Simeon Jones, a customer experience associate at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center Express in Germany, treats customers the way he likes to be treated—with respect and courtesy.
He also uses a dash of humor, which is helpful in a hospital environment. One retiree told his wife about the “young man in the Shoppette” who makes him laugh and puts him in a good mood when he comes in for twice-monthly treatments for leukemia.
“I wasn’t aware of his medical condition until one or two months of serving him and his wife at the register,” Jones said. “When I was first told of the situation, I was obviously sad, but I wouldn’t allow it to change my approach toward them.”
Jones and the couple cracked jokes with each other, and he discussed Exchange products and had other conversations with them.
The retiree’s wife was so impressed by Jones that she requested LRMC commander Col. Andrew L. Landers present him with a coin, which Jones received in June.
“I was in shock,” Jones said. “I had no idea we could even get coined, let alone that people other than teammates would notice my sacrifices for the store and our customers.”
Jones has been at the Exchange for about three years, two of them at the Landstuhl store. His father, who is retired military, was stationed in Germany when Jones was growing up. His mother still works in Germany.
“Working inside the hospital is great,” Jones said. “Humor helps everyone in the workplace. I believe having a laugh helps reduce stress. … The fact that we see the same customers every day is great for building relationships. Our supervisors give us the ability to cultivate those relationships, as we are all family serving family.”
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