Sort of an odd case, but this seems like the appropriate place to post this.

I happened to be in the store where I work on one of my days off, I was in doing some shopping. In retail, it takes a lot of hard work to go incognito - not being in uniform just won't cut it. You have to also wander much slower than usual and avoid eye contact with other customers. That last one is important.

Anyway, I was definitely out of uniform and meandering around, resisting the urge to straighten things, when I happen to make a split second of eye contact with a woman I know I've seen before, and my retail smile comes out on its own. I quickly remember I'm not on the clock so I look away, but alas I was too slow.

"Do you work here?"

GAH! This is a slippery slope - I'm off the clock. If I say yes but I'm not currently working, just shopping, she'll say she needs to ask one quick question and I'll let her get away with it because I hate confrontation.

"No, I don't. Sorry! I saw someone in a red shirt back there a minute ago, though."

She goes off to find the employee in question, I finish my shopping and enjoy the rest of my day off.

Well, wouldn't you know, she came in today while I'm working. Normally I would have expected a huge hissy fit but she was actually really nice about it. And honestly, I'm impressed she remembered me enough to recognize me. So many times shoppers don't remember me for the 20 minutes they're in the store, let alone for several days and without the benefit of a nametag!