I Miss The Professionalism Of Days Gone By

TabbyAnn

TabbyAnn

Southern Indiana, U.S.A.
Location
Southern Indiana USA
I miss the professionalism of days gone by. Banks were quiet places where you could walk up to a teller undisturbed. Now the minute you open the bank door tellers start yelling "Hello, I can help you here", from so many locations you don’t know where they’re coming from. Doctors make a big deal about giving the written privacy policy while their receptionists yell your name and all sorts of other information all over the waiting room. Clerks in big box stores want to know how you're doing but when you ask them about one of their products they don't know about it and don't care.
 

TabbyAnn said:
I miss the professionalism of days gone by. Banks were quiet places where you could walk up to a teller undisturbed. Now the minute you open the bank door tellers start yelling "Hello, I can help you here", from so many locations you don’t know where they’re coming from. Doctors make a big deal about giving the written privacy policy while their receptionists yell your name and all sorts of other information all over the waiting room. Clerks in big box stores want to know how you're doing but when you ask them about one of their products they don't know about it and don't care.
Click to expand...
Having had many different jobs over the years I'd like to point out a couple of things. When I worked in a bank greeting someone as they crossed the threshold wasn't done to make you feel welcomed it was done as an anti robbery measure. Employees were told to do that because you've looked at that person to aid in a description and we were told by the security people that when a potential robber knew he had been identified immediately it increased the chances they would decide to rob somewhere else. I wasn't so sure about the last part, but it was what we had to do.

Working in retail often it was part of the job description to greet the customer, and make sure shelves were stocked and dusted. Knowing where something was in the store was more important than product information.

Remember when identity theft was the cause celeb on the news back in 2000? Protect your social security number, etc. Got laid off and was on unemployment. The state in their infinite wisdom put your social security number on the check. Having worked at a bank, I wasn't at all happy depositing a check with that information on it and the fact the teller could see your bank balance.

Medical office personnel-- I'm at the point of all I can do is shake my head in disbelief.
 

Yes, I hate how they have that bank greeter. Then just one teller, two if lucky and the line gets longer while the greeter stands there greeting people before they get in line. Makes no sense.

In fact when they built the new bank location, it has only two tellers built in behind glass. That is the absolute limit.
 
I think it all depends on one's perspective. I was part of a sales force in the 80's and saw our Director swat one of our female salespeople on her derriere and say he was "swatting a fly". In the 90's, our VP of Sales slow danced with female salespeople during sales meetings. These days, those types of actions would be unacceptable and would quickly get someone fired.

I also had a boss in the 90's who told me during a review that I would never be as successful as my peer because she often "tooted her own horn". That also would never allowed in today's corporate environment. I was a nose-to-the grindstone worker who eventually surpassed that peer in the 2000's and became a VP through hard work. My boss at the time ended up an also-ran in the industry who couldn't get hired.

As a customer, I do agree that there is a level of professionalism that has gone away. Actually, it seems more like apathy than a lack of professionalism. I believe this is a symptom of low unemployment and not being able to find qualified people for the job.
 
Both extremes are annoying. If I am greeted as soon as I walk into a shop, I feel pressured to buy something quickly instead of taking my time looking round. Very often, the opposite happens...you need someone to advise you but everyone is busy.
 
Sometimes we're chuckling at the poor taste in a joke that comes from being reminded that there are people out there (church lady) that are that judgemental. Laughter is not always about agreeing with the subject matter. More about calling it out.
 
TabbyAnn said:
I miss the professionalism of days gone by. Banks were quiet places where you could walk up to a teller undisturbed. Now the minute you open the bank door tellers start yelling "Hello, I can help you here", from so many locations you don’t know where they’re coming from. Doctors make a big deal about giving the written privacy policy while their receptionists yell your name and all sorts of other information all over the waiting room. Clerks in big box stores want to know how you're doing but when you ask them about one of their products they don't know about it and don't care.
Click to expand...
The main bank I go to is still pretty quiet, not that many tellers, and the next one who gets done with a customer usually just ask if they can help me, but I already have been watching, so not confused by which one is calling out.

I rarely go to a doctor's office, but I never experienced any of them shouting out anything in the waiting room except for my name. I agree about most workers in the big box stores not knowing where something is or anything about it......but every once in a while I'm impressed by someone who is really knowledgeable and cares about helping you.

I think some places are still professional in their actions, but definitely not all. Things have changed over the years, many places are much more relaxed and casual.
 
