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McDonald's Corporation Informative - Try Something Different
I have worked for three different McDonald's in the course of nine years. I have so much I could say it could quickly turn into a book, but I will try to keep this simpler. I am one of those employee's that the other employee's give a bad name to. I always do my very best to ensure orders are correct and I am a perfectionist and will not serve anything I do not find acceptable. I have even argued with managers about this. Over time though this has become harder and harder for me to achieve and I am anxiously awaiting the end of summer because I am leaving. It saddens me to think of how much pride I do take in my work and all the factors that are attributing to my leaving. One reason is I can not stand working with the people that don't care, including managers. The other is that people as a whole are not the easiest to deal with and I can't stand it anymore. I have read a lot of these complaints and though I can agree with a lot of them, some are just insane.
I have also noticed that on the off chance of someone saying something nice no one comments, but you put up one bad thing and everyone has something to say. Obviously those people have never worked with the public. We like to joke at work that it should be required that everyone works one year in fast food, so then maybe they would have some compassion for those who do. I can not tell you how many times people order things wrong or are just plain rude. My favorite, when people are on their cell phones in drive thru, then act like we are interrupting them by taking their order. And don't bother trying to be polite and say thank you to them because they will just grab their stuff and leave. I once commented to an older gentleman that it was so nice taking his order that was filled with please and thank yous. He asked if most people didn't and I said no, they typically talk to you like your an idiot. His response was that if he didn't talk like that his mother would have slapped him. I have a nine year old son and we are always reminding him to say please and thank you when ordering out (which we do often.) Maybe some of you that read this can remember to do that next time, it will get you much farther. Anyhow, it is sad how people talk to you when you work at McDonald's and I'm sure many other places.
I am not any less of a person than you because of where I work, it just so happens to fit my life style and my hours so that I can be home at night and on weekends with my son. My biggest complaint right now would have to be what happened to me today. I was working in drive thru and had a customer that asked to pay for the order two cars behind her. I told her that I would have to wait until she pulled to the next window because I can only take two orders at a time because of the space between our speaker and window. She said that was fine and pulled up, I then took care of the next car and took the order for the following car and went to the first window and received the payment from the person waiting there. No problem. When the next car pulled up I explained to the two women inside, the lady two cars ahead of you paid for your order. The driver asked who it was and I told her I didn't know, she then asked if it was a woman and I replied yes. The passenger then asked me something that I didn't hear so I very politely asked her what she said. She asked if it was a van and I told her no, I was not sure what it was. She then (a little rudely) asked again if it was a van and I again said no. She then (VERY RUDELY) said a van V-A-N van and I said no it was a blue box something, not knowing what they are called. To which she replied "Yeah like a van."
At which point I shut my window and took the order of the person that was waiting for me. I could not believe that this woman talked to me like that after I answered her the first time, and to spell it out like I was some moron. I may not have known what this vehicle was called (box on wheels perhaps) but it was not a van. I own one and am pretty sure I know what they look like. By the way no offense to the people that own them, I just simply do not know what they go by. But anyhow, now that this is a book. Please people, give respect, say please and thank you when you order. And if someone makes a mistake politely point it out. Most of them time it will be fixed and even if it happens twice give them a chance. You honestly have no idea what they are going through. It may be training but maybe just maybe this person has something horrible on their mind, like the loss of a loved one or something, but they can't afford to take time off or something. May be extreme but you don't know. If it happens three times then get mad but do not lose your cool.
We are all human, we all make mistakes, the world does not revolve around any one of us (like so many seem to think) and we would all be in a better place if we would get over ourselves sometimes.
I have also noticed that on the off chance of someone saying something nice no one comments, but you put up one bad thing and everyone has something to say. Obviously those people have never worked with the public. We like to joke at work that it should be required that everyone works one year in fast food, so then maybe they would have some compassion for those who do. I can not tell you how many times people order things wrong or are just plain rude. My favorite, when people are on their cell phones in drive thru, then act like we are interrupting them by taking their order. And don't bother trying to be polite and say thank you to them because they will just grab their stuff and leave. I once commented to an older gentleman that it was so nice taking his order that was filled with please and thank yous. He asked if most people didn't and I said no, they typically talk to you like your an idiot. His response was that if he didn't talk like that his mother would have slapped him. I have a nine year old son and we are always reminding him to say please and thank you when ordering out (which we do often.) Maybe some of you that read this can remember to do that next time, it will get you much farther. Anyhow, it is sad how people talk to you when you work at McDonald's and I'm sure many other places.
I am not any less of a person than you because of where I work, it just so happens to fit my life style and my hours so that I can be home at night and on weekends with my son. My biggest complaint right now would have to be what happened to me today. I was working in drive thru and had a customer that asked to pay for the order two cars behind her. I told her that I would have to wait until she pulled to the next window because I can only take two orders at a time because of the space between our speaker and window. She said that was fine and pulled up, I then took care of the next car and took the order for the following car and went to the first window and received the payment from the person waiting there. No problem. When the next car pulled up I explained to the two women inside, the lady two cars ahead of you paid for your order. The driver asked who it was and I told her I didn't know, she then asked if it was a woman and I replied yes. The passenger then asked me something that I didn't hear so I very politely asked her what she said. She asked if it was a van and I told her no, I was not sure what it was. She then (a little rudely) asked again if it was a van and I again said no. She then (VERY RUDELY) said a van V-A-N van and I said no it was a blue box something, not knowing what they are called. To which she replied "Yeah like a van."
