Poor customer service drives people away from God

Dear Editor,

The claim that Jamaica’s workforce provides poor or non-existent customer service may sound cliché, but if poor customer service were a crime, Jamaica would probably be on death row. On that note, perhaps we should seriously consider legislation to criminalize subpar customer service standards.

Beyond mission statements and customer service training best practices, the primary reason behind our unenviable and seemingly deteriorating customer service record is the alienation of our workforce and people from God, His words, and the servants sent by Him on this and other issues.

Consider the example of a disgruntled customer who pays his bill at a multinational fast food restaurant and is told by one of the cashiers never to return.

Jesus Christ, on two occasions—once after miraculously healing a man who had been bedridden for 38 years (John 5:1-14) and once after unwittingly defending and witnessing to an adulterous woman (John 8:1-11)—told those he blessed to “sin no more.”

In another example, Jesus presented himself as “living water” that those who drink “will never thirst again” (John 4:9-15). However, while Jesus was leading his believers out of hell, there are many others, like this fast-food cashier, who are pushing and shoving people out of “heaven,” which is what a place full of Jesus-inspired customers would look like.

During the confrontation at the fast food restaurant, the disgruntled customer retorted that the offending cashier should be working in a “pig pen” and cleaning it. This is one of the reasons our employees have such poor relationships with customers: they feel undervalued and even disrespected for the work they do. (Proverbs 14:4)

Not that this justifies the cashier’s arguments, but pork, while disliked by many for one reason or another, is an important part of many people’s livelihoods, and to suggest in a disparaging manner that the person who has to clean up pig excrement is inferior to those who depend on it, whether directly or indirectly, is a war on labor and, by extension, friendly fire or even suicide.

Finally, the 1997 film Food for the soulby its title and storyline, has shown the importance of meals prepared with blessing for the souls of the people who participate in it. It is not just about a hearty meal, a taste or a cuisine, but also about the spirit of those who prepare, handle and serve the food.

Although a healthy gut, which largely depends on a healthy diet, lends itself to a person’s overall better health, a healthy diet and the preference for it is inspired by God.

Jesus spoke of the importance of the soul when he asked, “… (O) what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Mark 8:36-37). No wonder that fried chicken may have caused this witness’s worst intestinal illness.

Andre O’Sheppy

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