Things Those In The Work Environment Should Act Upon

[dragoon811]

I am a retail shopper, a diner, etc. I have worked retail, in an office, remotely, in a casual environment, in a uniform, and in a restaurant. Frankly, I am appalled that what seems to be common sense to me is sorely lacking in the work force.


1. They are not just paying you to complete tasks.
They are also renting your behavior. Do you recall how you acted in the interview? You know, well-dressed, tidy, respectful, polite, smiling and cheerful?
Yeah, that's the person they hired, they behavior they want to see at their establishment. If you worked for me, I would make that bloody clear.

Part of the whole "renting your behavior" thing is that you are a happy cheerful person, pleasant for their customers to interact with. If you are unpleasant, congratulations! You have potentially lost your employment a customer. And for one bad experience, they will tell on average twenty-five people. Who will remember this bad experience their friend had...and THEY will tell twenty-five people....and so on. Actually, that was as of 2002. With Facebook and the rise of social media, it's probably even higher.

YOU are the first and last impression of your place of business that your customers have. Don't roll your eyes, wear inappropriate clothing, chew gum with your mouth open, shout across to your coworkers, or be sour. Smile - all the way to your eyes. Greet people. You know... act the way they hired you to act.


2. Your problems end at the door.
Your customers do not care. They really don't. They don't care if you got a bad grade on a test, or if little Johnny broke his arm, or if you have a headache, or if your dad died, or if you really don't want to be at work.

You were hired to do a job and act a certain way. Do your job efficiently and happily. Besides... if you pretend to be happy, most often you will find yourself meaning it.


3. Dress appropriately - this is a long section.
Even if you work in a location that allows you to dress more casually, this does NOT mean baggy jeans falling off your butt, baggy shirts or shirts with writing on them (unless you work for that type of store and it's the dresscode. The rest of the time, you look cheap and trashy.), avoid major cleavage, ladies, and keep the massive jewelry and heavy makeup for your own time.  It's inappropriate, and sends the message that you do not care about your job or customers. Non-verbal communication is a pain, isn't it?

These also apply to meetings - even if you are off the clock, or it's your day off. Dress accordingly.

This applies to HOW you dress, as well. Tuck your shirt in if it is past your pockets. If you have tucked in your shirt, wear a belt. An appropriate belt. Leave the massive buckles to the rodeo winners, ladies and gents.

PANTS & BELTS
Usually, a plain black or brown belt (leather) is the classiest. If you work in a more relaxed environment, add a little flair. Maybe your belt has a subtle print, or cute cutouts. Maybe it's a thick weave. Maybe it's a leather braided belt. No, don't go wearing a Spongebob belt, or one with words. It's distracting, and you want the attention on your face, not your belt.

Gentlemen AND ladies - wear pants that fit. I realize the style is "so cool" for gentlemen to wear trousers that are more at home around their knees than their hips. No. Bad. Did you know that that particular style started in jail? It means that you are someone's (naughty word), and are available to take it up the (naughtyword). It's not cool. It's not attractive. If a lady is dating you and thinks it's cool, I suggest you find a new lady, for clearly her intelligence is compromised. Avoid wallet chains. If you need a wallet at work, and don't want to keep it in your locker, carry a work wallet. Something to hold your id and some cash, maybe your bank card. You can always swap between your work wallet and your normal tacky chain wallet. (It really is tacky. Honestly, it's also a giant ROB ME!!!! sign. Those chains are SO easy to grab...besides, with your pants so far down, you couldn't chase the thief!)

Baggy pants are a no-no. They make you look frumpy.

Oddly, very TIGHT pants are out - including leggings and jeggings. Sure, they're hip, but they are impractical. Your customers don't want to stare at every ripple and cellulite desposit in your legs. They also shouldn't be able to see the make and model of your cell phone, or the year of the quarters for the soda machine.

