To think that gen Z is completely disengaged in service industry

[Hocuspoc]

...and to just stop hoping I will get any value for my money.
No offense, generalisation is never good, but just this last week:

• Clarks, shopping for toddler shoes, usually there is this older lady there who knows exactly what are the bestsellers, what works for little ones depending on age size etc... anyway - nowhere to be found, the floor is cover by two youngsters. Neither approached to help, on their phones, I had to chase the girl around to notice us (empty shop) so I can get DS foot measured. She measured him 2 sizes up (took us some time to establish that) but long story short - every answer is 'I don't know' and shrugs. Started explaining school shoes - I reminded her he is 2. Didn't know what is discounted, what is in stock, one can only dream of some initiative like trying a similar style to confirm a size and than order...

Anyway - completely clueless, borderline rude and no indication that she cares or sees herself working there longer than a month.

Then, the other day... Entering a train station, my usual platform closed, I asked the young bloke operating the gates about it - he was literally shocked he is being asked anything, looked like I woke him up from daydreaming. Also glancing at his phone.

I will stop here, but same everywhere. No cutlery pre-set or brought with your food, rolling eyes for asking for a coffee in a proper mug because it is to stay in, I can go on forever.

Just rudeness everywhere, no professionalism, no taking pride in your work, just abysmal...

I think the current generation are maybe more aware of their value to be honest. I remember the absolute abuse I used to take for minimum wage in jobs like the ones you've just listed and my managers 'customer is always right' attitude and the only benefits I'd say I got from that is now I know how to be a good manager. You may be a decent customer, but plenty aren't, people can be awful and it gets soul destroying pretty quickly. 'Act your wage' is doing the rounds for a reason - zero hours contracts, toxic work environments, wages that don't cover cost of living etc. I've had customers whistle/ snap their fingers at me, tell me I must be stupid or lazy to have ended up in retail (was working while doing my degree), been groped, had racist leaflets left in my place of work targeting a young colleague even aggressively demanded I use my employee discount to get them money off and told me they'd get me fired if I didn't.

I also think it's particularly difficult as a 'younger' employee. I remember when I worked in a shoe shop customers used to decline my service all the time and ask me to get them one of the older staff instead. We worked on commission so it literally lost me money and I'd trained all the older staff and been there the longest even though I was the youngest.

I think there are plenty of older people working in service industries with attitudes or lack of training or who are just willing away the hours to pension collection and want to do the bare minimum. But they're seen as having earned the right to do that. You feel entitled to pick apart the younger workers and that's the real issue here and why you're noticing it. You've probably had plenty of good service from younger workers over the years and horrible service from older people, but it's easier to blame it on age. Everyone has to start somewhere and at least they are out working and trying.

Have to say in my work place I’ve had a much much better experience with the Gen Z’s than the Millennials. A large proportion of the millennials lived up to the stereotype. The Gen Z’s - just different. More common sense, enthusiastic, really great to work with. And unfortunately I’ve recently been in hospital and I was so struck by their kindness - messages, visits, really thoughtful gifts . And although some of them were just transiently based in my place quite a few still message me to let me know how they’re getting on, interviews good and bad, new jobs, engagements etc. It’s been a real privilege to get to know them. Way way more confident than I was at that age though!

Nope, work with some fab people who are all about helping the public and giving a quality service, same in my last job!

noone should be on their phones whilst working whatever age they are

Indeed.

several posters have said something along those lines.

But one of the few good things the conservatives did was hugely increase the minimum wage, dramatically in proportion to almost every other "professional" job (professional in brackets for lack of a better word, obviously you can be professional and take pride in a minimum wage job)

As an example, GP salary has increased 54% in the last 20 years, whereas minimum wage has gone up 151%

So that argument really doesn't hold water - yes COL has also increased hugely but if you are comparing like for like - i.e. people working minimum wage jobs now and 10/20/30 years ago, proportionally those in lower page jobs are much better off - the gap between those jobs and professional ones is much lower. So it doesn't make sense to suggest people were happier and more willing to work in those jobs then than they are now.

I do agree working conditions (like zero hour contacts etc.) could play a part. But objectively minimum wage pay is better than it's ever been.

I got time and a half for working sundays and bank holidays for a high street jewellers about 13-15 years ago, and my sister got the same for one of the big supermarket chains. I'm pretty sure my housemate who worked for primark got more on sundays as well.

