Xenu The Enturbulator wrote:

A lot people working in retail do not seem to understand that
their jobs flow directly from the paying punters coming through the
door, and helping the punters and encouraging them to buy their stuff
there translates into more revenue and safer jobs.


What do you expect, when they are paid the minimum wage or just a
little above, and are bullied and variously shat on by incompetent
middle management who are obsessed with meeting often arbitrary and
unrealistic targets imposed by very highly paid senior management and
are constantly in fear of losing their jobs?

The combination of low pay, incompetent managers and ridiculous
top-down targets is enough to demotivate anyone.

You mentioned John Lewis - I snipped that bit. The reason John Lewis
staff are more motivated to help customers is that every one of them
has a share in the business. John Lewis is a Partnership and all the
"staff" are Partners. They stand to gain if the company does well.