The treatment of service workers seems to be worse these days

Do we treat service workers as being real people or not?
@innertalks (20908)
Australia
May 21, 2019 7:23pm CST
Fred was a tough, rough, old-school type of a guy. Fred treated people bruskly, and roughly too. Fred expected a service worker to do their job well for him, no matter how he treated them. Fred saw them as just being a cog in the system, rather than as their actually being a real live human being, with real feelings and emotions too. And so one day, Fred found himself in a large hospital, looking for his wife, who had been admitted, a few days earlier, for a minor procedural operation to remove her gallstones. Fred stormed around the floors, yelling at the staff there, about how the Hospital was set up like a rabbit warren, and how bad the Hospital management was. "Where is my wife? Where the blazes, is ward 7 south? Where are the staff, when I need them? Does anyone work here at all?" And so he ranted, and raved, and raged, on and on, as he went from ward to ward trying to spot his wife, on the floor somewhere. Most staff now had learnt to avoid him. It had been the same a few days ago, when Fred had visited his wife too. Fred had made a spectacle of himself then too. He expected instant attention from staff members to serve him at his beck and call, and to immediately drop whatever else they were doing at the time. Becky, Fred's wife, had now been moved to a recovery ward, and of course, this was the reason, why Fred was having trouble locating her today in the Hospital. Now, Fred was wrong here of course, but where the staff also wrong to avoid him? If the staff members are really professional and doing their job fully, should they still be kind and courteous to someone who is rude and abusive to them, or not? Where should a line be drawn? The staff should be respected by Fred, but should they also still serve his needs. It is a bit like a surgeon refusing to transplant a new liver into an alcoholic. He would rather choose someone who needs it more, through no fault of their own, but has the surgeon the right to make this call, or not? What do you think? Somebody who is nasty and shabbily treats a Doctor's receptionist, telling them to find him an appointment now, right now, will often, for example, be told that there are no more appointments for that day, even if one was available, just come up, because of a recent cancelation. Photo Credit: The photo used here was freely sourced from the free media site: pixabay.com Do we treat service workers as being real people, or not?
2 people like this
4 responses
@Peach10 (1920)
23 May 19
We all should treat them with respect but sometimes the unexpected happens and hysterics brings someone to be cranky and demanding so as service workers we should have more patience than ever when we encounter such rudeness. .
2 people like this
@innertalks (20908)
• Australia
23 May 19
Yes, I think that it goes both ways a bit too. We need to learn how to better respond and to handle some types of people. Patience is important, but we need to keep ourselves safe too, both physically, and mentally, so that we do not feel threatened, bullied, or harassed.
@innertalks (20908)
• Australia
23 May 19
@Peach10 Yes, a sincere smile can work its way past grumpiness, and often touch the hearts of some people who have trouble allowing such touching.
2 people like this
@Peach10 (1920)
23 May 19
@innertalks my sister is a nurse and I have learned from her a smile is a cure for rudeness.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (72494)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
22 May 19
I do not have to deal with service workers day in and day out but ai do think that service workers should be treated with respect as long as they do their jobs and also treat you with respect.
2 people like this
@innertalks (20908)
• Australia
22 May 19
Yes, I do too. There is a big education program going on here in Australia about respecting service workers at the moment. A lot of doctors and nurses here have to put up with a lot of both physical and verbal abuse in their jobs.
@Shiva49 (26163)
• Singapore
22 May 19
There are stickers here at government offices and hospitals making it clear that one has to be polite to service staff to get good service. Most are polite and wait for their turn. I do get frustrated when dealing with automated answering systems when the options make me go around the bend. Then when a real person comes along at the end of the options, I give a piece of my mind that they are less than fair in their dealings. Fred should cultivate more patience to get a better deal overall - siva
1 person likes this
@innertalks (20908)
• Australia
23 May 19
@Shiva49 "Kindness and politeness are not overrated at all. They're underused." The rough looking character and actor Tommy Lee Jones said this apparently. It seems like you make full use of them then. (Kindness and politeness) It is hard for most people, including myself, to do so, unless we make a real effort at doing so. Love lives in kindness, and when we are kind, we are naturally polite then too.
@Shiva49 (26163)
• Singapore
23 May 19
@innertalks Yes Steve, everyone seems to be in a hurry nowadays. Some also tend to think others are having a jolly good time but all have their own share of problems, none is exempt. In the midst of an entitlement approach and attitude, may I say my polite approach acts as an antidote to dilute some stress? I greet them and thank them later that they have gone the extra mile. That brings a smile and those waiting for their turn benefit too with such an overall elevated atmosphere. Even when I display my frustration at automated answering services, I give them positive feedback - siva
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26163)
• Singapore
23 May 19
@innertalks Thanks Steve, I have been like that to an extent others tend to comment on my general demeanor. That approach puts others at ease. However, I make my needs clear without being demanding. I feel others go out of the way to help me. Even when my needs cannot be met, they tend to guide and help me when I request them " do you have a suggestion to solve the issue?" siva
1 person likes this
• Japan
22 May 19
I always smile at service workers and try not to be demanding. Japan is very polite so that helps. The only service workers I yell at are the computerized phone systems when I need to talk to a real person. Computerized phone systems stink. Real people are great.
2 people like this
@innertalks (20908)
• Australia
22 May 19
Yes. I get frustrated with services workers who will not own a problem though. They just fob you off by telling you that it is not part of their job. Call someone else. Systems here in Australia seem to be set up that way now. For example, there is a ticketing system for the trains here. Then there are station workers on the stations. But, if you ask the station staff to tell you something about the ticketing system, they will tell you that another company manages it, to ring them about it. They just work here, and then they will stonewall you with a stony face, of, "I don't know, why ask me?"