OTOH my other jobs around that time (hospitality and in a cinema) didn't. But it definitely wasn't uncommon.

This has got me thinking about how crap I was as a shop assistant in a homewares store many years ago as a teenager. A lady came in asking for a turkey baster and the poor woman had to describe what it was and what it looked like to me! I was absolutely clueless - shit service is often down to poor training and poor management.

Same! Time and a half on Sundays in retail in the late 1990s, early 2000s.

the gap between those jobs and professional ones is much lower

I wonder if that’s part of the problem too? People would have to do so much more to get a jump up from minimum wage that it becomes disincentivising.

If you can coast for minimum wage – simply trying not to get fired – but would have to work very hard to earn 10% or 20% more.

You see threads on here all the time expressing incredulity at jobs being just above minimum wage. I remember one in particular about a pharmacy dispenser (or something similar).

There was motivation before minimum wage because you could move from e.g. a job in the supermarket storeroom to a job on the customer service desk and get a 30% pay rise. Now I suspect both jobs are minimum wage.

(I am still hugely in favour of having minimum wage though.)

I've noticed the same. Wonder if it's the internet age. Very odd.

Mumsnet usually has a profound bias against people over 50, so ageism towards those above 50 is very acceptable here.

People who complain about Gen Z don’t wish for their death, while those who complain about boomers seem to wish for theirs.

"The children now love luxury, they have bad manners, contempt for authority, they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise."

Socrates, 470-399 BC

I do have to disagree to a certain extent

The supermarket near to to us is basically 'manned' by young people and the service is always quick, polite and efficient.

The local pool is the same, young lifeguard and they are all an absolute credit to society.

Service jobs can be soul-crushing and exhausting, and the pay is low. Maybe try some compassion.
I find the entitlement of customers absolutely insane. The rudeness… the assumption that just because one is in service, one is not a human.

Has always been like that in the service industry - always one or two clueless very slow people. Its a skill that comes over time.

I wouldn't put down jobs in the service industry, anyone who learns to do customer service well goes far IMHO. It's a good skill to be able to deal with people.

I do think we have an issue with how much housing has risen but actually minimum wage has risen a lot. And people live longer. So any smart young person who starts to save from an early age will be okay.

Main issue is that the average age of buying a house is 34 now. Given that women's fertility falls off a cliff after 35 we have a serious problem.

Give feedback/ compliments on the good employees to the manager! Wouldn't you like to hear that your employees are making customers happy?

Carrots should be more valuable than sticks!

Gen Z is 1997 and 2012 (15-28). A lot of people in my age group (27/28) have been saving for a mortgage since the age of 20 (if they didn’t go to uni) or 21+ if they did. We just need to save up sooo much for a deposit and that takes even longer if we make the mistake/or have the unfortunate circumstances to rent a place. Most of my friends have moved out, either renting or buying (although some did end up moving back in with parents when the relationship with their partner broke down). Some of my friends bought a place at 24.

When I was a teenager, I know Tesco paid time and a half or double on Sundays. Someone in my college class would always work Sundays because it paid better.

Gen Z parent spotted.

That’s the only thing they are aware of - their and only their value. One of the rudest generations. You don’t have to work in a job if you don’t like, no need to be rude to the customers. They had so many resources available to study, which previous generations didn’t. Resources online for free, websites, Wikipedia, YouTube, free courses, if they have issues with minimum wage job, could have gone for higher skilled career.

Whilst I don’t think it’s every Gen Z, I do think it’s a lot. The big issue is staff having their personal phones out on shop floors. I just don’t understand why this is allowed. Worked in retail for years and it was a big no no. Obviously. Drives me mad.

The train people look at their phones to get you information.

I would argue retail and hospitality are far from easy, to be honest.

@marmaladeandpeanutbutter my local train station was sending me to a different platform than usual, I went to double check with the attendant, he looked on the phone and told me the wrong platform again. I explained why I thought it was wrong, he insisted surely it was that one.

…. it was wrong and I ended up having to run all the way to the other platform when the train showed up in its usual platform 😶

As a teenager I worked in various shops (including a shoe shop that measured feet). I got pulled up for my attitude on more than one occasion. Most of the time I did my best but did I want to be there? No. Did I care aboit your child's shoes? No. Had I learned to hide that properly at 14? No.