Ideally, you want pants that you are able to pull on and off, and fit your entire hand in your pocket. Well, for jeans. For dress pants, avoiding bunching in the crotch. Ask to be measured, gentlemen. Even if you go into a department store, just tell them you are looking into the cost of clothes for a job, and want to know what size you'll need. If they want the potential sale, they'll be MORE than happy to help you!! Ladies, try on pants. Multiple sizes and types, until you find a style that fits you well. This may take some searching, and you may have to try Macy's as well as some name brand. The goal is to look professional so that your customers will think you reliable. Avoid the "distressed" look. Your pants should be crisp and clean, and avoid stains. Keep a tide pen in your purse or locker if you're prone to stains. (Also, napkins help. Yes, really.)

SHIRTS
If you are allowed to wear more casual shirts, such as Target, where all you need is a red shirt or sweater, again, dress appropiately. Don't wear something faded or "artfully ripped". Avoid baggy and saggy. If necessary, tuck your shirt in. I'm not your mother, and if *I* am thinking "good lord", you DEFINITELY need to tuck it in.

If it has long sleeves, keep it semi-tight. No one wants to worry that you're going to Houdini their money, card, or information. Sorry, it's an IT age and people are distrustful. If you MUST have long baggy sleeves, roll them up, or push them up.

Necklines - straight round holes are pretty unflattering. A slight V-neck, like a polo shirt, is flattering. If you are more comfortable with a t-shirt neck, wear an undershirt in a neutral tone, gents. White or black is best. Bleach your whites and keep them white, not dingy!!!

Ladies, avoid t-shirts with that scissor-clip opening. It looks trashy in a work environment. If you feel like you need a little cleavage (I've become strangely proud of my boobs. They're awesome.), go for a scoop neck, but keep it to no more space between the base of your throat to your neckline than the breadth of your hand. (ie, laying your hand sideways at the base of your throat. The thickest part of your hand should just meet your neckline.)  If you have a plunging or v-neckline, wear a camisole or thin tank top underneath, again trying to meet the hand's breadth rule. (and hey! it's great for adding color and personality!!)

Ideally, you want to be able to bend over without flashing your boobs. It's also polite that, if you do need to bend over, you angle yourself so that you neither flash someone or stick your butt in their face. If you HAVE to bend over and flash them, place a hand to hold your neckline if possible. It's a little demure touch. Hey, some guys may like the mystery. It's actually a little flirty, too. ;)

Ladies, you also may want to get properly measured for a bra, and be shown how to wear one. It makes a HUGE difference, and is VERY flattering!!! I don't care HOW small your boobs are, we should NOT be able to see your nipples through your shirt.

Men, this includes you. If you're a pointy "turkey's done!" kind of chest man, wear an undershirt. We don't want to see yours, either.

If it's cold but your place of employment has uniform shirts, try a long-sleeved tshirt or turtleneck underneath, again keeping in mind the location! In a small town, a candy cane pattern at Christmas may be appropriate, but not in a larger city, go for festive colors, maybe, that do not clash with your uniform, or stick to black or white. They're pretty basic and easy to find as the weather cools.


JEWELRY/PIERCINGS/ACCESSORIES
Alright, I touched on chain wallets in the pants section. Enjoy.

Jewelry - keep it tasteful! Unless you're working at a Native American Reservation, keep the long dangly feathers at home. Same with massive hoops. If you have more than one ear piercing - Usually, I follow the rule of small studs or hoops in the upper holes, with something dangly in the bottom hole.

If you like dangly earrings, try to keep them extending no more than 2 inches past your lobes, and if they are round or clunky, avoid more than a inch in diameter, if you can. They idea is to add color and personality to your wardrobe, not provide yourself with keyring at ear-height.

I personally dislike the ear holes. Any larger than a dime and I find them creepy and disturbing, so I won't even bother. It's a personal thing, and, honestly, there's no way to address them for me.

For facial piercings... again, unless you work at a specialized location, try to avoid them. There ARE clear plastic inserts you can use. Or try for something tasteful! By which I mean small and subtle. You want the attention on your eyes, not your eyebrows. We also should not be able to see that tongue ring. Seriously, that's gross. We don't want to think about where it's been or why you got it, not to mention that it's a haven for disease and bacterias and grossy things!

