I met up with a friend recently for dinner and over the course of the evening, he, like friends often do, began talking about some frustrations he was having at his job. He’s a licensed optician; ABO, NCLE certified and views himself, rightfully so, as a healthcare professional. His complaint: he just discovered that his co-worker, a woman who was not a licensed optician and who had most recently worked at one of those big box chains (and not in their optical) was making the same salary.
I asked him if he would, in his own words, express his frustrations. Here’s what he had to say:
I have been working at a rather large optical chain for a very long time. I am a manager and a licensed optician. The corporation recently hired someone with no optical experience at my salary and she sells progressive lenses to customers at a 12 mm seg height; a regular progressive. That she is checking seg heights at all without supervision boggles the mind.
These people are not trained before they have them start helping “customers.” That’s another thing. We are helping people see, not helping them try on a pair of pants. They are not JUST customers. They are patients! This is healthcare. No wonder people think that eyeglasses/eye exams are not necessary to their health and well-being.
But, back to new hires being thrown to the wolves… These new “associates” don’t have a clue, and yet are selling eyewear to the unknowing public. Most of the time the training is haphazard or no training at all. That scares me, probably would scare the next victim who comes in the door, if they had any idea.
20/20&U is here to be a voice for you, the optical community—especially the three Os. Whether you agree or disagree, we want to hear from you, the optical community about issues you feel need to be aired. We welcome open discourse about our industry.
―Jackie Micucci, Executive Editor, 20/20