Why Is The Customer Still Always Right?
It’s become okay to treat service workers poorly, and that’s not okay.
I can still remember the first time I encountered a rude customer. She looked to be around three decades my elder, with brunette hair that was cut in a style that could only be described as choppy and blunt. She was third in line to be served at the McDonald’s where I worked when she spotted me putting parfaits in the refrigerator.
“Miss?” she called out when she saw me.
I was only there to prepare food and had minimal guest experience at that point, but I walked over to her anyway. I thought she might have a question or need ketchup and napkins. Instead, she demanded I give her one of the bottled waters that sat beside the parfaits I’d put away. I explained to her that I couldn’t ring up guests and tried to excuse myself. My kindness was all it took to set her off.
I watched in horror as her expression transformed into one of pure fury. Her face reddened, clashing with the navy shirt she wore. I can still visualize how wide she opened her mouth when she began yelling profanities at me. I could feel my heart racing as I hurried to the back of the restaurant, unsure of how to handle the angry woman.
