Has the concept of dressing professional in public service jobs been completely discarded now?

#1
Brave Volunteer

Brave Volunteer

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#1
I had to start a thread on this because it's something I've been noticing more and more. I will give two examples that I've experienced recently.

1. My wife and I went to a local ice cream shop the other night. The girl working behind the counter was wearing shorts so small on her, her ass cheeks were hanging out them. She was also wearing a tee shirt that had the logo of the Morton's Salt Company (girl holding the umbrella). Only it said "Don't Be A Salty Bitch". I couldn't help but think, WOW! THIS is considered acceptable attire when you are working with the public? Especially in a place of business where a very large % of your cliental is children!

2. I took my son to Gamestop because he had some birthday money he wanted to spend. The guy behind the counter was wearing a wife beater with a button down shirt unbuttoned, shorts, and flip flops! This is such a far cry from when I was young and this store used to be called Electronics Boutique. The workers back then wore ties and dress pants! Eventually they went to business casual and wore khakis and polos but still. Now the people who work there look homeless!

I realize my evidence is anecdotal but surely I'm not the only one who's experienced it. Has anyone else noticed this with retail/service workers? I'm just wondering, what happened to the standards of professionalism?? Where are the managers of these businesses and why have they allowed it to get to this point?
 
#3
#3
Brave Volunteer said:
I had to start a thread on this because it's something I've been noticing more and more. I will give two examples that I've experienced recently.

1. My wife and I went to a local ice cream shop the other night. The girl working behind the counter was wearing shorts so small on her, her ass cheeks were hanging out them. She was also wearing a tee shirt that had the logo of the Morton's Salt Company (girl holding the umbrella). Only it said "Don't Be A Salty Bitch". I couldn't help but think, WOW! THIS is considered acceptable attire when you are working with the public? Especially in a place of business where a very large % of your cliental is children!

2. I took my son to Gamestop because he had some birthday money he wanted to spend. The guy behind the counter was wearing a wife beater with a button down shirt unbuttoned, shorts, and flip flops! This is such a far cry from when I was young and this store used to be called Electronics Boutique. The workers back then wore ties and dress pants! Eventually they went to business casual and wore khakis and polos but still. Now the people who work there look homeless!

I realize my evidence is anecdotal but surely I'm not the only one who's experienced it. Has anyone else noticed this with retail/service workers? I'm just wondering, what happened to the standards of professionalism?? Where are the managers of these businesses and why have they allowed it to get to this point?
Click to expand...

Bob Dylan said it in 1964, "The times they are a-changin"
Meh!
Actually things go in cycles. Supply/demand. Not enough workers.
Was there a problem with your ice cream?

I recall going in a store in Westown mall about 25 years ago, and the only person working in the store was a young (17-20) girl who was talking on the phone. We looked for some time while she ignored us. Wife finally ask her a question, and her reply was, "Do you mind? I'm talking to my boyfriend." So maybe the more things change--------
 
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#4
#4
Brave Volunteer said:
1. My wife and I went to a local ice cream shop the other night. The girl working behind the counter was wearing shorts so small on her, her ass cheeks were hanging out them.
Click to expand...

Oh man. That is disgusting. Like, seriously that is such a bad look. Can you please provide the address and her work schedule? ... so I can make sure I do not see her?
 
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#5
#5
utvolpj said:
You may have seen the news that it's getting hard to find employees at all. Running off the ones you do have isn't a good plan either. I see way too many small local businesses posting they're closed for the day due to lack of employees
Click to expand...

Yes that thought crossed my mind too. Though I'm not sure if the answer is to completely discard standards of professionalism. Especially if you make this clear to people on the front end.

All of these shiftless layabouts who's been enjoying living off of the government COVID tit, sooner or later that money spigot will be turned off and they'll have to get their asses back to work. I wouldn't be surprised if by this time next year, the issue will be quite the opposite.
 
#6
#6
Go aeiou said:
Bob Dylan said it in 1964, "The times they are a-changin"
Meh!
Actually things go in cycles. Supply/demand. Not enough workers.
Was there a problem with your ice cream?

I recall going in a store in Westown mall about 25 years ago, and the only person working in the store was a young (17-20) girl who was talking on the phone. We looked for some time while she ignored us. Wife finally ask her a question, and her reply was, "Do you mind? I'm talking to my boyfriend." So maybe the more things change--------
Click to expand...

Besides the price, it was fine.

Yes, I get that $hitty service from $hitty employees has been going on for a long long time. I was speaking primarily about lack of professional appearance/dress code standards. That's what I've been noticing more and more.
 
#7
#7
Brave Volunteer said:
Yes that thought crossed my mind too. Though I'm not sure if the answer is to completely discard standards of professionalism. Especially if you make this clear to people on the front end.

All of these shiftless layabouts who's been enjoying living off of the government COVID tit, sooner or later that money spigot will be turned off and they'll have to get their asses back to work. I wouldn't be surprised if by this time next year, the issue will be quite the opposite.
Click to expand...
The money is already cut off. One of the issues is our aging workforce. Also add in automation, gig economy, etc and service jobs are just not attractive. On top of that they have to deal with the general public who for the most part truly sucks. $10/hr to scoop ice cream to a bunch of Karen's and their brats? Sounds like a hoot
 
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#9
#9
Brave Volunteer said:
Besides the price, it was fine.

Yes, I get that $hitty service from $hitty employees has been going on for a long long time. I was speaking primarily about lack of professional appearance/dress code standards. That's what I've been noticing more and more.
Click to expand...

Entry level customers service employees are hard to find and even harder to keep. If her manager said something about her attire she could walk out and find a similar job the next day. Right now you almost have to kiss your employees tails just to keep the doors open.
 
