“Service Sweethearting” in the workplace

A new study by academics at Florida State University has identified traits that may predispose a person to engage in “service sweethearting” in the workplace.

Sweethearting traditionally refers to the practice of workers in the hospitality industry providing friends and acquaintances with food and drinks for free. It is a behaviour seen not only in the hospitality industry, but in any industry in which employees interact with customers at the point of sale. The study found that those who have a greater need for social approval and weaker ethical values are more likely to engage in the practice.