To think that gen Z is completely disengaged in service industry

I had a Saturday job at 16 and knew how to make contact, guage when to approach people for help, had a good knowledge of the products and how the system worked and if I didn't know something I said "let me go and find out" not "I don't know". I was a teen in the 90s, not a million years ago. I was paid about £5.50 an hour I think. I don't think basic social skills, not chewing gum and not being on your phone should be an unreasonable expectation.

I worked at McDonald’s part way through high school and then through my entire uni degree. Things like engaging with customers, smiling, upselling, using initiative to just do things without being asked have disappeared. If you didn’t act engaged then you lost shifts and eventually got pushed out.

I walked into my son’s martial arts studio the other week and there were two young women working. The one at the reception desk is lovely but the other locked eyes with me as I walked through the door. I just cheerily said to her “Good afternoon!”, then she gave me a death stare and ignored me as she walked past 🙄

It’s easy to just blame Gen Z but tbh, the managers and owners need to take responsibility for how their staff act.

It is. Though in fairness to them, if you suggest to customers that the workings of the job market mean they'll need to pay more for the service they think should be offered, they do not react positively. Try doing it on here and see what happens!

Ok, tell us when they do 🙄

I think quite a few of us have called out the ageism of the OP and said they are being very unreasonable.

I’m quite excited for my kids to get out working as I know they’re going to end up running the joint in some record amount of time, as they are bright, engaged and have a strong work-ethic already. It’s going to be so easy to stand out when 80% of your generation are operating like zombies.

I've just said as much. You've given them a huge advantage with those attributes.

I worked in a service industry from ages 18-22 while studying. We didn't really have a choice but to be friendly and engaged as I was in a country where it was legal for most of your income to come from tips! You'd got the odd gormless thousand yard stare kid but they tended to get sacked quite swiftly if they didn't learn.

I honestly think some children aren't being taught to interact. I bumped into a neighbour with her 9/10 year old daughter, I addressed a few friendly words to the girl as you do and she just completely ignored me, and her mum said nothing to her. I'd have been pulled up for that if I'd done that at that age, not that I would have, because I'd been taught manners.

But it's obviously not everyone - my own nephews are friendly and engaged, and my friend's son had the demeanor of an efficient adult from his early teens. I think those that have somehow managed to acquire social skills will do well - they'll be very in demand.

I recently had to repeat my coffee order five times to a teenager during the process of making it.

But also, the staff in my little Asda are all 40ish and ignore you and act like you're an inconvenience for going into their shop.

I think it's just people.

I know what you mean! Total lack of task ownership. The only thing they live for is in their phones. Please do not disturb.

Honestly, from this post I do wonder if you’re just sending out more ‘special’ entitled kids who think they should be CEO of Whitbread the second they get a job waiting tables!

Agreed. TBH I find more rude older folk than younger ones, but that doesn't mean I judge a whole generation.

I just think customer service in this country is really dire. If someone can serve you and get away with not looking at you or speaking to you, they will. And definitely don’t expect a smile! It often is younger workers but not exclusively. But I do wonder how some people get these jobs, because I know there are competent and engaged young people out there desperately wanting a job and can’t get one.

Good luck with that. Everyone thinks of their progeny as somehow better.

Gen Zs complaining about low wages or ‘boring’ jobs or whatever. Yeah we get it. Many, many of us grafted too in crappy entry level jobs or service industry jobs while studying or learning about life! We didn’t all wake up one day in well paid, professional jobs! We dealt with moaning customers, put up with shite from drunks in the bar, made the beds in hotel rooms, had the awful managers…

Honestly, there are rude people from all generations - tbh, the most rude people I come across are 65+, but that doesn't mean I think all people that age are rude. 🫣

I’m quite excited for my kids to get out working as I know they’re going to end up running the joint in some record amount of time, as they are bright, engaged and have a strong work-ethic already. It’s going to be so easy to stand out when 80% of your generation are operating like zombies.

If someone had posted this about boomers everyone would be screaming “ageism” with their first breath. Funny how it never works when you’re punching down isn’t it.

Mind you it's not always that easy to get higher paid jobs. My DS has a friend, last year she got a first in a law degree. Currently working in an office ( broadly law based) full time for 22k.

I'm sure that's not much above minimum wage tbh. Still hunting for a better job

My only recent observation is three members of staff overseeing the self service tills in Tesco and no matter when Im in there they are always talking and never helping. Literally have to beg for help and then it’s all tutting and eye rolls.

I work with loads of 18-25 year olds in retail. The management use them as cannon fodder. They hire them, don’t train them past the bare minimum, then expect them to give great customer service. The start off enthusiastic but soon learn they are there to be taken advantage of and revert to not doing much. They are off sick a lot or knackered from going to bed at 4am but they have no loyalty to their company, only what they are earning. They’ll jump ship for 20p more and I don’t blame them.

Retail is now flooded with GenZ and overseas students who are studying at dodgy UK colleges. They are given ridiculous hours, and treated like a number. They’re hired because these don’t want people to stay, and cost the company benefits.

Remember that next time you look down on one of them. For me it’s the culture of work now. Companies treat you like a number, and are surprised when you don’t act like a member of Are You Being Served.

Gen Z ‘stare’ that should have been!

Look up the Gen Z ‘state’ ! Apparently that’s a thing, and explains why you can go and stand in a bar with several staff standing there who won’t speak 1st!
One of my younger staff explained it as ‘well how do we know you actually want anything or are ready to order?’ Whereas my ‘old’ take on the service industry is that they say something along the lines of ‘ what would you like? ‘ first to show that THEY are free to serve you. Or say hello to a customer to be friendly.
Some Gen Z think - that is intrusive to go up and speak first - allegedly- even if they are the staff and the customer is the customer.

I would imagine the real problem is that it’s the beginning of the summer holidays and so many younger members of staff are on their first few days of work and don’t know what they are doing yet. I bought all my children’s shoes at Clarkes unless I was having a particularly lean month because they lasted longer and barring the ridiculous ones with a toy in the heal were better made.

They’re hard work but not actually hard to do, if that makes sense. I worked in retail for 5 years in my 20s and I would have been sacked if I behaved like some of the people I see in shops today.

Hospitality I can’t comment on.