Anyone who has ever worked in retail knows that it is not an easy job. Basically, you work your tail off and receive not nearly enough in return. As someone who worked in retail for almost three years, I encountered pretty much every aspect that it possesses. So without further ado, here are seven obstacles that make every retail employee want to throw down their plastic name tag and never look back.

1. Undesirable hours.

Retail employees work inside during the beautiful midday weather, every weekend night, and spend holidays standing at the register thinking about all of the delicious food that they're not eating at their family Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, it seems as though business hours are constantly being extended in the retail world. Employees are always at work as it is, but they might as well add bunk-beds to the break room because by the time that they get done cleaning up the war zone that the customers have created there is only a few hours left before their next shift starts.

2. Inadequate compensation.

I know it's probably shocking, but retail employees don't get paid the big bucks to pick your pile of clothes up off of the dressing room floor, tell your children to stop running, or take care of the "situation" that someone reported in the bathroom. On the contrary, retail employees are at the bottom of the salary food chain. We work a lot, and we have only our growing negative outlook on the general population to show for it.

3. The register (AKA the lonely island of despair).

Every retail employee knows the pain of a long shift working at the register. The register is undeniably a form of retail punishment. You stand in the same spot for several hours while repeating phrases like "Hi, how are you doing?" and "No, I can't give you a discount." While standing at the register, you usually question your entire life. While analyzing your purpose in the world, you also get to see the more fortunate employees roaming the floor as you envy their freedom.

4. The "I won't be shopping here anymore" customer.

It is always interesting when a customer decides to tell you that they aren't going to shop at your place of employment anymore. I can assure you that most retail employees don't care. They really, really, really don't care. I know that sounds bad, but it's the truth. Why would we want the customer that yells at us to come back? Exactly. I know these declarative customers are expecting their proclamation of non-returning to harm us, but your absence isn't going to break the company's bank or our hearts (sorry).

5.) The lazy coworker.

Everyone knows who the lazy coworker is. He/she is constantly going to the bathroom, too "busy" to help you, likes to distribute the work load among the other employees, leaves early, and frequently calls in sick. Yet somehow, this employee is never fired. They never leave. They always work during the same time as you. The main role of this person is that they are the other employees' arch-nemesis. The lazy coworker manages to get away with being lazy every day. However, don't try and follow their example because you, my friend, are better than that.

6.) The "I want to speak to your manager" customer.

Yes, retail employees would love to get the manager for you. The manager is not going to take your side. In fact, they are probably going to tell you the same thing that the retail employee has been trying to relay to you for the past ten minutes. As hard as it is to believe, the employee usually knows what they are talking about; they spend the majority of their time at work. So, unless you're calling the manager to compliment our excellent customer service, please don't ask.

7.) When the boss calls you on your day off.

The world of retail never stops. Unfortunately, employees call in sick all of the time, which means that the boss calls you to fill in. As much as you appreciate that your boss has chosen you because you're a hard worker, the thought of sacrificing your only day off is unbearable. We need that day off to re-gain our sanity. It's not easy to maintain a happy composure to hundreds of customers every day. So, we hope the boss doesn't take it personally when we don't pick up the extra shift. In fact, we usually feel so obligated to come in that we have to make up a good reason why we can't so that they aren't disappointed with us.

Well, there you have it. I urge everyone to remember that retail employees are just trying to help you. They aren't the company that they work for, and they don't make the policies. They are just trying to do their job and stay positive. So, give them a smile. Kindness goes a long way.