Taipei – August 30 – A video showing a female convenience store clerk breaking down in tears and kneeling before a customer has gone viral on social media, drawing widespread concern and heated discussion among netizens.
The footage, which quickly spread online, shows the clerk assisting other customers at the counter while a man filming the scene can be heard questioning her, saying: “Tell me, what did I scold you for? Say it.” Moments later, the overwhelmed clerk collapsed emotionally, kneeling and kowtowing while pleading, “Can I kneel down? I’m sorry.” Onlookers rushed forward to comfort and stop her.
Since the video did not capture the earlier dispute between the two, opinions online remain divided. Some users pointed out that it was unclear what triggered the altercation, while many others expressed sympathy for the employee. Comments included: “Some people really think being a customer makes them superior,” and “She doesn’t deserve to be treated like this.”
In response, the convenience store’s head office issued a statement, saying it had immediately reached out to understand the situation and provide reassurance to the staff involved. The company emphasized its commitment to supporting employees and appealed to consumers to remain calm and empathetic, stressing the importance of maintaining a respectful and friendly shopping environment.
The incident has reignited discussions in Taiwan about workplace stress in frontline service jobs and the need for greater respect and understanding between staff and customers.
