Tips to Protect Your Employees Against Abusive Customers

Abusive Customer

It’s no longer appropriate to think that customers are always right. It has been proven time and again that they can be obnoxious, irresponsible, and abusive. In the efforts of some companies to protect their potential profits, they don’t do anything about the behavior. Employees end up being abused, and they can’t do anything about it. 

Although it’s important that you protect your customers, you should also do the same thing with your employees. 

Improve workplace security 

If tension arises at the workplace, it’s important to contain the situation right away. You need to hire security guards who will prevent the fight from escalating. You’re protecting both the employee and customer in the event of a fight. 

Install security cameras

Install security cameras

If there’s an altercation at work, an internal investigation is necessary. CCTV footage will help settle the dispute. It shows the culprit in the fight. You can take the necessary actions based on what was revealed in the camera. It won’t be a he-said, she-said situation when there’s evidence. 

Don’t fire or reprimand your employee right away

You need to know exactly what happened before taking sides. It might be your instinct to immediately believe and protect the customer. However, given that there are abusive customers, siding with them isn’t going to help. You will only lose your employee as a result of your behavior. 

Worse, if the problem got caught on a camera, and someone uploaded it online, people will bash your establishment for siding with the customer who was at fault. These days, people are becoming more sympathetic with employees who were not respect when doing their jobs.

Train employees on how to act during difficult situations

The company needs to have clear guidelines on how to deal with uncomfortable situations with the customer. You have to inform them what they need to do to avoid getting involved in a fight. When facing an aggressive customer, there also needs to be a protocol to avoid further issues.,

Learn how to listen

When a customer ended up complaining or getting angry due to the performance of an employee, you might immediately view it as the fault of the employee. It might be the conclusion you eventually make, but at least you need to learn how to listen. Your employee might also have a reason behind the behavior.,

Improve the products and services

Find a way to avoid putting your employees in a difficult spot. Make sure that you thoroughly think about the products and services offered. Don’t give any customer a reason to collapse or be angry while purchasing something from you. Besides, if you offer something customers can’t resist, they won’t exhibit a terrible behavior. They’re afraid that they won’t get a chance to purchase those products ever again. 

With these tips, you can protect your employees without damaging the reputation of your business. You also make everyone satisfied with how you deal with the problem.

Photo Attribution:

1st and featured image from https://www.deputy.com/uploads/2018/03/Why-are-customers-so-rude-Here-are-5-reasons2-300×[email protected]

2nd image from https://www.opensourcedworkplace.com/news/is-it-illegal-to-install-surveillance-cameras-in-an-office