#wildcard post

[erintries]

A Revolution in Retail: Treat Workers Well to Boost Profits

This article by Eleanor LeCain talks about an almost unprecedented tactic for a company to make more money. The idea is that if you treat your employees better, train them well, and give them the knowledge they need to be successful they will stay with a company longer, treat customers better and in turn pull in more revenue.

A norm in the service industry is something along the lines of “the customer is always right”; I think that approach is poorly thought out. Owners and managers are essentially promoting the poor treatment of employees by telling customers they are right even when they are rude and disrespectful. Altering this behavior could, in my mind, be key to improving employee morale and making sure your customers have a positive experience because your employees will be happier knowing they are backed by a company that does not tolerate poor behavior.

I think it is necessary to change the norms we expect from retail/service/restaurant employees. Treating someone poorly because their job is supposedly lower in a hierarchy or has less occupational prestige is intolerable.

I don't really think following the ethic of reciprocity is too much to ask.

[erintries]

W I L D C A R D

29 Struggles Every Holiday Retail Worker Knows To Be True

This is more of a humorous take on the holidays for a retail worker. Anyone who has worked in retail from November to February knows that it is the craziest time of year and surprisingly people are more rude and inconsiderate. I feel like this Buzzfeed article does a great job articulating the retail struggle, if you will.

When I was working Black Friday at Starbucks, the people I bunkered down with from 3 AM to 11:30 AM were people that I grew to appreciate, creating a kind of social solidarity. Despite that day being one of my least favorite work days in my time at Starbucks, I also somehow remember it fondly- possibly because I will never have to experience it again.