A restaurant owner in Michigan says that diners are becoming ruder and staff don't know if they'll leave their shift 'crying or feeling humiliated'
The restaurant owner's comments prompted an outpouring of support, with diners praising his staff's service.
Mikael Vaisanen/Getty Images
- Diners at a grill in Michigan have been getting much ruder, its owner said.
- Staff "shouldn't have to come to work wondering if they're going to leave their shift crying or feeling humiliated," he said.
- Restaurants faced a surge in the number of rude and abusive customers during and after lockdown.
The owner of a restaurant in Michigan says that diners are becoming much ruder and lashing out at staff.
Vince Stuart, owner of Uptown Grill in Bay City, said in a Facebook post on Monday that in the last few weeks, the restaurant had noticed "a huge downfall when it comes to respecting one another."
His staff "shouldn't have to come to work wondering if they're going to leave their shift crying or feeling humiliated," he wrote. "There is no reason to ever feel this way, all over a meal being served."
Stuart added that anyone disrespecting his staff would be asked to leave. "I understand the customer comes first," he wrote. "However, if you are treating my staff inhumanely, that's where I draw the line."
"There is no reason to ever feel this way, all over a meal being served," he said.
Some restaurants said there was a surge in the number of rude and abusive diners after they reopened following waves of lockdown during the pandemic, echoing issues faced by workers in other customer-service roles. Though some of the issues – like arguments over social distancing and mask mandates – have faded away, some workers say that customers are still disrespecting them.
Stuart told local news outlet WNEM that one of his staff "started crying, and somebody was rude to her."
"She might have made a mistake, and maybe she didn't make a mistake, and you know, but she still needs to be treated like a human being," he told the outlet.
Stuart wrote in his Facebook post that the restaurant would no longer be doing refunds for takeout orders or for dine-in customers who simply didn't like their meal.
"Keep holding your head up and thank you for sticking by my side," he told his staff in the post.
Stuart's Facebook post prompted an outpouring of support, with commenters praising his staff's service.
"My family and I have had nothing less than a great experience in all of your restaurants," one commenter said.
"I always appreciate seeing their smiles when I come in because it's always my go-to place for a pick me up when I'm by myself and having a hard day," another wrote.
The restaurant, which serves sandwiches, pancakes, and omelets, has an average 4.5-star rating on Tripadvisor, where it ranks as Bay City's fifth-best restaurant.
Stuart said he owns three restaurants that have 39 workers in total.
Business Insider contacted Stuart for further comment but didn't immediately hear back.