For jewelry, keep the "bling bling" at home. Choose a fun or colorful necklace, ladies, or perhaps a single pendant? Gentlemen, if you must wear a necklace, again, go for a small pendant, or a plain light chain.  Ladies, avoid more than 1 thick strand 2 medium strands, or 3 thin ones when it comes to necklaces. Less is more!

Your watch should not look like a child's toy or a bondage cuff. Go for something simple, or go for fun without going "kiddy". Same for bracelets. They should not hamper your job, or go from elbow to wrist! Keep it small or slightly chunky, and have fun with it without going overboard.

Rings.. keep it at a minimum! You do not need to deck out all your fingers like Captain Jack Sparrow. Keep maybe 2 fingers bejeweled. Also, think about your job and what you are doing. If bagging many goods, you may want to keep your large-stone ring at home, as you may end up getting it caught on the bags. This becomes a time waste. Avoid it - if you want to keep it close, put it somewhere safe during your shift, or on a long chain around your neck hidden under your shirt.

Accessories are cute! Just because you're at work doesn't mean you are a bland, boring drone! Think of Criminal Mind's Penelope Garcia. She dresses VERY appropriately, and is still fun!

Granted, don't go completely crazy - a piece or two to add color and personality. Hey, maybe a pin on your lapel? When I worked at Best Buy, I usually had a small anime character pin on my collar. It was cute, it was me, and didn't make me feel like "just another blue shirt". Even if it's just your pen being something fun (and, again, appropriate. You don't want that strip club pen your friend brought you from Vegas at work. Ever....unless you're IN Vegas working at a strip club.)

Hats do NOT belong indoors. I don't care how cold it is. Bring a cardigan or sweater (avoid baggy, and no hoodies or swearshirts in a retail environment!), or suggest your manager/office supervisor that perhaps the workspace would be more comfortable if they closed the doors/windows/turned down the AC.

MAKEUP
Ladies, they are eyebrows, not landing strips. Put the Sharpie away. (Also, Sharpies do NOT make good eyeliner.) Unless you work at MAC or something, leave off the heavy makeup as much as you can!

The best kind of makeup is the kind that looks like you are barely wearing any! This means picking foundation as close to your skin color as possible, and blending it. Sadly, I do have a friend who wears very heavy facial make up, and usually it ends at her chin, leaving her bronzed of face and casper of neck. Worse, are the folks who have that oompa loompa color about halfway down their neck. The line between your foundation and normal skin SHOULD BE INVISIBLE. I'm sure YouTube has GOOD makeup tutorials!

Eyebrows - seriously. They have brushes for a reason. I don't care if you have a unibrow or not (you can wax, tweeze, thread, leave it alone, I don't care). You're welcome to shade your brows -  I personally have pale eyebrows (and dark hair lol), so I use a very light brown eyebrow pencil that I apply with the side of the color, then I brush my eyebrows, blending it in. You don't want to DRAW them on, just ENHANCE what's already there!

Eyeliner - seriously. No Sharpies or else "no one will take you serious". I don't understand that chola look with the really thick black eyeliner. Keep it small!

Eyeshadow - Don't go overboard. You generally don't need much! Have you never seen an episode of "What Not To Wear"? If not, watch the makeup part. It's really easy. You don't need anything special! Personally, I feel that I have small eyes compared to the rest of my face, so I use a light color in the inner third of my lid, a medium color in the middle third, and a darker color in the outer third, or even a light inner half blending into a darker outer half. For example, I'll use a dark matte brown, a medium shimmery brown, and a light, almost silvery brown shimmer, OR I use a bright gold on the inside and a glittery pink on the outside. It brings light and color without looking like a cheap floozy. (Yeah. Floozy.)

Blush - go for sheer, and try for a sunkissed look. Seriously, YouTube has some awesome tutorials out there.

