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Common sense would tell me that the current job market and economic conditions would be a help to many organizations. How? It will limit employee turnover significantly. Because there are so few jobs out there, most employees would be forced to work harder, keep their nose clean and do what they can to be a model employee.
I would also think that employers would love the ever increasing choice of top notch applicants and could hold out for a better worker if they do have a job opening.
What impact has the recession had on customer service and employee productivity?
I have seen the impact. Since Christmas I have been to Home Depot twice now to get some wood and bags of topsoil. Both times an HD employee came over to help me load up, check out and load up my truck. I feel like I had a "personal shopper" the last two times I went shopping there
Previous to that I was always left on my own to do loading up the cart and then the truck.
Common sense would tell me that the current job market and economic conditions would be a help to many organizations. How? It will limit employee turnover significantly. Because there are so few jobs out there, most employees would be forced to work harder, keep their nose clean and do what they can to be a model employee.
I would also think that employers would love the ever increasing choice of top notch applicants and could hold out for a better worker if they do have a job opening.
What impact has the recession had on customer service and employee productivity?
I am seeing this occur at my company. To be quite frank, I have never worked harder or longer hours than I am now. Of course, as hard as it is on me and other workers, increased productivity will pull the economy up in the long run. Hopefully the government won't try to punish this, and ensure that they not only cause a housing boom that could pull us into a Great Depression, but essentially make sure they KEEP us there.
Got my best guy back two weeks ago. Have only chatted with a couple times of the past couple years, and not seen him in a few years. Man, it is nice to have good help.
Suppliers are all very helpful and co-operative, as well.
Been watching the numbers on prices I get on my end, and I only have to trim 10% to stay way ahead of my competition -- and anticipating the down-turn I have geared things that so that I afford to drop 25% or more -- so in absolute numbers the margins have not been better in a long time.
Was just chatting and joking about this with a next-door neighbor business this week. He was saying the same things. He has his best guys back, and all his costs are down, too.
I discovered that Sprint has now added the option of talking to a real person on their main menu. Wow, don't have to go through an automated level and mumble so it would send you to one. I complimented them on it and she said they'd had many positive comments.
The call center for both Sprint and the local cable carrier is in the US with native speakers too. No more hanging up and starting over hoping you can understand this one.
NO! I run one business and own another. I just fired someone due to poor customer relations. I was appalled at how this person acted to the customer. and they had the same response when I fired them
People still do the same mean and nasty crap they always did. I've had as many bad servers and CS reps as always.
Now the customer has options. People would say 'What do we care if you leave, another customer will come", now they know that not only will you not come anymore...but you'll get 5 of your friends not as well and there's no one to replace them. I've used that to get back at companies and restaurants who still think people will keep coming back no matter what.
Location: Stuck on the East Coast, hoping to head West
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Actually, from a consumer standpoint, I've been seeing a lot less options. Also noticed that businesses don't have as much inventory as they used to so I have less choice. For example, I went to Outback steakhouse and they completely ran out of a cut of steak that I usually get--that's never happened to me before, didn't have a veggie that I usually order, either. I went to the local computer store b/c I need a new system and found way less choice than usual.
I have noticed improved service in some businesses, but have to say that too many business still don't get it. I have no problem just walking out when I am faced with rude or poor service. It makes my kids crazy, "Oh, great, now we can't ever go back here...."
I didn't like paying to be treated like garbage before the downturn, but will be danged if I will do it now!
When I get a particularly rude clerk, I will usually smile and say that they must be having a bad day. If they then divulge that they have, I cut them a break, but when I get an attitude "NO, I'm not having a bad day", I just smile and walk out. Did it once with over $100 in groceries on the belt. The least I could do was help her day match her attitude.
Hard to say about service, because people are forced to do more with less. They dont have the time for 'individual' time as much, and the number of options is certainly down.
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