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Only one person in the thread has addressed the question from the perspective of the employee (which is what the OP was asking).
I myself have not worked in the service industry, but I dated someone who was a waiter at a place that required nametags. He said he appreciated it when people addressed him by his name. The people who did that were less likely to treat him like a aervant. They were more respectful and treated him like a human being.
Its pretty common for a waitperson to introduce himself. And sometimes, if I need attention or want to express gratitude, I’ll use her/his name: “thanks Bree.” I have no problem if an agent hands me a purchased item or a ticket for a performance or travel and says “Enjoy it, WorldKlas.” Seems like simple courtesy to me.
And, if I’m a regular and run into some person who works at an establishment I frequent (salon, grocery store, gym, etc.) and she greets me by my name I’m always flattered and a bit embarrassed when I cannot place that individual outside of the environment where I usually see her.
Only one person in the thread has addressed the question from the perspective of the employee (which is what the OP was asking).
I myself have not worked in the service industry, but I dated someone who was a waiter at a place that required nametags. He said he appreciated it when people addressed him by his name. The people who did that were less likely to treat him like a servant. They were more respectful and treated him like a human being.
I was a cashier at Whole Foods Market for 8 years. At the time I was a young woman in my 20s. We were required to wear name tags (in the early pre-IPO days we were allowed to use whatever name we wanted and some of us would make up names for fun--creativity was encouraged). Whenever a customer used my name it usually creeped me out. It was almost always some creepy dude. Often men would hang out in the store for hours and flirt with cashiers.
I was a cashier at Whole Foods Market for 8 years. At the time I was a young woman in my 20s. We were required to wear name tags (in the early pre-IPO days we were allowed to use whatever name we wanted and some of us would make up names for fun--creativity was encouraged). Whenever a customer used my name it usually creeped me out. It was almost always some creepy dude. Often men would hang out in the store for hours and flirt with cashiers.
So it seems to me that the problem then isn’t that your name was being used, but who was using your name and how. What if someone used it without any agenda other than being polite?
If you're in a customer-service job and you come across hundreds of people per day, but you recognize some of them as regulars (and you might even know some of their names because you see their credit cards or online ordering information), and you have a name tag:
1. Do you want them to call you by your name?
2. Do you want them to give you their names?
For example:
* The takeout staff at a restaurant
* The doorman at a nicer store or restaurant
* Waiters and waitresses at restaurants
* Cashiers
* Ticket and gate agents at airports
I do have good memory of people's names (and write them down on my Outlook contacts list on my computer), and I figure it's friendlier to use names, but I am thinking twice about trading names with someone who comes across hundreds of similar-looking people every day because I wouldn't expect him or her to remember mine, and wouldn't want to embarrass the person when he or she forgets mine.
Thanks.
If I'm a regular at a place, I don't mind at all if they know me by name. In fact, I kind of like it.
I read a lot so I frequent my local bookseller on an almost weekly basis. They know me, what my tastes are, and suggest books I might like based on what I've bought in the past. And many times their recommendations have been spot on.
Same for a place where I eat breakfast a couple of times a month. One woman has been pouring my coffee for twenty years and pretty much knows what I want to eat. She calls me by name and I call her by hers. Nothing creepy, manipulative, or anything else about it.
And we have a Chinese place in our neighborhood. We order from them so frequently, I've taken to simply saying, "The usual" when they answer. They say, "Hello, Mr. G," and then rattle off my order. Then when I pick up, we exchange pleasantries.
Quite frankly, I think you have to be a serious neurotic to have a problem with this.
So it seems to me that the problem then isn’t that your name was being used, but who was using your name and how. What if someone used it without any agenda other than being polite?
Good question. I wouldn't mind in that case. And I didn't mind at the time. I would try and remember customers' names as well.
I guess we're all different (news flash, LOL). When I worked as a server, I hated wearing a name tag and having customers call me by name (few ever did). It just seemed out of place, too intimate. IDK, just being honest. I never addressed any customer by name, either.
Nor did I ever introduce myself by name--I think that's just dumb. No one cares. "Hi, I'm Suzy!" "Yeah, so what?" is my reaction as a customer. But despite my non-traditional approach, I made the most tips of any server due to my witty rejoinders, LOL.
I don't mind being called "Sweetie, dear, ma'am", again, who cares?
I appreciate business etiquette....which often reflects in acknowledging the "person" by name.
As a person in the hospitality industry....acknowledging the guest by saying
...Yes Mr Jones, your taxi will be here at 6:30. Beats "Yo Dude wearing the khaki pants....your ride might be here. ".
Actually was reproached by a guest who said...please don't call me Mr smith....that was my dad's generation......call me Alex. ....so from then on...I made sure to use his first name....
Well I've read so many threads where people complain that servers or employees call them "sweetie" or "dear" or "honey". Then I read that some people think "Ma'am" or "Sir" is somehow insulting to them. Now we have people who don't like to be called by their name. So what are people supposed to do...say "hey you"? Or just the generic impersonal "How may I help you?"" and "thank you, please come again"?
Personally, I like when an employee of a place I frequent calls me by my name. At our golf course, I am always surprised that all 3 of the golf pros call me by my name. Although it does make me wonder what about me is so unique that they remember me out of the hundreds of golfers they see every day? Anyway, I guess it makes me feel special. I don't understand how calling one by their name is invading their privacy.
Those last generic lines are fine with me. I never remember peoples names in those situations, nor do I want them saying my name, especially since they ALWAYS get it wrong and that annoys the heck out of me.
I am in fact always surprised when my husband or someone else says Hi Mary, or Joan, or whatever the name may be.
I don't understand when a server objects to their name being used.
If I'm done and want the check but I haven't seen you in twenty minutes, am I just supposed to collar the nearest busboy and say, "Could you get my server, please?" "Who's your server?" "I have no idea but she's a short plump brunette." Or maybe I should get up, find the manager and complain.
Would that suit you better? I guess that's what I'll do from now on.
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