For a little over a year now, I have been working at one of my local fast food restaurant on my breaks from school. During this time, I've noticed people really don't try to understand what the workers go through to just get through a day. While I'm not on board with the $15 an hour gang (although I know how helpful that'd be for all the parents that work at my store), I do believe they deserve a certain amount of respect. So here are some things to consider before you blow up on the person through the window.
1. You don't know how long they've been working.
I've had days when I am scheduled to work nights, and the, the next day I open and don't get off till 5 p.m. when someone comes to take my place. Keep that in mind if the person handing you money isn't the peppiest person you've seen all day.
2. Just because there are two cars in line doesn't mean that first car didn't have a huge order or multiple orders in it.
So if you look in your bag and your burger isn't the special one you asked for, just ask please. Don't get mad and tell them they are horrible at doing their job. They will be happy to fix it.
3. If they ask to see your receipt, don't have a fit.
Chances are their manager is having them make sure they get not only your order right, but everyone else's orders right also.
4. If you cooked your food after the store did, please don't complain to me how it was burnt when you ate it.
Not even joking. Happens all the time. If you don't want it burnt, don't heat it so long.
5. We can't give your whole car free food.
No matter how cute, old or high you are, there's a 90 percent chance that if our managers catch us giving you something free and you haven't waited 10+ minutes for food, we will get written up.
6. Be patient when they repeat your orders three times.
For mine, yours and the store's sake, I have to make sure everything in your order that will be on your receipt is exactly as you said so I won't get in trouble for messing up your order and the store won't lose money making your order again. I know it's annoying, it's annoying for me too, but I have to.
7. If they suggest something to you on the menu, don't get snappy when you don't want it.
It's called suggestions and some managers are sticklers for making your order taker advertise the newest menu item.
8. Lastly, please don't get mad when you come through at 10 minutes till closing and we have to cook your food.
The goal at this point for grill is not to have a lot of waste food. We cook to order within the last hour. Please keep that in mind when you order 10 cheese burgers and 40 nuggets.
Basically, please think twice before throwing slurs at your local fast food workers. We're always told to remember it might just be a bad day for you and to smile and make it better. This is basically to remind you that while we're serving you, the same respect would be appreciated. Thank you for listening.
*Sorry about this rant, but after this happening a couple times, I thought a PSA was needed.
