Maybe Steven Slater was having a case of the “Mondays.” Maybe he was having a hard time dealing with his dying mother and already dead father. Or maybe Slater acted as any flight attendant or service employee dreams of with a “take this job and shove it,” after being pushed past the breaking point.
As a full flight of 100 passengers pulled up to the gate at the Kennedy International Airport in New York from Pittsburgh, one passenger stood up to retrieve belongings from the overhead compartment before the crew had given permission, according to the New York Times.
Slater instructed the person to remain seated, according to the article. The passenger defied him. Slater walked down the aisle, reaching the passenger just as the person was pulling down the luggage, which struck Slater in the head.
He asked for an apology. The passenger instead cursed at him. Slater got on the plane”s public address system and cursed out the passenger for all to hear. Then, after declaring that 20 years in the airline industry was enough, he blurted out, “It”s been great.” He activated the inflatable evacuation slide at a service exit, grabbed some beer and left the world of flight attending behind.
Why people think they can treat service workers like garbage baffles me.
Slater said for as long as he”s been in the industry, he”s thought about making such an exit.
“For 20 years, I thought about it,” he said. “But you never think you”re going to do it.”
He was arraigned on Tuesday for felony charges of criminal mischief and reckless endangerment.
I thought about it too, for about three years at my first college job in Chico. However, I worked as a receptionist at a medical clinic.
One can imagine how irate patients and their families get about medical care. And who was the first person they yelled at? Me. I understand the frustration that occurs in both doctors” offices and airplanes. But being jerks didn”t help the patients or passengers.
As a receptionist, I had some sway with the doctors. Ask me nicely and I would ask the doctors nicely to help. But yell, and I would spend less time with my smiling “I want something” face ? that mostly got good results ? and more time with my irritated, eye-rolling “I”m doing this because I have to and I”ve been treated poorly” face.
In response to my eye-rolling face, some doctors would get on the phone with a patient or speak to them directly, explaining the problem from the office”s side and asking the person to be nicer in the future.
Unfortunately, Slater didn”t have a doctor or a air marshal on board to defend him. And with this case, the passenger”s rude attitude probably didn”t get anyone off the plane any quicker, it would have delayed exit. Being rude and hurting someone, even if by accident, is improper and ineffective in solving issues.
When I get frustrated while speaking with someone on the clock, I say, “I know this isn”t your fault, but” and then I go on to explain my problem without cussing or hollering.
Service workers are there to help, which they do most of the time.
In Lake County, we”re especially lucky to have such friendly hospitality services. I cannot remember one occasion where a service industry worker was rude, but I can think of circumstances when a customer was rude.
It”s not the sandwich maker”s fault the shop ran out of turkey.
So let us all listen to instructions and shake the hands of working people, rather than shaking our heads and bitter tongues.
Katy Sweeny is a staff reporter for the Record-Bee. She can be reached at kdsweeny@gmail.com or 263-5636, ext. 37.
