Customer Service in Dining Halls

As a student and frequent diner at Binghamton University I have had my fair share of experiences with Sodexo employees. I have came to the general conclusion that the dining halls are staffed with both excellent employees and some far from excellent employees. I would like to remind Sodexo workers that a customer is not only interested in a quality product but also an enjoyable purchasing experience. I feel as if only half of the dining hall staff members provide superior service.

On the bright side, there are days that are lightened up by the smiling faces and light humor of the dining hall staff. For example, some of the employees, especially those in Appalachian, will actually remember me by name or give me a deal. These are the type of employee that not only sells a product but an experience. Sodexo should train their employees to be cheerful, polite, and friendly like some that many students know by name such as Michelle.

 Sodexo also employs some very questionable employees that make me wonder what type of standards Sodexo holds. The discouraging aspect of the dining hall staff is that half of the employees seem as if they were just released from prison, in fact it is rumored that they actually are! I have experienced many unfriendly confrontations with staff members, especially with the salad maker in Appalachian. When trying to enjoy a meal on ones time off from class it is not pleasing to be assisted by impolite and undereducated employees. 

Overall, I think Sodexo needs to decide if they are satisfied with a body of staff that is only half acceptable. I would suggest to Sodexo that they improve their background checks on employees and also train their employees to be more positive, cleanly, and polite.