Death to the enforced Happy Face

[limpyhobbler]

Forcing front line staff to engage at a “personal level” with customers has been an increasingly obnoxious part of low paid workers’ employment.

To obscure the all-pervasive low quality of the “food” and “services” that capitalism offers, what is sold now is the “experience” of social interaction. Key to the Happy Meal is the “happy sale”.

The capitalists know that we are all used to alienation so they provide — at a price — a substitute relationship; the semblance of non-alienation.

They force workers to not just stand there bleary-eyed at the cash register, bored witless by the monotony of it all. They must make eye contact, smile at the customer, and act like they care about them and not just their money.
...

complete piece: http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/53703

[Aristus]

1. An understandable consequence of low-wage jobs, incompetent employers, no health benefits,

no sick leave, vacation, or vacation pay, and incredible disrespect of the American worker.

Sooner or later the American worker realizes: "Hey. My employer doesn't value the work I do; why the hell should I?"

And we're left with: "thankyouforchoosingmcdonaldshowcanihelpyoutoday?" out of a dead, empty, hopeless face.

[Myrina]

2. ^^ this ^^

Sadly, yep.