Would it be rude not to serve a racist customer?
Question by : Would it be rude not to serve a racist customer?
I work in a deli and tonight I was put in a situation that was entirely new to me. We had a very openly racist customer spew his hate speech towards one of my co-workers. She was on the phone serving a customer when the racist guy walks in. She says politely “Ill be right with you sir Im on the phone with a customer” he got upset and said “well im a customer too!” she polite TRIED to explain the situation and than he started his hate speech:
“Dont speak you have an accent you are not from this country go back to your country terrorist. You are not a real Canadian, I will have you fired. You cant even do your job right. Do you even speak english? You are just awful stop speaking and get out of this country you disgusting terrorist.”
I came immediately after I heard screaming and yelling from her, she told him “I will not serve you you have no right to speak to me that way.” It went on for 5 minutes more until I called management.
Are you supposed to serve a racist customer? I didnt know what to do.. I wish I could have did something but I was appalled and stunned by the situation so i kind of just stood there but then I ran to call management because he was harassing her.
Best answer:
Answer by lazybones
Most businesses have procedures for incidents relating to abusive/threatening customers. Don’t not serve him because he’s racist; don’t serve him because he insulted/abused a co-worker.
No boss will make you put up with that carry-on.
Add your own answer in the comments!
I would serve them. It proves you are the bigger adult. Besides, its you job, and you must do it, if you want to be paid. This is extremely rude, but there isn’t much you could do. If its any consolation, the guy was real stupid to think they don’t speak English in Canada.
It would be rude if you refused to serve him for being racist. However, you can (as most businesses have the right) to refuse a customer for being rude and abusive toward the employees. It would not matter what his comments were if he were disrupting your business and scaring off your customers.
Get with management on this. I’m sure they will back you up. He sounded like a miserable man with his own insecurities and he chose to take it out on your co-worker. Uncalled for.
I dont think you had to directly deal with the situation. Calling management was a good idea they take care of it.
you can refuse to serve a customer who is disruptive and causing a scene
it’s perfectly acceptable to ask them to leave or you will call the police
the racist part doesn’t matter much, it’s the manner in which he was behaving with the yelling and such