Survey Says New Jersey Customers Are Ruder Than Ever
This topic seems to come up quite often on Joel and Maryann in the Morning, rudeness. The debate continues with Joel and Maryann on how to properly deal with poor service.
It might not come as a shock, considering viral videos of people sticking it to fast-food workers or getting downright violent with flight attendants, but a new survey shows lots of people, yes including us in New Jersey, are being ruder than they’ve ever been. It seems more people than not feel it’s ok to act unkindly when they receive less than quality service. Some feel it’s ok even when the service is good, I’ve seen it happen. I’ve witnessed diners at a restaurant talk rudely to a waiter or waitress as soon as he or she introduces themselves.
Georgetown University management professor Christine Porath has been an expert in incivility for 20 years. She is the author of Mastering Community: The Surprising Ways Coming Together Moves Us from Surviving to Thriving. She recently published results in the Harvard Business Review of a survey of 2,000 so-called “frontline workers.” These were people from New Jersey, New York, and all over the world who work directly with customers, from healthcare workers to waiters to grocery baggers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UzEcLoworc
She explains that rudeness has been on the rise for years, but the COVID pandemic seems to have caused a major uptick in jerky behavior.
Porath noted 76% of those polled experienced incivility at least once per month and 78% say they witness it once a month; 70% say they witness customers behaving badly at least two or three times a month.
Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed say it’s becoming common for customers to be rude and that’s a huge jump from ten years ago when just 61% said the same thing.
Her survey showed almost eighty percent of those polled say the bad behavior is worse now than it was five years ago.
And all this bad behavior isn’t just directed at employees, 66% of those polled say they’ve witnessed customers being rude to each other more than they have in years.
The respondents to Porath’s poll admitted they were often guilty of the same behavior. 73% blamed being rude to their co-workers on stress (we’ve all seen or experienced that), which has been on the rise thanks to the pandemic, high inflation, and other economic factors.
When people are stressed, they, in many cases unknowingly, take out their frustrations on others. I know I’ve done it and I always feel bad or guilty afterward. It’s hard to be on guard all the time and focus on not “losing it,” but we should all be constantly working on it.
12 National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation Must Haves
3) Christmas Vacation Matching Aprons
“Why is the floor all wet, Todd?” “I don’t know, Margo.” One of the best parts about the movie! Besides who doesn’t need a fun apron for the holidays anyway.
7) Christmas Vacation Ankle Sock Pack
This pack of 5 socks inspired by Christmas Vacation ankle socks is wonderful. I honestly could see this as the perfect stocking stuffer.
11) Jolliest Bunch Shirt
Another great moment from the movie! Definitely one of the most quoted in my household that’s for sure. This one comes in a variety of colors and sizes.
Please note that items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time we published this list. Have an idea for a fun theme for a gift idea list you’d like us to create? Drop us a line at shopping@bbgi.com.