Lipstick - Personally, I LOATHE the feel of lipstick. I used to try to wear it, but now I stick to lipstains. I have two kinds - an almost chapstick type, and a brush pen type, both from Tokidoki (sold by Sephora). Both are sheer for me - you really want a hint of color. You want to enhance your eyes and look, not have those "classic glamorous red lips". Those are great for glamour photos and Hollywood, not so much day-to-day practicality.

Generally, assuming that I am wearing ALL of my makeup... I wear an spf face moisturizer by Clinique (I am blessed with excellent skin. My sister is not as fortunate, and uses Bare Minerals and they are awesome, I just dislike stuff on my face, to be honest.), a sheer pink blush by MAC that I apply to my nose and cheeks, with a little on my forehead and down to the cheeks - and I do mean a LITTLE. It's there to blend. I keep it heavier on the checks and nose. Looks like I've gotten some sun, but not like an old china doll. I do the eyebrow pencil as described above, and the two eyeshadow methods above are my two most frequent. I do change out the pink or dark matte brown though, depending on what I am wearing. I will use a dark green shimmer over the matte brown, or I'll swap the pink for a glittery blue, or gold for silver. *shrugs* Lips, again, as above, or just chapstick! I also prefer clear mascara to colored, but, again, I am fortunate to have very nice long eyelashes that are fairly thick and don't need to be plumped or glammed or whatever the heck they're doing these days. If I really want a pop, I'll use a Lancome black mascara, definicils, I think, and clean the brush off and roll it on a tissue before applying. (Do be sure to place a clean tissue under your lower lid and blink to get off any clumps or goop. It doesn't need to be heavy.

To be honest my make up is MAC Briar Rose blush (I think. It's awesome and has Maleficent on it from Disney's Sleeping Beauty), eyeshadow/eye pencils by Tokidoki, lip color by Tokidoki, eyebrow pencil and black mascara by Lancome, clear mascara by Covergirl, and face lotion by Clinique. :) I'm pretty sensitive to dyes and stuff, and Ive never had a reaction to any of the above, so they've become my staple.

I do LOVE Tokidoki, though. Their stuff is FANTASTIC! Cute, fun, the eye colors are rich and creamy - they go on smoothly, easily, and last for hours, and their lip colors are AMAZING. I am loving their tube lip stains. They're epic wins!

Oh - nails... girls, if your nails are so long that you are doing everything with the pads of your fingers, get them cut, trimmed, get rid of the false nails, whatever. It's stupid that you are unable to function. Yes, I know, the long fake nails are a bit of an ethnic thing. Too bad. It really does look quite silly that you cannot use your hands!!!

Both genders - keep your nails (AND HANDS) clean!

Both genders - deoderant is a must.

Both genders - when it comes to perfumes/body spray/aftershave - less is more. That smell is good for like..6-8 hours. One spritz, ladies, is 8 hours. Even if YOU can't smell it, WE CAN. Keep the heavily scented or oft-used-and-scented lotions and sanitizers away. Use a non-scented one. With sanitizers, a little goes a LONG way. To sanitize your hands you need maybe the size of a pea.


4. Conduct yourself accordingly in an office environment.
In an office environment, you may find yourself taking lunch at your desk. That's fine, you gotta eat! But, please... if your lunch's smell is offensive, please don't. (I worked in an office with many Koreans - sometimes their meal choice consists of ingredients so....aromatic...that it makes me want to retch. I don't think there's enough gum in the universe.) If you think your choice is fragrant in an unpleasant way (after a meal, do people keep a hand near their mouth or face? Are they leaning away?), PLEASE chew mints, something, and eat elsewhere.

Also, in any environment, hold your utensils like utensils, not shovels, and display proper table manners. You know... chew your food. Do NOT chew with your mouth open. It's disgusting. Use a napkin, not your jeans. Heck, a tissue works, or toilet paper if that is all you have.

