Kmart act leaves Aussie woman disgusted

A top recruiter has criticised Australians for their poor treatment of retail and hospitality workers amid the cost of living crisis.

Tammie Christofis Ballis, a specialist recruiter for Bossa Nova Talent, said many Australians don't understand how challenging customer-facing jobs can be.

'If you're complaining that customer service doesn't exist anymore, it's probably because you're a bad customer,' she said.

'Unless you've worked in those jobs, you don't appreciate how hard they are,' she added.

Ms Ballis recounted a recent incident at Kmart where an angry shopper confronted two young employees responsible for checking bags at the front doors.

'She took down their names after they checked her bags and was planning to complain to Kmart customer service about these young kids doing their job,' she said.

'They were literally doing their job, and there's high theft in the area.

'Yet they have to deal with entitled, self-absorbed people who think the world revolves around them.

'If that's someone like you, you're a terrible customer. I hope you never get served again and get kicked out of every place you go.

'Stop being mean, stop being rude.'

Ms Ballis said poor behaviour had increased as the cost-of-living crisis worsens.

'My parents have a takeaway shop, and customers have been really rude lately. They walk in and say things like, "the shop's quiet, give me a discount".

'I know we're in a cost-of-living crisis, I know everyone is struggling at the moment, but they don't get paid enough to deal with your crap.'

She said bad customer behaviour was accepted by many employers just to make a sale.

'They want to keep their KPIs and hit their budgets, so staff just put up with it. It seems like no one is protective of staff anymore. It's really sad.

'And employers wonder why people want to work from home.'

Aussie workers were quick to applaud the recruiter's comments.

'Thank you, everyone needs to work in hospo or retail for three months at least,' one said.

'Been whistled at and spat at - people have no respect for retail workers,' another added.

'I worked at Kmart for six years, and my mental health has suffered greatly because of it,' a third said.

'I've been through so much — things thrown at me, verbal abuse, and more. It was truly awful, and I feel like I need therapy just from working a retail job.'

But some said they were always 'nice' to staff and it was the workers who showed no manners.

'I am always super nice to retail people because I too work in their position but it's rarely reciprocated,' one said. 

'Service these days is appalling. That's if you can even find any, and yes, have worked in retail,' a second added.