Question

A store manager asks a new associate to straighten stock on the display shelves. During a lunch-hour rush,only one register is open, and the line of customers is growing. Some customers put down their selections and leave the store without buying. The associate has been trained on the register, but hasn't handled italone. The manager is at lunch and cannot be consulted.

Which of these is the associates's best course of action?
a. Continue straightening the stock because this is the assignment the manager gave before leaving for lunch
b. Apologize to customers in line and tell them that the wait is unusual & the manager will be back soon
c. Open another register, since the associate knows how to operate it even without having done it alone
d. Stop straightening stock & help the cashier by bagging, finding items, & getting the selections ready to be rung up

Answer 1

The associate should take initiative and open another register to provide excellent customer service and reduce the wait time for customers, aligning with the company's goals of efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario presented, the best course of action for the new associate would be c. Open another register, since the associate has been trained to operate it even without having done it alone. This shows initiative and a commitment to providing excellent customer service. The associate would be addressing the immediate need to reduce the waiting time for customers, which is crucial during a rush. While straightening stock is important, the situation calls for flexibility to ensure that customers do not leave the store due to long waiting times. Furthermore, support for the company's overall goals includes ensuring customers are attended to promptly, which in this case, means operating the register to shorten lines.