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#10
#10
hog88 said:
Entry level customers service employees are hard to find and even harder to keep. If her manager said something about her attire she could walk out and find a similar job the next day. Right now you almost have to kiss your employees tails just to keep the doors open.
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Coincidentally, her shorts are made for just such an act.
 
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#13
#13
Brave Volunteer said:
OK fair enough. I guess I'm just out of touch and professional appearance is asking for too much in 2022. Duly noted.
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To be serious for a moment, I don't think you are out of touch. Modesty, self respect, self awareness should be encouraged. A family place with children should be staffed by people who have an understanding of what is appropriate or they should be given guidelines. Professional appearance may be a stretch for an ice cream parlor, but at minimum they shouldn't wear anything to be remotely offensive to normal people. End of seriousness.

The only way to know for sure if you're off base is to take a pic of her next time and post it. That way we can have a well informed discussion.
 
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#17
#17
Perhaps the "girl" was the owner of the company, owners daughter, family friend, etc? If the company really cared, they would have a uniform (even if it was a simply tee shirt with logo). Been to plenty of shops local and chains that have some sort of company shirt.

I am on the fence about thinking the owner is worried about her quitting vs just not caring or even thinking stuff like that is cool/hip.

If she is serving up the ice cream and getting tips, should the owner care? As long as health code is followed, not sure I would care if the money was rolling in.
 
#19
#19
volkyries said:
Perhaps the "girl" was the owner of the company, owners daughter, family friend, etc? If the company really cared, they would have a uniform (even if it was a simply tee shirt with logo). Been to plenty of shops local and chains that have some sort of company shirt.

I am on the fence about thinking the owner is worried about her quitting vs just not caring or even thinking stuff like that is cool/hip.

If she is serving up the ice cream and getting tips, should the owner care? As long as health code is followed, not sure I would care if the money was rolling in.
Click to expand...

True. The owner may be ok with this. Might even think it is good for business. Or is a friend or relative like you say.

I don’t see it as a labor market issue.
 
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#20
#20
allvol123 said:
True. The owner may be ok with this. Might even think it is good for business. Or is a friend or relative like you say.

I don’t see it as a labor market issue.
Click to expand...

All I'm saying is if I took my young son in the shop and he saw her shirt and asked me "Dad, what is a salty bitch?" I would be none too appreciative towards the establishment for me having to answer that question. I never honestly thought we'd get to a point where the acceptability of basic vulgar language at a public service-oriented business would even be a debate.
 
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#21
#21
Not as much of a dress code issue but I'll share with a story from a "cashier" we had last night at the local DQ

Cashier: That'll be $15.76 please (At least she was polite)
Me: *Getting out my wallet and a $20 bill*
Cashier: Oh....your not using a card?? *Confused look on her face*
Me: No
Cashier: Uh...uh....uh...ok......I'll have to get someone to make change....I don't know how too
Me: Uh...ok
** Another employee comes over and makes the correct change and hands it to the original cashier**
Cashier: Sorry, I don't know how to make change at all.....There should be an app for that on your phone! **She says all happy**
Me: There is, it's called a calculator

This girl was probably in the 18-22 age range. Dear Lord
 
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#22
#22
Brave Volunteer said:
Besides the price, it was fine.

Yes, I get that $hitty service from $hitty employees has been going on for a long long time. I was speaking primarily about lack of professional appearance/dress code standards. That's what I've been noticing more and more.
Click to expand...
The covid money spigot is already off. We have a looming population crisis that we are already feeling the beginning of with a worker shortage. Boomer generation about to be fully retired and we haven’t produced enough people to replace. Every generation in American history was bigger than the one before it, until post baby boomer. This is not just an American issue but a global one as well.
 
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#23
#23
Big Orange#1 said:
The covid money spigot is already off. We have a looming population crisis that we are already feeling the beginning of with a worker shortage. Boomer generation about to be fully retired and we haven’t produced enough people to replace. Every generation in American history was bigger than the one before it, until post baby boomer. This is not just an American issue but a global one as well.
Click to expand...

It's interesting to me that the labor shortage topic didn't seem (at least to me, anecdotally) like a huge deal prior to COVID. In 2019, prior to COVID I never saw fast food restaurants closing at 2:00 because they had no help. I never saw sit down restaurants closing off entire sections of their establishment because they had no one to wait tables. This phenomenon only started after COVID. So, if you say this is a population crisis issue, why did it only seem to manifest itself AFTER COVID?
 
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#24
#24
Hoosier_Vol said:
Not as much of a dress code issue but I'll share with a story from a "cashier" we had last night at the local DQ

Cashier: That'll be $15.76 please (At least she was polite)
Me: *Getting out my wallet and a $20 bill*
Cashier: Oh....your not using a card?? *Confused look on her face*
Me: No
Cashier: Uh...uh....uh...ok......I'll have to get someone to make change....I don't know how too
Me: Uh...ok
** Another employee comes over and makes the correct change and hands it to the original cashier**
Cashier: Sorry, I don't know how to make change at all.....There should be an app for that on your phone! **She says all happy**
Me: There is, it's called a calculator

This girl was probably in the 18-22 age range. Dear Lord
Click to expand...
"Sorry they didn't teach me subtraction in my 12 years of primary education"
 
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#25
#25
allvol123 said:
True. The owner may be ok with this. Might even think it is good for business. Or is a friend or relative like you say.

I don’t see it as a labor market issue.
Click to expand...
Perhaps someone is testing a Hooters service concept for an ice cream store. "Nippers, Ice Cream".

The young woman was in uniform.

.
 
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