Promoting Liberty Tax Service a "Chilly" Job

By Justin Marr

Dancing around in a blizzard wearing a blue patina liberty suit and a big grin might seem like an odd job to most people.
But to Carl Miller and his fiancé Melissa McGlinchey, it’s a paycheck.
The two have promoted Liberty Tax Services (LTS) on Mission St. for two winters and have enjoyed it.
“I like jobs where I’m outdoors as long as I have my music and headphones,” McGlinchey said. “It’s also nice not having a boss right over your shoulder the entire time you’re at work.”
McGlinchey has also worked as a bell-ringer for the Salvation Army and directed traffic for the road commission, but said this job rates at the top.
She said she worked outside last year when she was eight months pregnant.
The job being seasonal coupled with the declining Michigan economy has made it difficult for the couple to find full-time jobs.
Miller was recently laid off from a factory job in Traverse City and has had to find work in Mount Pleasant.
“I’m just trying to support my fiancé and daughter,” Miller said. “Michigan is a tough place to get a job, but I’m enjoying this job for now.”
Fortunately, LTS rules don’t allow employees to work in below zero temperatures, but Miller doesn’t mind the frigid weather.
“One day I wanted to work when it was freezing out, but [LTS] wouldn’t let me,” he said. “I wear about four layers of clothes. I have a pretty good cold tolerance, most people probably couldn’t do this job.”
Aside from the liberty suit, Miller said he also wears two t-shirts, a sweatshirt, winter coat, hat and gloves.
If he did happen to get cold during his four-hour shift, his office manager allows breaks.
“I’ll usually stand out there for about two hours at a time,” he said. “And then I’ll come inside and get coffee or hot cocoa to warm up for five minutes, but then it’s right back at it.”
With the immense amount of traffic, Miller receives diverse reactions from people driving by.
Some are better than others.
“Most truckers and some cars will blow their horn when they’re going by,” he said. “But you get the occasional kid who will yell vulgar language or flip the bird. You get used to it.”
Miller said the discount he receives on his tax return consultation cancels out all the disadvantages of the job.
He has to wait until March to receive it, but said the wait is worth it.
“It’s not an everyday job,” Miller said. “But it pays the bills and its actually pretty fun. I don’t mind going to work everyday.”