A Walmart worker has sparked discussion after saying that she removed her name tag following uncomfortable interactions with customers. She’s not alone.
In a video with over 1 million views, TikTok user Ruby (@ruby_enriquez.vicente) shows herself working at Walmart while peeling her name off of her name tag.
“When customers make me feel weird and uncomfortable,” Ruby wrote in the text overlaying the video. In the caption, she added, “This world is scary.”
In the comments section of the video, many users confessed to doing the same thing at their workplaces.
“We don’t have to wear our name tags, so I keep mine in my apron pocket,” said a commenter. “I’m a cashier, and so many customers address me by my name. I don’t like it.”
“I work at lowes & the same thing happens to me with the construction workers that come in. It’s the most uncomfortable feeling ever,” detailed another. “They think it’s cute & funny. They probably think we feel flattered but no, it makes me feel gross.”
“I worked retail and as a manager they had our first and last names on our name tags. I hated that!!! Customers would try to friend you on social media,” claimed a third.
“The grocery store I work at my full name first and last is on it since I’m in a management title,” stated an additional user. “Men are finding me on Facebook because of this.”
@ruby_enriquez.vicente This world is scary 😣#fypシ #viral #walmart #fyp ♬ Sparks – Coldplay
As a result of this discomfort, some users alleged that they changed their name tags to something else, usually to hide their true names from customers or to prevent customers from looking them up on social media later.
This may explain a recent story in which a TikTok user came upon a worker at Walmart with a name tag that read “Taco.”
“I work at Walmart too. My boss lets me have a nickname cuz I’ve been there,” said a user. “My badge says Megatron. The kids love it lol.”
“I don’t go by my real name at work for this reason,” explained a second. “I’ve been made so uncomfortable so many times.”
“I’ve got a different name on mine cuz I work at GameStop and people be weird and creepy here,” shared a further TikToker.
The Daily Dot reached out to Walmart via its media relations contact form and Ruby via Instagram direct message.