Opening Insights: Employees Matter Too
Employees are people too, they are not just a robot their to server. Like you they have their own thought and feelings. When we go to the store have you ever considered the affect and effect you have on those around you?
Áine Cain of the Business Insider UK, investigated what employees at Costco really think about their customers. You will be surprise! Her investigation brings insight for employees, customers and the company as a whole.
Informational Insights: Shopping TIPS
Costco membership comes with some obvious perks - namely, access to the retail chain and its food court.
But according to dozens of Costco workers who spoke with Business Insider, being a member doesn't entitle you to do whatever you want.
While Costco made Glassdoor's list of best places to work in 2017, employees still had several complaints about shoppers' rude and inconvenient behavior.
Business Insider spoke to more than two dozen Costco employees about the things they want to tell members but can't. Some of their responses focused on obvious problems, like members being mean and inconsiderate. But some of the tips were more instructive.
- Have your membership card ready at the door: "Concentrate on handing me your membership card instead of telling me a story. I can listen to your story as I do whatever you need me to do, but I can't do that until I have your membership card." — a Costco employee in Minnesota
- Pick up after yourself: "Sample cups all over the floor? Don't be rude. Clean after yourself." — a Costco employee from Arizona
- Put back items you've picked up: "Please put back that item that you just threw there. It doesn't belong there." — a Costco worker from California
- Be smart with your money: "Some sales aren't sales!" — a Costco employee in Illinois
- Drop your sense of entitlement: "I'm an executive member too. It doesn't make you more special than me." — a Costco employee from Ohio
- No one cares if you threaten to take your business elsewhere: "Being a 'member' does not make you special, and I don't care if you never come back." — a Costco worker based in Nebraska
- The customer's not always right: "Yes, you pay for a membership, but it doesn't mean you are entitled to anything or that you are always right." — a Costco employee from Arizona
- Don't blame employees for things they can't change: "What you're complaining about is likely above the pay grade of everyone in this building." — a Costco worker in California
- Be patient: "Please be patient, especially on the weekends! We can only move so fast. And there are far more members than employees." — a Costco employee in Illinois
- If you're not nice, don't expect stellar service: "As soon as you're an a------ to me, I don't care about actually helping you." — a Costco employee in Canada
- Don't be selfish: "The people in line behind you are as important as you are." — a Costco employee from Hawaii
- Think about your fellow members: "Act like adults and not spoiled children. Be considerate of fellow members and the employees." — a Costco employee from Washington
- Check your coupons before you shop: "Pay attention to the coupon-book dates." — an employee who said they'd been working at Costco for "too long"
- Educate yourself about the store rules before swinging by: "You cannot lend your membership card to other people." — a Costco employee from Kentucky
- Family cards don't exist at Costco: "No, this isn't a family card. There is no such thing as a family card." — a Costco employee in Florida
- Control your kids: "Please, for the love of God, tell your kid to stop screaming." — a Costco worker in Washington
- Don't endanger your children: "Quit letting your kids jump around in the basket. It's dangerous." — a Costco employee in Iowa
- Put your phone down while you shop: "Get off your phone and communicate while checking out. Have your card ready! Members b---- about lines but do nothing to speed up the process." — a Costco employees who has worked in stores several states
- Don't leave all the heavy lifting to employees: "Please help us help you! Please get off your phone and help unload the cart onto the belt." — a Costco worker based in Illinois
- Lending a helping hand: "Just because I'm helping you unload your cart doesn't mean you can stop helping me." — a Costco employee in Oregon
- And a handful of employees wish they could just lay into some members: "Please bring help with you if you are buying huge items and know that you're physically limited. I've had members arrive with a U-Haul and purchase multiple pieces of furniture that they cannot help load. We are more than happy to help but prefer you help too and not assume we are going to do the moving for you." — a Costco worker in Florida
Source: //uk.businessinsider.com/costco-membership-what-employees-want-to-say-2018-4
Possibilities for Consideration: Everyone Matters
Employees matter as much as customers. Without employees customers would have no human support. Maybe some people are content to engage with robots. However, the reality is human interaction and engagement provides an experience that can be warm, enlightening and uplifting, whereas engagement with a robot is simply clinical.
- What if we could engage the blue collar worker and empower employees, the company and customers?
- What if we could hear what employees are thinking and support them?
- What if we could learn how to treat all people as "equal but different?"
- What if we could foster and grow true collaboration within customers and employee environments?
- What if we could provided an environment of effective engagement, support, thinking and communication within stores?
- What if we could CHANGE OUR WORLD AND ENVIRONMENTS FOR THE BETTER TODAY AND TOMORROW?
Add Your Insights: Better Together
The main thing I've learned is that we're better together and that our society needs inclusion - right? - not exclusion.
KEITH ELLISON