Wash your hands before or after a meal --> this is ESPECIALLY true if you handle money. It's DISGUSTING how many people handle money all day then go get their sandwich, never wash their hands, and eat that sandwich..with those hands. You don't know where that money/credit card has been, or what the customer touched before touching your pen...which you then touched. It won't kill you to go duck into the washroom wash your hands, and then repeat after the meal.

Don't slurp too loudly. In some cultures, it's polite TO slurp. Some meals are impossible to eat withOUT slurping. It's okay, honest. Just... do it quietly.

Also, I don't care HOW good that milkshake is, it you're getting that awful sound it means it's gone. No more. Put it away.

Clean up after yourself. Dishes at least RINSED, trash in the trash, recycle if you can. It's only polite. If your workspace has a communal dish, like forks or plates, and you used it, WASH IT. It won't kill you, honest.

If a coworker is clearly eating a MEAL at their desk (burger, sandwich, pizza.... chips are not a meal....uh..something nuked like a home-cooked meal, or hot pocket, whatever..), LEAVE THEM ALONE. You would probably like to enjoy a meal without being bothered. So would your coworker. It's amazing what a little common courtesty can do. If it's REALLY important (like, seriously so), apologize first.

On that note, if someone HAS gone up to ask an uber-important question to someone eating, don't just think "Oh they're not busy I can ask them blah blah blah" - stop. Don't do it. Email them, or WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE DONE. For crying out loud, it's not okay to piggyback! While you were wasting their lunch hour, their lunch is now cold. Some things just don't reheat well and you've ruined their lunch. You suck.

Do not shout across the office, if avoidable. Get up and go talk to them.

Always assume that any emails or messages can or will be shared or seen. Say or do NOTHING that could potentially get you into trouble or reflect poorly on you. There are lots of people hungering for jobs. (This also applies to social networking. If it can come back to bite you in the butt, do NOT say it, or, at least make it private or put your coworkers in a "work" group and make it so they cannot see it. Same for photos of drunken revelry or partying that while innocent fun to you, look at it through the eyes of your boss.)

5. Conduct yourself accordingly in a retail/store/whatever environment.
I don't care HOW long that line is - don't stress. This is especially true in the holiday season. Take a deep breath, hold it, let it out. SMILE. Your focus is now the customer in front of you.

When handing out change, hand them the coinage first, and allow them to take it/put it away. Then continue with bills. While they put the bills away, ask if they would like the receipt with them, or in the bag. This way, they do not feel rushed, or like change is going to spill everywhere.

I REALLY hate the new thing of layering "my hand bills receipt change" all at once. It's rude, it's pushy. It's alright at a drive through, but still - change so we can cup it in our hand, then bills. Receipt goes in the bag.

While that customer is in front of you, keep your attention on them. I don't care if they are putting away their wallet, or whatever. Keep your body turned towards them, smile softly. Keep the big grin for when greeting. But don't turn to the side and start doing something. That makes a customer feel very unimportant and it's rude..and also a good chance for them to steal something from the register area. Don't do it. -.-; (also, do peek over at their carts. Anything on the bottom? Lumpy ad? In the case of the ad, ask if you can throw it out for them. Stuff on the bottom, get your scan gun and do your job. Does little Susie have something she's gumming on?) Pay attention. Is their purse on the demagnetizer? Say "excuse me, please", or "Here, let me have you scoot down a little", and begin bagging there, or something. Some folks aren't paying attention, and some are letting that cased game beep and beep while stuff in their purse is being demagnetized - they walk out scott free, return that game later, and have now stolen from you. Loss prevention IS part of your job, sorry.

If there are customers in the store, act accordingly. I don't care HOW close to closing it is. You are expected to act a certain way. No shouting across the store going "hey what time are you off?" It's rude to the customer, and makes you look lazy. Wait until they're closer and ask them politely.

Do not interrupt a conversation with a customer to talk to a coworker, unless it's a customer ranting and the coworker is management/security (whatever applies). It's rude. If you must, say "I'm sorry, one moment", and ask your coworker "can you wait a minute until I have finished this transaction?"

Smile. For the love of god, smile. Let it reach your eyes - PRETEND you're happy. You might find yourself meaning it as days go on.

