Don’t bring a knife to a gunfight. Well last week in Kelowna it was a contest between a tire-iron and a screwdriver. The tire-iron wielded by the Canadian Tire Gas Station employee helped to fend off the would-be robber who attempted to hold up the station with a screwdriver. Apparently neither party was hurt. What about next time?

I’ve been in a few dangerous jobs in my time like chemical plants, pulp mills, sawmills, and yes falling from 30-foot telephone poles but when it comes to danger pay, convenience store clerks and gas jockeys should get the lion’s share.

It is a character building job to be on the front line with the public at the best of times. Imagine yourself dealing with drunks, dope-addicts, thieves and bullies. Our store clerks put up with the most bull of any profession I know of especially on the night shift. The store clerk is a sitting duck for racist remarks, slander, intimidation and abuse of all kinds. All for what? Just over minimum wage?

If you’re worried about your eighteen year old son or daughter heading over to Afghanistan wearing battle-fatigues you might stop and be thankful they are not heading off to work at a gas station or a convenience store. I would wager that the odds of them being accosted, threatened or hurt on the job is far more likely right here in River-City than behind the cash register.

In speaking with a former employee of two convenience stores here in Kelowna, I learned how difficult a job this is. “In hindsight it was character building” says Roger. “I had to develop a really thick skin and learn how to communicate well.” Roger speaks of having to deal with irate customers who are denied cigarettes and having to be wary of counterfeit bills. He also shared stories of having to kick people out of the store with their backpacks or when too many come in at once. Roger on more than one occasion didn’t call the police and took matters into his own hands. He recalls chasing a kid on his bike who had stolen merchandise from his store. Roger put an abrupt stop to that with a broom handle jammed into the kid’s front wheel of his bike. He then laid a licking on the kid who probably never stole again.

Sometimes our biggest lessons in life are ones we didn’t plan on.

What can we do to make the store clerk’s job safer? We can do better than a three-five minute response from police or video cameras. Now Roger had a baseball bat behind the counter and later a golf club but what about clerks named Nancy or Gwen? The police will say we are not to take matters into our own hands but given five years from now more than a quarter of the police will be retired, then what?

It is a big concern ensuring the safety of our workers who face the public. Panic buttons and bullet proof glass isn’t the answer. We need to remove the fear factor in the first place. Does this mean we need to add people in security positions? If the store owner cannot pay for added security might we pay for this as citizens? It is a question for all of us to address and now. These are our children out there let’s give them the support they deserve. So until next week, remember: “in only two days, tomorrow will be yesterday, lean into it!” As I offer insights, stories, tips and career information, please contact me to share your stories opinions and comments to Don Campbell.