The first job I ever had was working in a restaurant. The next two jobs I would have been also in the foodservice industry. Throughout all three of these jobs, I came across customers who were very understanding, and some that believed the whole world revolved around them. I never had any serious issues, but some people just don't respect those around them like you would expect. Working in restaurants could get stressful at times, but in the end, it always came down to how the customers acted and treated me as an employee. So, here are 7 things customer service employees want customers to know.

1. Please be patient, especially if there is a rush of customers.

I promise we as employees are doing the best that we can to get you in and out with your proper order. I understand you don't have a long lunch break, but we also have a certain time limit for getting your order out to you. If you see us running around like crazy to get everything done, please don't come yell at us for not meeting your standards. Not only will this stress us out even more, but it will also further hold up the line of people behind you.

2. It is not our fault if you have an invalid coupon.

If your coupon has expired or your order doesn't meet the coupon requirements, there's not really anything I can do in that situation. Make sure you are paying close attention to the fine print on the coupons because once your order has been placed, it's very difficult to change it around or cancel it completely.

3. I have to follow the rules given to the store, whether I agree with them or not.

All the jobs I had were ran by a corporate office; therefore, we were given the same rules and regulations as every other chain. Sometimes even I disagree with them, but I can't do anything about it. It's just the way things are and if you feel passionate about it, corporate offices always welcome feedback!

4. Please don't leave a huge mess behind.

I totally understand that it's my job, but there's a way to visit a restaurant without being excessively messy. I'm also very aware that kids are a struggle sometimes, but be slightly aware of what they are doing. If you wouldn't allow it to continue in your own home, please don't allow it in a restaurant.

5. Getting an attitude with the employees will always end badly for everyone.

As restaurant employees, it is our job to wait on you and make sure you leave happy. However, getting an attitude will not benefit anyone. I understand the frustration of having to wait or your order being wrong, but as soon as you get an attitude with an employee, they do it to a coworker and it's then turned into this long chain of anger and yelling. I can promise you, employees will be so much more apologetic and willing to help you if you approach them the proper way.

6. Be mindful of how long you're keeping the person assisting you.

I don't mind having a polite conversation with a customer and I will assist you in any way that I can, but be mindful of how long you are holding someone up. If there's almost no one else there, that's a different story; however, if we are busy, please don't try to have a full conversation with me. If you need help, I will do what I can to help or find someone else that can, but there are so many things going through my mind that need to be done. This will also make others feel like they are being neglected and can cause all sorts of issues between employees and other customers.

7. Pay attention to the signs around the restaurant that are addressed to the customers.

The signs we hang could range from a new special we will be starting to the sign for where the restrooms are. Sometimes it could just be something we will be discontinuing soon so that you are aware of what is going on. Either way, all signs are put there for your benefit, whether they have positive or negative effects. Please at least glance over them to see if they pertain to you, as I previously stated, it is difficult to change or cancel an order due to a change we are/has undergone.

Working in a restaurant was never hard; however, it did have its issues. I don't have any problems dealing with customers at all, but please remember there is a proper way to handle all situations. Each of these things listed is a problem I have come across multiple times, and in order for the customer and employee to have a good customer service experience, please keep all of this in mind the next time you have an outing to a restaurant.