Dear Editor,

The cry that the Jamaican workforce offers poor or no customer service might now seem cliche, but if poor customer service was a crime, Jamaica probably would be on death row. Speaking of which, we might have to seriously consider legislation to criminalise standards of customer service that are below par.

Beyond mission statements and best practices training in regard to customer service, the major reason behind our unenviable and seemingly worsening track record in customer service is our workforce’s and population’s distance from God, His words, and servants sent by Him on this and other matters.

Consider an example of a paying but disgruntled patron of a multinational fast-food establishment being told by one of its cashiers not to ever go back there.

Jesus Christ, on two occasions — one after miraculously healing a man who was bedridden for 38 years (John 5: 1-14) and the other after unwittingly being an adulteress’s advocate and witness (John 8: 1-11) — told those who were blessed by Him to “sin no more”.

In another instance, Jesus spoke of Himself as “the living water” of which those who drink shall “thirst no more”. (John 4: 9-15) Howbeit that while Jesus was pulling His believers from hell, there are many others, like that fast-food restaurant cashier, who are pushing and chucking the people away from ‘heaven’, which is what a place filled with Jesus-inspired customers would be like.

In the said confrontation at the fast-food restaurant, the disgruntled customer retorted that the offending cashier should be working in a “hog pen”, cleaning it. This is part of the unfortunate reason our workforce is relating to customers so shabbily: they feel undervalued and even disrespected for the work they do. (Proverbs 14: 4)

Not that this justifies the cashier’s arguments, but the hog, though not fancied by many for one reason or the other, is an important part of many people’s livelihoods, and to derogatorily suggest that the person who has to clean up the hog’s mess is any lower than those who depend on it, whether directly or indirectly, is a war on work and, by extension, friendly fire or even suicide.

Lastly, the 1997 movie Soul Food, by virtue of its title and story line, showed the importance of blessedly prepared meals to the souls of individuals who partake in it. It is not just about a bellyful, taste, or cuisine, but also the spirit of those who prepare, handle, and serve the food.

Although a healthy gut, which is largely dependent on a healthful diet, lends itself to better overall health of a person, healthy food and preference for it are inspired by God.

Jesus orated the importance of the soul in asking, “…[O]r what shall a man give in exchange for his own soul?” (Mark 8:36-37) It’s no wonder that, that fried chicken may have resulted in this witness’s worst-ever gut sickness.

Andre O Sheppy

astrangely@outlook.com