Everyone who has worked retail, food service, or customer service has heard this one. It's an age-old and renowned phrase uttered by many a manager everywhere, that is supposed to fix all of the company's issues. Usually, it comes from upper management, who have visited the store unannounced and been confronted with the fact that the weary and underpaid minimum-wage workers weren't thrilled to be there. Often, it's not even that they weren't given good service and "greeted" as workers in this field are required to greet customers, it's simply that they weren't smiling enough.
See, this type of management seemingly expects you to be running around with a maniacal, almost inhuman smile on your face at all times, so there's never a moment of doubt that you are happy to be present at your job and in the service of the customer.
When this young 21-year-old part-time worker and full-time student was pulled aside by her manager, "Craig," and told that she should "literally just smile more," she took his feedback on board like a good worker should. From that moment on, no matter where she was or what she was doing in the store, she had a smile on her face, the widest and biggest smile she could possibly manage. This proved to be disconcerting to customers who were startled by her strained smile and made frequent mention of it. Soon, other workers joined her smiling efforts, which eventually forced the manager to amend his previous order.
Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.
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