B/G: I am an emergency dispatcher at an airport. Besides that, my job also includes monitoring security alarms, cameras, 4 radio channels, general customer service via phone (I work after regular business hours so all outside and inside telephone lines come to me) and in person, whether it be flight information, general questions, maintenance issues, or lost and found.
People will come into my office for assistance. While trying to do my other responsibilties, I try to help them. Often, the person will get a call or text and answer it, expecting me to wait until they are finished to continue helping them with their problem. (We actually have a sign that says "Cell Phone use Prohibited" which 99% of the time is ignored.) While they are continuing their conversations or text, I return to my other duties. You would not believe the snarky comments or looks I receive when they finish their business and see I am not waiting with baited breath for their issue and dealing with other issues.
My question is: How to respond to these rude people when they expect me to drop everything I am doing to help them?
As an aside to the above, I wish to thank e-hell for introducing me to the word "snowflake". We use it often now, even on radio as people do not know what we are discussing!
