Karen is a narcissistic girl who believes she is in control of everything and everyone. They may be rude, sassy, and at times even angry.
If you find yourself dealing with Karen, there are a few steps you can take to help make it better. No matter if you work in customer service or not, here are some supportive resources to assist in handling a Karen effectively.
Do Not Absorb Their Ridiculous Complaints
Karens can be notoriously entitled and rude, expecting special treatment they don’t deserve. Additionally, Karens tend to have narrow-minded perspectives and will display public tantrums over even minor inconveniences. If you’ve ever worked with one, then you know exactly how difficult they can be when treated fairly.
Karens can be incredibly frustrating for everyone involved – from your employees to the owners of your business. When dealing with Karens, it’s essential not to let their unreasonable complaints get the better of you and keep your cool.
One of the first steps to take when investigating a complaint is to listen intently and ask them questions about it. If there are valid grounds for the claim, this can be determined through conversation and observation.
Once you confirm their complaint is valid, take appropriate action to resolve it. Typically, this involves escalating it up the chain of command to a supervisor or manager for further consideration.
The primary purpose of doing this is to prevent the situation from spiraling out of control. If Karen or Kevin start behaving in an aggressive way, others around them could become upset and may leave your business altogether.
If the customer starts shouting or acting abusive, you must firmly inform them that their behaviour is unacceptable and you cannot help them until they stop. Be firm; otherwise, emotions could take over and damage your reputation in no time.
Remind yourself that Karens are toxic individuals who thrive off chaos and drama. Additionally, they possess a highly aggressive nature which could prove hazardous if not handled carefully.
Do The Bare Minimum
When dealing with jerks or two, a little tough love goes a long way. This is especially true if your department has an especially high volume of customer service issues. To avoid these pitfalls from occurring, remember to recognize other employees as colleagues, be a team player and never let your guard down when around others – which may be easier said than done if your department is one of your company’s most customer service-focused units. However, these tips may take more effort than expected, especially if dealing with such people within your company’s organization.
Don’t Argument With Them
Karens are a type of middle-class white woman who often exhibits behaviors indicative of white privilege. For instance, they might demand to “speak to the manager” in an effort to denigrate service industry workers; they could also be anti-vaccine or engage in racist microaggressions.
Recent years, “Karen” has become a commonly-used derogatory slang term for middle class women with an arrogance. This slang has gained notoriety through an array of memes depicting people with Karen-like characteristics such as demanding to speak to the manager; being anti-vaccine; engaging in racist microaggressions; or wearing an especially long bob cut hairstyle.
At a time when America is facing major economic and social difficulties, the Karen phenomenon has taken hold. President Trump has labeled his blue-collar base as “the forgotten people,” signaling how many feel left behind in the face of globalization and technological advancements.
Furloughs, layoffs and the stress of lockdowns have all contributed to the anger evident in many videos. According to Lillian Glass, a Los Angeles-based communications and body-language expert, these same resentments have also found their way into the Black Lives Matter movement.
Argumenting with someone who spews off their ignorance and believes they possess the only valid opinions is pointless; you will only make matters worse for them.
Karens have the tendency to attack those who disagree with them, pulling them down to their level. Their reaction is all they desire – entertainment for them but potentially very painful and distressing for the one being attacked.
When dealing with Karens, the best strategy is to walk away as quickly as possible. This can be done by walking away in a shop or ignoring them on social media platforms. Remember that Karens tend to be angry, self-righteous and very opinionated; engaging with them only serves to escalate the situation further.
Don’t Let Them Trigger You
Karens can be dangerous and it’s best to avoid them at all costs. These self-indulgent, self-righteous animals become completely consumed in their world of anger – which explains why they get so furious.
They are an embarrassment to humanity, corrupted by social media in all shapes and sizes. Despite their best efforts, they still struggle with controlling their anger.
Unfortunately, they often become the target of a vicious circle that includes their family and friends. The most important thing you can do for these troubled souls is be an encouraging ally. By being a confidante and not adding further stress into their lives, you will help keep them on the right path.
It’s wise to pay attention to the little things that occur during a typical encounter with Karen. These details could make the difference between an enjoyable and stressful day, from weather conditions or how someone interacts with you. With careful thought, you could potentially make a major impact in a short amount of time by reframing your perspective.
Don’t Be Afraid To Back Away
When dealing with a Karen, it is essential to remember that they lack rational thought. They are self-indulgent and self-righteous, incapable of seeing the world from another person’s point of view. Furthermore, Karens lack empathy or compassion towards anyone and believe the only way to feel happy is by making others miserable.
Recently, the term “Karen” has become a ubiquitous meme to describe an upper middle-class white woman who displays behaviors reflective of privilege – such as opposing vaccination, demanding to speak directly to managers in service industry jobs, and engaging in racist micro-aggressions. These actions pose real risks to women of color who often face similar struggles every day.
Though these behaviors are unacceptable, they also have a lot of support in the form of online communities dedicated to them. For example, Fuck_You_Karen started an anonymous Reddit subreddit called r/FuckYouKaren in 2017 with posts featuring misogynist rants by an anonymous male user named Fuck_You_Karen.
With the expansion of the internet, this type of behavior has become more virulent. Recently, British supermarket Sainsbury’s caused a Twitter storm by offering free pizza to “nice Karens.”
The response to this promotion was swift and widespread, with many criticizing the company for its lack of empathy. The incident has sparked a conversation about what “Karen” actually means and how this type of behaviour is tied in to systemic racism and police brutality.
Ultimately, however, it’s your choice whether a particular interaction is worth it. If you feel Karen is being unreasonable or triggering, then it may be best to step away from the situation. Doing this will prevent any negative reaction and allow you to focus on what truly matters to you.