Speak clearly. Make eye contact. Smile.

For the love of God, in a retail store, ESPECIALLY around the holidays, do mention the rating on that game. Little Johnny is quite adept at putting games Mom and Dad would NEVER let him have on his list to Grandma,....who doesn't know better and will buy them. So just mention it, or go "and you do know that this game is rated blahdiblah". I think about 100 eight-year-olds hated me the year Grand Theft Auto Four came out.


When it comes to loyalty programs, store cards, or service plans - ask once. If the answer is no, shut up. Drop it. You may have numbers your manager wants you to hit, but the selling needs to be on the floor, not at the register. If a customer has reached the register and is uninterested, it is generally too late. They have what they needed, what they wanted, and are ready to go. They are no longer receptive to extraneous sales or offers.

If you are on the sales floor and with a customer, and see another customer, ask your current customer to wait a moment (politely. nicely.), and let the other customer know that you will be with them shortly, or call for backup. Also, if you are with someone and the phone in your department rings, ANSWER IT. If you are busy, take their name, number, and question, and CALL THEM BACK AS SOON AS YOU ARE DONE. You will earn SO much goodwill with that customer, it's not even funny.

Be aware of customer body language - looking around in shifts, not really moving from that poorly lit place is "I'm thinking of stealing something." Find a reason to hang out there. Yes, that shelf DOES need cleaning. Right now. In eye view of you. Standing in front of a shelf looking up is usually "Dang, what was it..?" and they are trying to remember. Give them a moment before asking if they need assistance. Looking at a shelf, moving, looking at a shelf... they are looking for something in particular and can't find it. Standing in the middle of tall aisles (shoulder height or more) and looking around is "I need help. Does anyone work here?" Standing in the middle of shorter aisles looking around is "Where did so and so go?"  Ask them if they need assistance. Sure, you asked them a few moments ago, but if they are looking around, or frowning, or checking their smartphone and you see scrolling motions instead of typing, they DO need help. Just ask "Still doing alright?" Try not to ask more than every 5 minutes. Browsers will look at every shelf in every genre they are interested in. If a customer is standing in front of a specific product or wall of items and looking at the wall, then looking around is "I need help, does anyone work here? Maybe I can figure this out. I wish someone would come help me I don't want to ask for help".  You'll get the hang of it. ALWAYS be aware of WHO is in your department and WHAT they are doing!!!

If walking through a department not your own and someone asks you for help - do NOT say "I'm sorry, I can't help you". Go for a better answer. Are you on lunch? Try "I'm sorry, but I'm on lunch right now, but before I go I'll send someone to help you." Not your department? Try "Is it a quick question? If I'm not back in my department I'll get in trouble. I can also call someone to assist you, if you'd like?"

NEVER EVER SAY THIS: "I'm sorry, I can't help you, I'm Customer Service."....and then keep walking. Yes, I've seen someone do this. WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT AND HOW THE HECK DO YOU STILL HAVE A JOB?! I was mortified. Yes, I reported them, and then I clocked in early and went and helped that customer. Who, by the way, looked a cross between shocked, wanting the throttle her, amused, and upset. I don't blame them.

6. Restaurant Ettiquette.
Don't stick your finger in someone's food. Be extra-careful.

Wash your hands...a lot.

Don't babytalk a stranger's baby. It's weird. But DO show the child attention, it gets points with the moms and dads paying.

If you are covering a break, let the table know at the beginning. I am sick of starting with really awesome wait staff and ending with the stupid person who knows nothing. Heck, restauranters, let me opt to KEEP my temporary server. I don't want my tip going to the moron who came in at the end and did nothing!

Be prompt. Check on your customers, or walk by often. Let customers pass FIRST, smile, and say "excuse me". Even if they are not your table!

Be aware of customers trying to signal you. Studiously avoiding eye contact is rude.

