Malled

Have you ever worked in retail before? Or any minimum wage job for that matter? Did you know that the turnover rate of staff at retailers across North America is, on average, 100% each year? Caitlin Kelly is not afraid to talk about what life is like behind the counter (or "cash wrap") in her semi-biographical book Malled. At times comical and at others enraging this look at minimum wage work brings vindication to those of us who have been there and opens the eyes of those who haven't.

Unfortunately, those customers who just do not know how to treat employees with respect will probably never read this book but hey at least the story is being told and maybe some respect may be garnered to the retail work force. If you have worked in retail this is a must read, essentially it will just make you feel better because someone spent the time to write a book that probably expresses a lot of the frustrations you yourself hold inside.

The titled sums it up nicely: Malled, it should be the new verb for undergoing the quintessential right of passage that is working in retail. Note that I say quintessential, you may disagree with this but I feel that as someone who has worked multiple minimum wage jobs in the past that I do tip my server better (at a restaurant or even a coffee shop) and always greet sales associates with a smile. Maybe working retail has really helped me to become a more considerate person. Here's some food for thought, are people who have never worked minimum more condescending towards those workers?

Thanks again Uncle Bill for lending me this book, it was definitely a great read!
Caitlin Kelly