Should employees be reprimanded for saying certain things loudly enough for the whole room to hear? (See details.)

My daughter is working, full time, but at only $8.00 an hour, and with two kids to support, she qualifies for a certain amount of food stamp assistance. I don’t think that’s something any one is particularly proud of. During the time I had food stamps I felt somewhat embarrassed every time I used them, and I’m pretty sure you guys know I’m not some kind of deadbeat. Today my daughter was was checking out at the grocery store, and some item wouldn’t be accepted to be paid by her vision card. The cashier yelled clear across the store to her boss “Hey! This item was rejected by this lady’s food stamps….her Vision card!! It won’t take the food stamps!” My daughter was so mortified that she said, “I think I’m finished now. You can put all of this stuff back,” and walked out.

Another time my other daughter needed to take her son to the doctor, but didn’t have the money. So I wrote her a check to take with her. When she gave it to the receptionist, the receptionist pulled up “my” account, and said very loudly, “We can’t accept this check! You mother bounced a check on us that she’s never paid!!”
My daughter’s hackles rose and she said, just as loudly, “Lady, my Mom doesn’t bounce checks. Look again.”
Sure enough, the woman had accessed the wrong account. Never gave my daughter an apology or anything.

What are these people thinking?