The holiday season is a stressful time for everyone. Christmas concerts, staff parties and extra financial stress leave many burned out and stressed out. For those working in retail, the holidays can be a particularly stressful time. Many stores hire extra seasonal staff, as demands are heightened by Christmas shoppers. However, even with extra staff, working during the holiday season is always a high-stress experience.
I have held a part-time job since Grade 11, whether working as a barista or in retail and customer service, the holiday season seems to cause customers to be more irritable than usual. We, as workers, understand people stop by cafés or stores on their way to or from work, shopping and events, and therefore are often stressed. That being said, we, as workers, experience holiday stress just like anyone else. We too have financial burdens, holiday obligations and family events.
A common phrase among those who have worked in customer service is, “service with a smile.” While some embrace this simply as an expectation to be met in order to be paid, I feel it’s simply a polite thing to do when interacting with someone. As a full-time student, with two jobs and several other commitments, this time of year is especially stressful. This stress is not eased when greeting customers, to have my greeting immediately met with a complaint, or simple indifference.
I would never expect every customer to be bright-eyed and cheery at all times, nor would I be upset by complaints. It is a part of my job, after all, to fix any problems you may be having. However, it is the way in which you present your complaint that makes all the difference. It is also imperative as a customer, I feel, to remember that while you may be unhappy with a product or service you’ve received, it is very rarely the fault of the customer service person you are speaking to. While this should be a standard at all times, not just during the holidays, it is important for all of us to remember that regardless of someone’s job, or position, they deserve, at least, to be treated with respect.
Being a student in my late teens working in customer service, I am often met with a level of arrogance from customers. As if, due to my age or because I hold a minimum wage job, I am beneath them. Please, as customers, remember a person’s age or job is not an indication of their intelligence. Rather, I hold a job in customer service so that I can continue my education. Now, I understand during the holidays, and in everyday life, there are stresses. That being said, there is never an excuse to treat someone else poorly.
The majority of people working minimum wage jobs in customer service and retail do an extraordinary amount of work, for relatively little pay. They do these jobs in order to give you the best quality service possible. Is every employee perfect? Of course not, we are human after all. But if I may make a statement on behalf of all those working in customer service, “This holiday season please remember to treat employees with the respect and patience they deserve as human beings.”
Jennifer Hamilton is a local student and writer.