If Customer A orders Salad B with no nuts, and it arrives with nuts, take it back. Don't get pissy. When you bring out the new salad.. CHECK THE ORDER. Nuts again? Yell at the kitchen all you want, but you're the dunderhead who didn't even look down when -gasp- you brought it out yourself!

I know you're busy but ALWAYS check within 3 minutes of food delivery. If YOU care actually delivering an order, CHECK IT. Heck, server folks who take out food on busy nights - there IS a ticket there. PLEASE check it. Also, smile. Be polite. It won't kill you to have personality. Then again, I've had food-bringers with more personality and niceness than wait staff. So...yeah.

Write it down. Seriously, you know how good your memory is... we don't. Write it down. Take a look as you approach the table anything missing? If so, mention it when you inquire as to how everything is. "How is everything for you so far, I'll be coming back with that missing sour cream, can I get you anything else?" You're now interested in how our meal is, shown you are competent, and are being extra-polite. Did you just create extra work for yourself? Yes. Guess what? You also earned yourself a tip.

If you say "I'll be right back" - it means, you'll be right back. Sorry, waiter guy, but I can see you smoking and hanging with your buddies in the parking lot from my table...for twenty minutes. By then I've asked 3 people to help me, none of whom have, and now the next person I grab will feel my wrath (seriously, my mom told her she had two minutes to get her rung up or we were walking out. The bill was on our table. The card to pay was on the thing before the wait staff person turned around. It was rude and horrible and every server didn't care until then.), and YOU will get NO TIP.

A TIP IS EARNED, NOT A GIVEN. If you do the bare minimum, you will receive a bare minimum tip (I consider this to be 15%). The better you do - personable, polite, prompt, etc, earns you more. Better service? Better tip. If you don't do jack, or forget things, or don't care, I guarantee you that you will not only receive little to no tip, but also a note. (Ive had to leave "TIP" spelled out with pennies before, and once I did not tip a server for "undue concern in regards to sentient life" - they were told of a violent this-will-kill-them allergy and didn't even check the order or think it a problem that it was wrong.) Honestly, I LOVE to tip really well. I remember how much tips sucked. I do. I love to go above and beyond. PLEASE give me a reason to.

Be fair to your customers. I'm sorry, local Applebee's, but you are the worst at this. I am never going back there. The servers are racists.  (Same location as the disappearing server/switching of the awesome server for the stupid inept one, and same company as the allergy one)

Examples of this racism?

Table 1 - hispanic family
Table 2 - african-american couple
Table 3 - caucasin couple
Table 4 - group of hispanics, look like construction guys
Server? Hispanic. Tables 1 and 3 received impeccable service. Table 2 - ignored. Table 3 - ignored. Seriously, she developed a problem with miraculously losing and regaining sight and hearing between tables. Manager, hispanic, didn't care.

Another example?

Table 1 - caucasian women, 3
Table 2 - four african-american gentlemen garbed in the unfortunate saggy baggy pants and printed baggy hoodies.
Server to table 1 - "I'll be right back to take your drink orders, ladies."
Server to table 2 - "i be right wit'choo."
Guess what? Table 1 was within earshot, we heard you. Treat everyone equally.
Seriously?

There's more examples of this, but it's 2:23 am and I am going to bed.

.... I think I'm done. I may come back to this but I am too darn tired.

Comments

[sparrowspark.livejournal.com]

"It's not attractive. If a lady is dating you and thinks it's cool, I suggest you find a new lady, for clearly her intelligence is compromised" XD Ahh so good.

One question. Why did you write all of this?

[dragoon811.livejournal.com]

Because I had to go interact with those in the service industry yesterday, and frankly, I'm appalled. There are so many people out of a job and those with jobs are terrible!!

Also, my earlier entry was directed at the shoppers/callers TO the service industry, so...turn about is fair play lol.

I write it when I feel like it ^^.;

[sparrowspark.livejournal.com]

I know, sometimes I just want to slap some people *_*

Okie, was just wondering XD

[dragoon811.livejournal.com]

I am totally random lol.

I try to not just rant but...help. =\ I'm weird lol :-D