When I worked in retail one of the important points you are told is to not just stand around and talk with your colleagues as if this is a meetup of some sort as there are customers that need help. It simply looks unprofessional and is an easy way to lose a customer. This got me thinking for other professions like say a barber. Usually, you would expect them to focus on the customer and many times I have seen people do small talk to maintain rapport.
This was an interesting scenario though as a lot of the barbers were talking amongst themselves in a foreign language as the customers stay there just hoping everything is going to be done right. It makes you wonder like there as well should workers focus everything on the customers? To me, it did seem a little unprofessional as it comes across as they don’t value the customers.
It would be similar to going to a supermarket at the checkout where the cashier takes your orders, focuses in speaking with their colleagues and just lets you pay where they the thro the receipt on the table with no acknowledgement. In that sense, its bad customer service, in my opinion. You need to give your attention to the people you are serving.