There are several countries with a Mandatory Military Service. Some of the terms are fairly short with a requirement of only 6 months.
Take that concept and apply it to service industry work.
Imagine if everyone in society had to have at least one retail or food service job before they were issued a driver’s license or allowed to be employed in another job. Even wealthy people would be required to do this with no loopholes or ways to buy their way out of it.
I think this would teach empathy for many. Of course, there would always be some who would not learn anything but it would definitely change some people.
Also, some judges are already doing this as punishment for bad behavior.
Ooh, another solid unpopular opinion post. I think this sub is actually starting to get somewhere.
This probably wouldn’t actually fully address the problem, but it would likely help. Personally I think they should just be paid better, so they get some reasonable compensation for basically being treated as a lower caste.
Obviously better pay would be great, but speaking as someone who worked retail for fifteen years I’d just be happy if my store management team had my back.
Too often they’ll take the customer side to keep them happy, then come around to you and admit that they know the customer is being an ass, but still give you a telling off anyway because the ‘customer is watching’.
If the customer is the issue, tell them so. If they don’t like it, they’re welcome to get the fuck out of the shop.