12 Irritating Practices That Your Fast-Food Worker Can't Stand
It's a daily reality for millions of Americans: munching on fast food. But the hard-working individuals slinging burgers and fries might not be as fans as we are. From long hours to dealing with unwanted gripes, fast-food employees often bear the brunt of our careless actions. To help you steer clear of annoying these hardworking people, we've compiled a list of Don't's for your fast-food dining experience.
- Patience, Please! 🕒If you're in a rush, maybe fast food isn't the best idea. Fast-food chains aren't miracle workers—they can't conjure up your meal in an instant. Pressuring employees to rush because you're running late is unproductive and disrespectful.
- Two's Company, Three's a Crowd 😊📱Multitasking is overrated. Talking on the phone while ordering is impolite and keeps your attention divided. Employees are there to take your orders, so do them the courtesy of giving them your undivided focus.
- Mix it Up: Your Way or the Highway? 🍔🥦Some customizations are fine, but wildly altering an item can create confusion for the employee taking your order and the cook preparing it. If you've got a special request, consider trying something else on the menu instead.
- Language Lessons, Anyone? 🤓📚While it's not necessary to memorize a whole new vocabulary for every food spot, some chain-specific lingo can come in handy. Fast-food chains like Starbucks have their own jargon, and you might find yourself asking for espresso where a tall coffee is expected.
- Gone Fishin' 🐠While fast-food restaurants are usually well-stocked, out-of-stock items can happen. Getting mad at the employees for not having what you want can be unfair—they didn't deliberately hold back the goods.
- Off-Menu Mysteries 🔍Some fast-food joints have secret or off-menu items—but trying to order something unknown can just confuse your server. Stick to the regular menu, and if your favorite spot has hidden gems, ask an employee for guidance.
- Pocket Change Chase 🪙Paying with exact change seems like a win—fewer coins to keep track of, right? However, taking your time to pull out the correct change can hold up the line. It's faster to pay with bills and let the cashier give you change.
- Change of Heart 💭Don't offer change after the register has closed. The register calculates your change automatically, and offering up a quarter at the last minute can overwhelm the cashier, requiring a manager to open the cash register again.
- Burning Bridges 🤝Asking fast-food workers if they dislike their job and can’t wait to move on can be insulting. Some people find work in the fast-food industry fulfilling and enjoyable, and assuming all employees are stuck there is disrespectful.
- Reaching Out of Bounds 🤏Reaching behind the counter to grab something is not only against the rules but also unpolite. If you need something kept behind the counter, politely ask an employee instead.
- Trash Talk 🗑️Leaving your trash at the table or food station can make the dining area messy and uncomfortable. Do the environment and your fellow customers a favor by disposing of your trash responsibly.
- Big Bills, Big Headaches 💸While it's nice to tip generously, paying with large bills can create problems for fast-food employees. Breaking a $100 bill can cause unnecessary stress, and some registers may not even have enough cash to handle larger bills.
Sources:
- [1] Starbucks Lingo and Ordering Tips
- [2] How to Communicate Effectively with Customers as a Fast Food Employee
- [3] Fast-Food Workers on Reddit Share What Customers Do That Annoy Them
- [4] Fast-Food Dining: What Customers Should Know
- [5] Managing Difficult Customer Interactions: Tips for Fast-Food Employees
- Empowered Dining 🌭Emboldened by resources such as Realsimple's etiquette guide, one can savor their fast-food dining experience without causing grievances among the hardworking employees.
- Patience and Permission 🕒🌲Remembering that fast-food employees work long hours, one should grant them patience and ask for permission when expressing special requests or making customizations to their meals.
- Fast-Food English 📚🧔Taking a moment to familiarize oneself with chain-specific lingo, like Starbucks' jargon, can turn potential faux pas into smooth ordering experiences, benefiting both the customer and the employee.
- **Respect for the Realities of Restaurant Work
