After being told to "smile more", 21-year-old retail worker responds with an over-the-top, unsettling 'smile-mode', which catches on with coworkers, driving out the customers: 'He didn’t bring it up again'

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Emma Saven
Aug 14, 2025 4:00 AM EDT

When 'it's just a suggestion,' actually means if you don't do exactly what I say, you could be at risk of losing your job…but in a polite way, of course. So when this employee is told to 'smile more' by her demanding boss, she seems to take his criticism very seriously. Suddenly, she is smiling at everything and everyone, her blinks are minimized at all times, and her teeth are making a permanent debut. There's just no going back now…

However, this employee is well aware that her newfound expression is not the biggest crowd-pleaser. So instead of appearing friendlier to employees, she is making children cry from fear, and customers are suddenly running for the exit as if the smoke alarms have just been activated. And the best part…She's got all her coworkers on board with 'Smile-mode', ensuring that is the last time her boss ever opens his mouth again…unless, of course, to share a smile!

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  • Revenge is a dish best served cold, with a creepy smile on the side…However, some could argue that this employee is being slightly petty, with a dash of drama. Did she take this constructive criticism too personally, or is this just another case of getting back at the Big Scary Boss?

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    Retail employees smiling
    via robertkneschke

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

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    oh i’ll smile alright

    I (21F) work part-time at a retail clothing store while I'm finishing college. It's your typical mall chain: overpriced basics, weird
    via messyjessie0
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    music, and managers who think "the customer is always right" even when the customer is actively shoplifting. One day
    via messyjessie0
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    during my shift, my manager Craig (40s, always smells like Axe and insecurity) pulled me aside and said, "Hey, I noticed you don't smile much. You should
    via messyjessie0
  • 05
    really smile more—it makes customers feel welcome." I said, "You mean be friendlier?" He said, "No, literally just smile more. Even
    via messyjessie0
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    when no one's talking to you. Just keep a smile on." Okay, Craig. You want smiles? You got it.
    via messyjessie0
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    For the rest of my shift-and every shift after-I smiled. But not like, normal smiling. I smiled. wide, with too much teeth. I
    via messyjessie0
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    smiled while folding jeans. I smiled while sweeping. I smiled while telling a Karen we didn't have her size. I smiled at
    via messyjessie0
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    customers until they asked, "Are you okay?" One guy legit said I looked like I was about to snap. Another asked
    via messyjessie0
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    if I was in a c It. A little kid started crying when I greeted her at the fitting room. Coworkers caught on and joined me. We
    via messyjessie0
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    started calling it "Smile Mode." By the end of the week, it looked like a haunted mannequin showroom. Craig finally told us to "tone it
    via messyjessie0
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    Baby crying whilst sitting in a cart in the grocery store
    via gettysignature

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

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    down." I asked sweetly, still smiling, “Oh, I thought you said to smile more?" He didn't bring it up again.
    via messyjessie0
  • 14
    mslass 40s. always smells like Axe and insecurity ROFL. I'm enjoying imagining how his Axe Body Spray's effectiveness is tested when his insecurity around a confident and educated woman half his age makes him sweat.
    via v
  • 15
    CoderJoe1 Sorry, smiling on demand cost way more than they will pay.
    via CoderJoe1
  • 16
    Abject-Ad-2459 I worked retail in college too. My manager tried telling me to smile in the break room, I said when they pay me for my breaks, I'll smile. But I really like your approach
    via Abject-Ad-2459
  • 17
    Itoka00 I love malicious compliance in the face of unreasonable demands.
    via Itoka00
  • 18
    Dioscouri This is awesome. I've always been the one to tell people to smile, because it makes people wonder what you've been up to.
    via v
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    Retail worker smiling
    via robertkneschke

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

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    ovid10 Not gonna lie, I would go to the store to see an absolutely unhinged smile for the entertainment value.
    via v
  • 21
    Right Wrap1686 Your manager wasn't being aj k, though. It is common sense that workers that interact with customers should smile to make them feel more at ease.
    via Right Wrap1686
  • 22
    NTboymamaTV2 This is the funniest story I've read on here in a while. I can just imagine it and it's absolutely hilarious to me. Currently crying with laughter while trying not to wake my child.
    via NTboymamaTV2
  • 23
    tiffd98133 You will go far. 81
    via tiffd98133

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Tags

salary boss smiling excessive too-much-smiling retail shopping creepy coworkers Awkward demanding teeth working small workplace entitled smile
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