Karen is a term used to refer to middle-aged white women who frequently throw tantrums and act entitled. It has become widely popular online, sparking much debate and controversy.
It was a popular hashtag during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, when people were protesting against social distancing measures and treating the crisis as an opportunity to unfairly police others. It has also been connected with some people who refused to wear masks.
1. Don’t take it personally.
If you find yourself having to deal with someone named Karen, there are steps you can take to avoid taking their words personally. Remember: you cannot make someone feel better or change their mind; so try your best not to take things personally when they speak.
Karen is a commonly used term to describe middle-aged women who tend to be entitled and display plenty of anger and frustration. They’re known for their frequent complaints and entitled behavior, such as demanding to speak with the manager.
Bionic, a company providing customer service support for businesses and consumers worldwide, conducted a study to identify the women’s names most likely to engage in Karen-like behaviors. They discovered Louise as both the most frequent complainer and top state for people exhibiting this trait.
Dani Weller, a member of Bionic’s customer service team, advised that the best way to deal with Karens is listening and showing empathy. “Stay calm and demonstrate empathy even if they don’t agree with your point of view,” she told Buzzfeed.
Though it may be hard to comprehend, people who are going through difficult times often express their emotions outwardly. Whether due to a health issue, or just having an off day, people can react in ways that make them appear angry and aggressive.
Many times, Karen’s anger is unfounded and stems from multiple personal and financial concerns. Furloughs, layoffs, stress from lockdowns and the reemergence of Black Lives Matter have left some people feeling insecure and threatened.
2. Stay calm.
Karens can be a real nuisance. They tend to act irrationally, become emotionally charged, and generally cause you unnecessary stress and irritation.
These challenges can be particularly difficult for business owners and employees. But staying calm can help you avoid getting too angry, which only serves to aggravate an already difficult situation.
Dani Weller, customer service team leader at Bionic, recommends keeping your head straight when dealing with a Karen. Listen carefully and understand their issues even if you don’t agree with them; that way, you can stay calm.
Karens can often be emotionally charged, so you need to treat them just like any other child who is distressed or angry. They may shout, gesticulate, throw their toys out of the pram or otherwise act out in an aggressive manner.
As this is their form of entertainment, you must remain calm and rational. Do not patronize them; rather, explain the situation clearly and objectively.
If a cash register customer is acting up, try to move them away from the line so other customers can pay and continue with their day.
Avoid creating a scene with Karen or Kevin, as this can be highly offensive to other customers and potentially damage your reputation. If you can’t move them elsewhere, call the police and either open another checkout or ask one of your colleagues to take payments directly from within the queue.
Staying calm makes your job a lot simpler and helps you build a better reputation at work. You’ll be able to better handle customers, build trust with colleagues, and enhance overall performance.
3. Keep a positive attitude.
Maintaining a positive outlook at work can help you stay productive and motivate others to do their best work. It will also enable your company to reach its objectives.
Positive attitude individuals tend to work better in teams and find solutions to problems more quickly. Furthermore, they are more likely to receive promotions and compensation as a result.
Maintaining a positive attitude can be challenging at times, but it’s essential for avoiding negative repercussions. To stay motivated, focus on solutions rather than problems.
Maintain a positive outlook by smiling more and using humor to lift others up. Furthermore, try doing nice things for people without expecting anything back in return.
You can also alter your office environment to promote a happier atmosphere. This could include making the desk more comfortable or adding pictures of family and other favorite items to it.
Maintaining a positive outlook at work can be great for your health. Studies have demonstrated that it reduces stress and promotes better sleep quality.
However, it’s essential to remember that having a positive outlook doesn’t mean you ignore the bad and become defensive when things go awry. Doing so could come off as unauthentic and even make the situation worse.
Terence Fitzgerald, a professor of sociology at the University of California in Los Angeles, believes Karen-esque incidents may be due to racial profiling and cultural redlining. They can also be caused by mental health, substance abuse or other issues experienced by people of color in America.
4. Ask for help.
If you work in the service industry, chances are you’ve encountered Karen at some point. This slang term has gained notoriety in America and is used to denote people who are rude and assertive.
When dealing with Karens in the workplace, be sure to get all of the help that you require. This could come from either your manager or another member of staff.
The initial step should be to calmly discuss what has transpired with Karen and explain what has occurred. Make sure your explanation is factual rather than subjective.
Avoid sounding harsh or threatening, but you do need to tell them that you won’t help them until they stop shouting and do whatever it is they are doing. Doing this will help de-escalate the situation and prevent further confrontations.
Though this can be challenging when feeling overwhelmed or upset, if you do it, you’ll save yourself from further stress and anxiety.
By doing this, you can focus on other matters and keep your head above water. This makes for a more effective team dynamic as well as improving your outlook overall.
If you find yourself having difficulties dealing with a karen, it may be beneficial to hire someone else who can manage the situation and take control. Doing this will prevent the karen from interfering in your daily activities.
Karen often attempts to intimidate you and control the conversation out of anger or resentment. Therefore, it’s essential that you remain composed, remain positive, and do not allow this emotion to get the better of you.
5. Don’t be afraid to speak up.
When dealing with Karens in the workplace, it’s essential to speak up and let them know when something is wrong. Doing this will allow you to keep your job and guarantee the safety of those around you.
When presented with the opportunity, it’s always beneficial to speak to a manager and explain what has occurred. Doing so will enable you to address the issue at hand and prevent any further complications in the future.
However, even if you cannot do this, it is still essential not to take it personally. As a rule of thumb, avoid taking anything Karen says personally and letting it affect your mental wellbeing in any way.
Maintain calm and listen carefully to what they have to say. Doing this will prevent you from coming across as arrogant or simply trying to get your way.
Recently, the term “Karen” has become increasingly common, denoting a type of middle-class white woman who displays behavior indicative of privilege. This can include opposing vaccination or engaging in racist microaggressions.
Karens often engage in actions which can be devastating to those outside their community, and some have even used their privilege to harass other individuals.
Legal actions can often follow from neglect of applicable laws, so it is essential that all employees are conversant with them.
No matter if you are a business owner or consumer, it is essential to manage karens appropriately in the workplace. With some preparation and common sense, you can successfully manage these challenging issues.
