What ruins our mood most when we dine out is not the food, nor the ambience, but very often the service and attitude of wait staff. All it takes is a smile to set things straight; similarly, an unfriendly staff can spoil things with her rudeness, and an unhelpful staff can affect the overall dining experience.
Some time ago, we shared about what everyone can do to expect better service, and while more often than not, we complain about poor service when dining out, diners should also reflect and think about how we play a part in making the whole dining experience memorable.
Service is not just about the workers, but it also involves employers and customers. In this day and age, more is expected, thus more has to be given. As NTUC’s Labour Chief Lim Swee Say puts it: “The globalized world thrives on mutual dependency, mutual support and mutual acceptance. Good services beget good customers, and good customers beget good services”.
Today, we will like to elaborate with five more ways on how diners can be better customers.
1. LEAVE A FEEDBACK FOR THE STAFF
When a service staff is exceptionally good, leave a feedback to praise him/her. A simple gesture like this will not only make his/her day, it will also boost his/her career advancements and opportunities when the management is looking to promote their staff. Your note of encouragement means more than what you think.
In fact, such feedback will be useful for the management to identify gaps in the service process and re-train their staff to fill in the gaps. Only when their skills improve, will they be able to provide higher levels of customer service.
2. LEAVE A TIP
Tipping may not a common practice in Singapore, but the truth is service staff are not being paid a lot, and leaving a tip is the most practical way of thanking the staff for their good service.
However, this cannot be a long term solution. Employers should also take responsibility in ensuring all staffs receive fair wages and focus on new and innovative solutions to improve productivity, as well as upgrading their skills. Even service staffs deserve progression in their career instead of a mere dead-end job.
3. HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Like what we have mentioned before, expectation is the root of all problems, and sometimes, customers have unrealistic expectations and demands – this is something we all must accept and know what can be offered and done, and what is out of the question.
For example, it is absurd to expect immaculate standards when you are dining at a casual restaurant or eatery. And dining at a five-star establishment does not mean the wait staff should give in to every single request – even if they are out of the norm. Have realistic expectations and be better customers.
4. TREAT OTHERS HOW YOU WOULD WANT THEM TO TREAT YOU
Service is not the easiest job. Besides having long hours and sacrificing their precious weekends and public holidays to work, service staff also do not earn a lot, and they are often short-handed and being overwhelmed by the crowd during peak hours.
Service staffs are also human, and they deserve our respect. Treat them how you would want them to treat you. It is only natural that when we are polite and nice, they will be even happier to serve us in their best efforts.
5. SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION AND SAY THANK YOU
“We should remember that people serving us are people too. Let’s treat each other as equals with courtesy, respect and appreciation” – Lim Swee Say
The easiest way diners can be better customers is to smile and thank the staff sincerely. When the staff walks you to your table, when he/she bring you your glass of wine, when he/she change your cutleries, smile and thank he/she with your heart. That sincerity goes a long way.
This message is part of a ladyironchef x Labour Movement project where we seek to share with you insights on the different initiatives by the Labour Movement to give workers in Singapore better jobs, better pay and better work-life balance.
Fine dining restaurants should focus more in their actual service, not just on the designs of their restaurant. That being said, we should also remember that as customers, we should also be nice. This list is so true. I really like #5, “SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION AND SAY THANK YOU.” I think this is really important.