know some of their repeat customers. Oftentimes, these employees enjoy the work because of the social aspect of it — they're extroverts, and they're easy to work with because of the way they handle any issues that arise. 

However, as this worker shared, that's just not the case with every long-term retail employee. They're pretty weirded out by one of their coworkers, as you can read all about down below. 

Next, read about the "anvil guy" who's been ordering and returning 110-pound anvils for 8 months straight after getting Amazon Prime's free shipping: "This may be the funniest thing someone has ever chose to do with their use of free will." 

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  • Woman with black hair looking at woman with long blond hair both holding numerous pink and yellow shopping bags with clothing store in background
    via Hans Isaacson For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • This may be ridiculous, but I really need some advice. I started working at this very familiar retail store in December of 2022. I am in the clothing department, and I started off in different sections until they gave me a permanent position in the baby department starting in March 2023. Since then till now, I have been the head employee for the baby department.
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • In that same month, new hires came in, and I am specifically talking about one of them. I'll just call her Aileen. So Aileen is also part of the clothing department but she is secondary or backup to my department. I am in my department for five days, while she is in there for two which are my days off. In June, I lost my younger sister to cancer, so I took two weeks off. When I came back, Aileen's attitude had pretty much changed a lot about the baby department.
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • When I was gone for those two weeks, she had to take over my department, and she really loved it. Until I came back, she started asking me, "When are you leaving?" and "Are you going to leave too?". It made sense two coworkers were leaving at the time, but it made me very uncomfortable that she would ask me a series of questions about my leaving. She also told me, "If I don't get into babies, I'll quit.". All in the same day.
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • After that, she would constantly ask how I was doing in the department and would watch me as I would bring go-backs or stock the sales floor. She then would leave her department, help me fold clothes, and go on to make comments about how much she loved being in the baby department and why they didn't choose her. At that point, I was thinking if she was actually talking to me on purpose about how better she would be. So I
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • reported to a lead, and they said they would talk to her, but nothing happened. The very next day, she asked about the Babies t department and what I planned on doing. This made me furious that she asked about my plans for the day. I had enough and reported again to a higher position manager, and it was like something did happen. The next few weeks were quiet and she stayed in her own department. It didn't last long though.
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • About two weeks ago, our schedules mixed up. I was set in the men's department' and she was set in the babies' department. Our times were switched as well. I didn't mind really, I was annoyed, but I was just gonna do what I was scheduled to do. I came in, and my lead told me she wanted me to stay in the baby department, while she stayed in men's. Later that night, she left her department to help me with racks
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • that she told me all day about she wanted to work on ever since she got in. As she is helping she tells me something like, "I came in with a game plan today. I got ready for all of it and then they tell me she switched us. Why would they even do that?". I just responded, "Well, our lead told me she wanted me to stay here." That's it.
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • This time I got brave and asked another coworker if she noticed Aileen's weird obsession with the baby department. She nods her head and tells me how upset Aileen was that our lead switched us and how ridiculous they were for doing that. My coworker told Aileen, "But that is her area." Alieen snaps back, "It's mine too!"
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • That was another last straw for me. I messaged my lead and asked her if I could come in early to speak with her. Both my lead and manager came to speak to me and I told them everything. My manager was upset about how uncomfortable I was and the possibility of other coworkers being uncomfortable, so she talked to everyone. My manager also reminded me that I was the DBO (designated business owner) of that department. She is
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • secondary or backup to the baby and men's department. In the breakroom, she sat next to me and complained about how she was just a backup. As you probably know it, it did not stop. The same things happened like leaving her department, hiding from the leads to sneak into the baby's department with me, and leaving her tasks. I noticed that she would work slowly on the main
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • things, but as soon as the main leads leave, she leaves her department and heads to me in babies. Just yesterday, I was sitting in the breakroom on lunch, and Aileen came in on her break and sat next to me. She asks me if our lead tells me what to do when I begin my shift. I just answer "Yes, or I ask her first." Aileen says, "When I come in for babies, she doesn't tell me anything. They are always picking favorites here.".
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • Woman with black hair looking at woman with long blond hair both holding numerous pink and yellow shopping bags
    via Natalia Blauth For Unsplash+

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • It really hurt my feelings with that nasty comment that I could not even respond to. I know I should stand up for myself, but I just could not do it at that moment. So what I am asking is advice. I am not obsessed with the baby department, and the reason I want to stay is that I like the responsibility given to me of being the lead employee for the babies' department, they told me that I do my best there. I know it's dumb of me to make such a big
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • deal at a minimum-wage job, but I'm happy I can be in control of a department. Is this harassment? Going to work knowing she is there watching me, leaving her own department to start folding and fixing racks and telling me how much she loves the baby's department just makes me so uncomfortable. What should I do? If I report her to HR, is this considered harassment?
    via u/asimplenobody27
  • PsychologicalBit5... Tell her to go back to her area. Tell her you don't need her. You are the boss of that area.
    via u/PsychologicalBit5

  • This person gave them a great way to start the conversation

    OkManufacturer767 Have you ever talked to her directly? You need to. "I appreciate the great job you did while I was out. Please stop talking about this already. I am the DBO of this department and have been for the better part of a year. You are still new. Do a good job in the area you are assigned."
    via u/OkManufacturer767

    If they do this "compliment sandwich" style, they'll be able to give 2 compliments while also telling this woman to back off already. 

  • Document the facts, date and time, what you said, what she said, no opinions, only facts. Next time, "Stay in your own lane." Document. If it doesn't end, give HR the documentation.
    via u/asimplenobody27

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terrible coworkers jobs retail retail worker coworkers baby clothes working clothing workplace clothes
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