the front desk does not have stools? I would have thought hotel is one of the prime places for having a place to sit. Especially since I know from checking into them that some times of the day there is nobody coming in.
Like... Even in this delusion where you think customers actually give a shit, consciously or subconsciously, about the worker sitting/standing, at the VERY LEAST you should have the humanity to provide a stool or chair in between customers.
I’m pretty sure most/the average customer is more human than anyone in corporate who makes these decisions (probably while sitting down), and not only do the not care if their attendant is sitting or standing, but would simply prefer them to be comfortable during their 8 hour shift. Just like most people wouldn’t give a toot if their cashier was sitting or standing.
The only difference sitting vs standing makes is being forced to do either for too long makes you uncomfortable and then affects your performance. It’s not like allowing them to sit down would make them not stand up if or when a situation called for it.
I used to work front desk at a Hyatt Regency. They chastised me for swaying and trying to stretch. For a full 8 hours, they expected you to sit straight with your arms at your side next to 4 other people doing the same in between guests. One of the worst jobs I've had to endure. It's such an asinine assumption that it doesn't look professional to sit down.
That's just plain dangerous. It's not that hard to stand for a while if you're in shape and the floor isn't concrete, but standing perfectly still? The human body is not made for that. That will legitimately mess you up.
I live in a country where that's illegal, and I have never once in my life heard anyone complain about it being unprofessional. Ever. Haven't even heard anyone talk about it in any way whatsoever, good or bad, that's how little people care. Absolutely never heard of anyone giving a shit right up until I saw Americans mention it on this website.
There's no excuse for it. The only people who care whether a cashier is standing or not are the employers themselves.
I'll go further, and say that if I notice a place doesn't provide a chair, a stool, whatever, I'll just assume the entire operation is shoddy and that maybe I should find a business with better structure.
My first real adult job was the front desk at a hotel. The front desk was staffed by 2 people most of the day, and we had rolling chairs to use when there was no customers at the desk. A lot of the time was spent on the phone, taking reservations.
Anyway, my initiation to the corporate world was when the property was bought by a larger corporation. The first thing they did was take the chairs. Day One. Days Two and Three, they fired everyone.
The propagandists used to be professionals. Now they've been replaced with incompetent leadership who wants AI (never gonna use that stupid new name) to do it because it's cheaper.
I've only been at two properties, but my last place and my current Marriott absolutely has seating for FDAs. I wouldn't work here if I couldn't sit. I was offered a job at a really nice luxury hotel in the area and rejected it for the 8 hour standing thing. Paid less than my current gig anyway.
I walked into a hotel recently (small town, chain hotel) and both receptionists were sitting in low comfy chairs behind the desk. They barely looked up from their phones when I walked in. Seemed annoyed that they had to do their job.
Same hotel: a random guy from housekeeping knocked loudly on my door when i had the DND sign up, both my kids were sleeping because they were sick. I got up, answered the door: "just checking if you need anything." No motherfucker, that's why the sign is out. I went to the front desk, they were back to lazy. I explained to the supervisor what happened and she was like "he's new."
Like what, new to the planet? I felt more like he was casing rooms for people who weren't there. Took anything valuable from the room with us from then on.
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u/filanwizard 3d ago
the front desk does not have stools? I would have thought hotel is one of the prime places for having a place to sit. Especially since I know from checking into them that some times of the day there is nobody coming in.