Buck up, don’t spit in my food

In T&T, it’s not uncommon to go into a store or restaurant only to find that the person serving you is oblivious to their role as a service provider. Whether their attitude stems from a lack of training or mere discontent with their career choice, consumers are constantly faced with this level of inefficiency in and around T&T. On an island where tourists often appear, ready to soak in that good Caribbean enjoyment complete with smiles and cheerful welcomes, it is absolutely necessary for employers to ensure their staff effectively represents their brand and by extension, the country.

Too often customers are met with facial expressions symbolic of a cashier who simply doesn’t want to be there or whose personal life has invaded their workspace. Sarcastic responses, lackluster body language and a lack of pleasantries expressed to a customer on entry are immediate turn offs that could hurt business and leave a bad impression on tourists who visit the island. As it relates to customer service in the food industry, its safe to say that food cooked and served with love is always tastier than a grumpily dished out meal. For many of us, the thought of offering advice or scolding a grumpy food attendant for levels of inefficiency is met with hesitation.

We sometimes ponder, “Suppose she spits in my food the next time I come in? Maybe I should just let it slide.” In today’s fast paced world, the food industry takes care of many families—feeding them daily, so it’s only expected that when a customer comes in, they should receive a warm smile and friendly greeting rather than a quick glance and an outstretched hand that grabs their money. Other service providers such as gas pump attendants, hospital staff and other workers at government institutions need also realise that they too represent the whole- that being Trinidad and Tobago. As a people, the things we say, the way we act, the examples we set for generations to come, reflect on our country. It could mean the difference between 500 tourists visiting our shores in a month and 4,000 visiting in that same period. We all have a part to play and customer service is top priority.

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Here are some tips to consider if you're a member of the service industry:
–Always ensure you're neatly attired and void of body odour. Avoid loud perfumes.
–A smile goes a long way so greet each customer with a friendly greeting and a warm smile.
–Express a desire to be of further assistance. Avoid fidgeting with personal cellphones while working.
–Give your customer your complete attention- ie: avoid talking to other staff loudly and laughing at personal jokes etc.
–Be aware of your body language. Slow movement is often a turn off and equates to a lack of interest in the customer and the service you're providing.
–Generally, for businesses-long lines are a turn off so it is important for management to equip their staff with the necessary tools of the trade to avoid such.