TabbyAnn said:
I miss the professionalism of days gone by. Banks were quiet places where you could walk up to a teller undisturbed. Now the minute you open the bank door tellers start yelling "Hello, I can help you here", from so many locations you don’t know where they’re coming from. Doctors make a big deal about giving the written privacy policy while their receptionists yell your name and all sorts of other information all over the waiting room. Clerks in big box stores want to know how you're doing but when you ask them about one of their products they don't know about it and don't care.
Click to expand...
I wonder if those couple of decades that schools told kids they had to go to college to "Work Smarter, Not Harder" created a whole generation of people who view blue-collar work and manual labor as inferior, and the customers of those fields as equally inferior? Meanwhile, blue-collar workers, manual laborers, and customer service agents became increasingly pissy over the whole thing.

Or maybe their bad attitudes are because they can't find a full time job with decent pay and benefits. Does the person who used to say "Hello, can help you?" even get an annual vacation anymore? I know nearly all of them lose a day's wages for every day they stay home with a sick kid. Oh yeah, there's maternity leave ....for employees who work over 32 hours-week for a company that employs a minimum of 50 people (or some kind of perimeters).

Or maybe we're all becoming increasingly pissy for all those reasons. And they're good reasons, imo, as is lousy, rude, or plain lazy service.
 
I haven't experienced what you mention about the banks TabbyAnn. My experiences have been like what @SeaBreeze mentioned in her reply. But one of the most egregious, unprofessional encounters I had was in our credit union. An agent who was subbing as a receptionist at the front desk of the credit union where people walk in and out, was supposed to be helping my son finish opening his account (he started online and something went awry). For some reason, she mentioned the amount I had in my account out loud! My son is joint on my account and I believe he was putting me as joint on his. I let her know in no uncertain terms that she had no business doing that. I also wrote a letter to the bank manager.

Another unprofessional situation I've encountered is hearing store employees cursing within earshot of customers during conversations with each other. However, I've been blessed to have phone conversations with very pleasant, efficient customer service reps (different companies) the last several times I needed help.
 
Last edited:
OneEyedDiva said:
Another unprofessional situation I've encountered is hearing store employees cursing within earshot of customers during conversations with each other.
Click to expand...
This brings to mind my impression of flight attendants on various airlines, when I used to travel a quite a bit (about 25 years ago).

On Asian airlines like Korean Air and Singapore Airlines, the flight attendants were absolutely polite and service oriented.

On Canadian and US airlines, they'd chat with each other about their new furniture, complain about their work schedules, etc., while they were serving the passengers. One made an exasperated comment to me about passengers from a certain country. Once, for some reason the flight attendants had it in for one of their coworkers. Every time she did anything, they'd tsk, roll their eyes, or mutter some comment.

On one flight there was a purser who stood out in stark contrast to the other flight attendants. He was always busy making sure the passengers were comfortable and had what they needed. I wanted to tell him how much better he was than most US/Canadian flight attendants, but it didn't seem appropriate.
 
perChance said:
We all have bad days. The staff in banks and shops probably have to bite their tongue and smile many times during the day. I think most probably deserve a medal for not losing it when customers are jerks.
Click to expand...
Well, yes. But it's part of the job. I was a waitress for a long time. I soon learned to think of it as show biz. You're there to play a role, and that includes smiling.
 
The younger people who answer the phones and work part time usually know the least. Maybe nothing Medical clerks can be annoying
but they told me that some patients are rude
 
I've always run into people who were highly professional, highly unprofessional, and somewhere in between. No different today.

It's rare for me to interact with a bank teller anymore because most of my banking is online or at a bank lobby ATM, but when I've needed humans, I've found them mostly professional and helpful.

On the other hand, like @seadoug, I have many stories of se-xually inappropriate behavior, intimidation, pressure and/or slimy remarks that I witnessed or was subjected to in the workplace - by bosses and customers. Those days are swiftly moving to the past, thank heavens.

Rare is the woman without at least one serious workplace me-too story. "Serious" meaning the perpetrator would be issued a written warning, fired or prosecuted if it happened now. Employees of color and LGBTQ+ have even more ugly stories to tell.

It's not only employees who can be impatient, rude or unpleasant. Customers are often beyond the pale, as anyone who's ever worked with the public can attest. One need only look at the increasingly frequent stories of outrageous behavior by some airline passengers.
 
Last edited:
I find, at least in the USA, that there is often either a lack of respect being given to an older population or a lack of patience being given to them. I feel that if someone chooses (or accepts) to work in a service oriented field, they should meet those qualities.
 
oldlongwalker said:
I'm glad I no longer have to listen to 20-30 somethings saying "f**k" in every sentence. At least watching a movie on TV I can change the channel.
Click to expand...
Amen, I would like to return to the days when comedians were really funny and not having to use curse words all the time.
 
Victor said:
The younger people who answer the phones and work part time usually know the least. Maybe nothing Medical clerks can be annoying
but they told me that some patients are rude
Click to expand...
What I really hate is the "VOICE" the recording that says " hello. how can I help you"?, it goes on to say something like just talk to me like I am human and I will answer all of your questions!!
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top