Column: Don’t Blame Workers for Horrible Service | Shakope’s review

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One thing I have noticed since businesses have reopened at full capacity and are getting busier and more busy is that in many places the service is absolutely horrible. We went to a few of our favorite restaurants where a single waiter or waitress was responsible for a large portion of the tables in some cases, more than double the number they would normally have if they were fully staffed.

When we were out for dinner a few weeks ago our server was constantly running, including serving people sitting outside. I asked him if he had already followed in his footsteps. Turns out he did, and he said the day before at work he had logged over 37,000 steps. According to an online calculator I used, for the average man, that number of steps is 13 miles. This means that the server does the equivalent of a half marathon during their shift.

The downside is that we didn’t have a good customer experience. At all. Drinks weren’t filled, meals came out piecemeal, with the last one delivered about 15 minutes after the first, and some orders were incorrect. We had a similar experience at a different restaurant when we went out for Father’s Day.

Last week we ordered fast food through an app for pickup. We got it 40 minutes after it was supposed to be ready. When I finally got my order, I asked the handover if the problem was a lack of staff. He confirmed that this is an ongoing problem.

Not all businesses are that way of course. Some place great value on customer service and make sure to deliver it. They probably pay a little more than others, take the time to provide training, and provide a good work environment that reduces turnover. You can usually identify these places as soon as you walk in because someone is there to greet you, offer to help, and make you feel welcome.

I was telling a friend about it and he pointed out to me that working people like the waiter jostling for 37,000 steps per shift end up being the ones dealing with customers who are angry with bad service. . And he correctly noted that people who show up for work and are probably overworked are not the problem. In fact, they deserve our support.

The problem, as anyone who follows the news even remotely knows, is that companies struggle to hire staff. Like most things, the reasons for this have become entrenched in politics and are not worth repeating here. The point is, working people aren’t the reason service is poor or the reason some companies cut their hours or limit their products and services.

It should also be noted that some companies claiming to have difficulty finding workers may have an internal problem with their human resources department. I say this because my 19 year old son applied for several local jobs this spring. He wanted to get a job so he could start as soon as he finished his spring semester at university. The only company that responded was Scheels at Eden Prairie Center, and the rep called within 24 hours of being applied.

Oddly enough, he has never heard of others. That’s why when I hear people from places my son has applied to complain that they can’t find workers, I’m pretty annoyed. The point is, people apply for at least some of these jobs, including entry-level positions, and don’t get a response. What else do employers expect from job seekers?

Brett Martin is a guest columnist who has been a resident of Shakopee for over 15 years.

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