I was stunned. On a recent errand filled trip, I was overwhelmed by the friendly, courteous, capable attitudes of the various tellers, clerks, and cashiers I encountered. Someone was actually training these people and teaching them to take pride in their jobs. Maybe there is hope that something good will come out of this recession after all. Maybe consumers won’t have to gird themselves to step foot inside the local Piggly Wiggly or dread facing the drive thru at McDonald’s.

The Labor Department just reported the highest unemployment in 26 years. This shouldn’t really come as a surprise, since the Obama administration and top economists have been been warning that the rate would keep rising for some time.  But let’s find a bright side to a little fear of failure. People are trying harder. While the nosedive in the retail and service industries has been tough for owners and workers, it may have been a blessing for the customer.  Suddenly,  “customer service” has been rediscovered. Owners and managers are realizing that they actually have to work for their customers’ increasingly hard-earned dollars. And workers are learning that they need to do a good job, not just punch the clock.

During the past decade or so,  retail stores became filled with incompetent, surly workers who  felt that, given their (admittedly) low wages, management should just be thankful they showed up. They knew that they could pretty much walk out the door and down the street into another low-paying, unskilled job at any time. Honestly, the only store where I knew I would consistently get good service by reasonably intelligent people was Hot Topic.

( As a side note: I once was in Hot Topic, buying gifts for people young enough to appreciate their inventory, when the cash registers went down. I defy you to name another store where the cashier would be able, without hesitation, to add up my purchases, figure the tax correctly, and make change.  I am a fan for life.)

Restaurants experienced a similar slide. Before the economy started its descent, people ate out indiscriminately. There was an insidious degeneration of the casual dining experience. Customer satisfaction wasn’t all that important; if one customer was unhappy, there were plenty more to fill their table. And, for the customer, going to the next restaurant down the street wasn’t likely to improve your chances much.

Customers were guilty of contributing to the unequal power balance, too. They were unwilling to actually cook a meal at home and they reached the point where they would reward poor service just the same as good service. Far too much cash just flowing wantonly.

Enter the recession. Now consumers are holding on a little more tightly. They’re less willing to go out and give their money to people who treat them with indifference or downright contempt. They’re wielding their power to demand good service and civility. And the retailers and restaurateurs are responding. It’s a beautiful thing.