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First of all, names of any of the individuals involved in some of the incidents that I write about
on this website will not be mentioned. Neither will the names and locations of the restaurants or the franchisees where these incidents have taken place. It is not my intention to downgrade anyone, and I am not interested in doing any "bashing" as far as the fast food industry is concerned. These are accounts of situations that have actually taken place in the restaurants that I have worked in. And I reserve the right to tell these stories as I see them. If customers recognize themselves in these stories, first of all, remember that these stories can be about just about anyone. Second, you chose to behave this way in public, so what difference does it make. If you are embarrassed, then all I can say is you only have yourself to blame. You are supposed to be an adult, mature enough and responsible enough to know better, and it's a shame that too many adults out there don't. We, in the customer service industry, do have to take an awful lot off of people, but as soon as a situation becomes physical, that's where the line should be drawn. Just because you pay our salaries, it doesn't justify "laying a hand" on any one of my employees, or me, for that matter. I would also like to say that not all of our customers are awful. I have met some of the most wonderful people working in the fast food industry, and I think that these people are all too often forgotten about. We tend to get treated with rudeness, and sometimes violence, so much that I think has a tendency to overshadow the good that we have seen in others. For example, I needed a new winter coat, and it wasn't that I couldn't afford one because I did have the money. It was just that I was working so many hours at the time, that I didn't have time to go shopping for one. But anyway, one of our regulars came in one evening and out of the blue, handed me a coat. I have also had customers bring me flowers, and some have gone to the trouble of baking homemade cookies for my crew. It's a good feeling when a customer lets us know, even if it is a few words of gratitude, that they appreciate us. And those people are the reason I stay in this business. I worked in an office for about four years after I had an accident in 1993 that prevented me from working in a situation where I had to be on my feet for long periods of time. It was then that I realized how much I actually did enjoy working in a fast food restaurant. I started to miss it. So, I ended up going back (I think I just needed time to heal). And I am not sorry I did. If you are a customer, and you know of an employee who is doing an exceptional job, then by all means, pick up that phone and call his/her supervisor and let them know. If the restaurant chain you happen to visit regularly has a 1-800 number, then call that number. It isn't there for just complaints customers have. It is also there for the compliments. And you can't tell me that all of your experiences have been all bad. I know better. |