Does privilege exist? Do you think you are better than anyone? Do you think people in the service industry are your equal? When you go to the grocery store, do you say hello to the people that are serving you? Do you ever ask how they are doing? Do you even care to acknowledge their humanity, or do you only care about the organic hummus you’re looking for? Are you the type of person that just walks up to random employees and bark off an item. No excuse me, no can you help me? Just walk up to a person that is stocking a shelf while their back is turned and hollar Peanut Butter! Then when they turn to you bewildered, you give them a look of disgust because you haven’t been instantaneously teleported to a wall of peanut butter. So they say, what was that? Now you’re annoyed, PEE NUT BUTT ERRR. First of all we’re not death or stupid. You interrupted our work and concentration. You didn’t even think to excuse yourself. Now, I have to politely escort you to the peanut butter.
Maybe you are the person that reaches around people to get what you want. Doesn’t even say excuse me. Don’t do that . It’s not that hard to use manners and be respectful. In the end it’s all about respect. We are people who work. We don’t get anything for free. We’re not mindless and innate drones. We have families, bills and problems. The last thing we need to be is disrespected and talked down to over a tray of chicken legs. Start with Hello, how are you doing. Follow it up with, Can you please or may I. It’s that simple. Don’t just move my cart or try to reach around me. My favorite is when they stand over you. So maybe you don’t know you're doing these things.
I’m guessing you act like this because you grew up seeing someone else act the same way. Is this how your mom interacted with service persons? Is that why you don’t think you have to respect them? I bet you’re also the type who doesn’t believe tipping is mandatory. You'll sit there and ask for extra stuff and constantly bother your server. Then you complain and don’t leave a tip.That’s so disrespectful. I once got an earful from a server at the Carnegie Deli in New York. I wanted their famous Pastrami on Rye, but only had enough for the meal. He was so mad that he followed me to the register and called me out in front of everyone. Still didn’t get a tip. Simply didn’t have it. I never made that mistake again. I always tip and generously. Unless their service was very poor and the server was uninterested in doing a good job.
Being a decent human being is very important in this day and age. We have too much hate and disharmony to add more fuel to the fire. We all live in the same community. There is no reason to not be cordial. So what if a person is of a different race or from another country or Queer or any different from you. They don’t deserve any less respect because of it. They don’t want anything extra, just the amount of respect and attention you would give anyone else. It’s ok to thank the people that work at the grocery store. The people make it possible for your day to go off without a hitch. Nothing happens in this world without someone doing it by hand. Remember that when someone gets your order wrong or isn’t working fast enough for you. No one is perfect and maybe you’re the hundredth order that day. People get tired and the last thing they want is an angry customer or someone calling them names. It’s ok to say. I know you’re busy but my order is incorrect. Can you please… instead of, what is wrong with you? You had one job! Nothing is worth humiliating someone especially when they are doing nothing but trying to earn an honest living.
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