At which point I shut my window and took the order of the person that was waiting for me. I could not believe that this woman talked to me like that after I answered her the first time, and to spell it out like I was some moron. I may not have known what this vehicle was called (box on wheels perhaps) but it was not a van. I own one and am pretty sure I know what they look like. By the way no offense to the people that own them, I just simply do not know what they go by. But anyhow, now that this is a book. Please people, give respect, say please and thank you when you order. And if someone makes a mistake politely point it out. Most of them time it will be fixed and even if it happens twice give them a chance. You honestly have no idea what they are going through. It may be training but maybe just maybe this person has something horrible on their mind, like the loss of a loved one or something, but they can't afford to take time off or something. May be extreme but you don't know. If it happens three times then get mad but do not lose your cool.
We are all human, we all make mistakes, the world does not revolve around any one of us (like so many seem to think) and we would all be in a better place if we would get over ourselves sometimes.
Comments:
Posted by justbcuz on 2009-02-18:
mrnmrsweibel, thanks for posting this, what a great reminder to all of us that we are no better than anyone else on this planet. You are a great example to others and your son is one lucky little fella to have you in his life.
Posted by Christopher C. on 2009-02-18:
Amen to all of that. I worked fast food myself for three years, starting as an employee and worked up to shift supervisor. It really is an underpaid, thankless, dead-end job where you deal with some very rude/nasty people. We used to say the exact same thing at my store..if only they could work here for a WEEK. Just feel sorry for the people who treat you rudely...it's probably their only opportunity to feel superior to somebody else throughout their day. Why else would it be necessary to treat minimum wage peons so poorly. Anyway..good luck with finding something better! Any employer would be lucky to have you.
Posted by JohnInSoCal on 2009-02-18:
I do not go often, but when I do the service I receive is never really that bad. As long as I say please, and thank you (like I would want someone to say to me) then it is a pleasant experience. As it should be. Kindness, compassion, courtesy... it goes a long way. Good job mrnmrsweibel.
Posted by sherdy on 2009-02-18:
I have never been rude to a fast food employee, even when they make mistakes. It happens. If I don't like the service I get, I don't go there anymore. I wish you luck in finding a better place for youself in the world. Someone would be lucky to have you.
Posted by Principissa on 2009-02-19:
Mistakes happen. Really, unless the employee is truly at fault, the only person to blame is the management for not training them properly.
I've said this before and I'll keep saying it, a little common courtesy (please, thank you, have a nice day) goes a very long way.
Whoever your next employer is is extremely lucky to have you on board. Good luck in your job search.
I've said this before and I'll keep saying it, a little common courtesy (please, thank you, have a nice day) goes a very long way.
Whoever your next employer is is extremely lucky to have you on board. Good luck in your job search.
Posted by Face to Face on 2009-02-19:
I could swear I've seen this informative here before....
Glad you take a little pride in your work,need more like you.
Glad you take a little pride in your work,need more like you.
Posted by Crown Jules on 2009-02-19:
I totally agree with the comment about everyone needing to work fast food for a year so they can get some perspective. I worked three or four different fast food jobs in college and then worked part-time in retail for three years as a second job. I feel like I have seen it all and I have much respect for the people who do those jobs with smiles on their faces because heaven knows it's not always easy to stay cheery considering some of the people you have to deal with. I wish the best of luck to the OP.
Posted by Face to Face on 2009-02-19:
I worked fast food for 5 long days when i was 15...I dont know how people do it..
Posted by Ponie on 2009-02-19:
I worked FF a short while when in school. Now that I'm more settled (older?) in my ways, they couldn't pay me enough to work it again or in retail. I know I wouldn't last too long and probably would be arrested. After the third 'the world owes me a living' customer, there'd be a bloody nose involved and it wouldn't be mine. We need more people on this earth like you, Mrs. Weibel. Good luck to you if you're going into another job or if you've decided to take life easy for a while.
Posted by Ghost of Doc J on 2009-02-19:
I did a stretch of fast food incarceration MANY years ago. The job was hot and nasty (cleaning out maggots in the meat cooler). But the cougar waitresses loved hitting on us younger guys AND I earned enough to keep me in beer and weed. You have to find the good in everything. *smiling in blissful remembrance*
Posted by mrnmrsweibel on 2009-02-19:
I just wanted to say thank you for the positive comments. I was worried people would miss understand what I was trying to say. And thank you so much to those that offered well wishes to my future. I am thinking of taking some time off to just enjoy my son for a bit. I luckily have a great husband who makes more than enough to support us for a little while. I've only been working because I tend to spend more money than I should. I have received numerous job offers while working at mcdonalds. People that have told me they would like to have an employee like me on board. Maybe I should call one of them. The only reason I haven't is my husband is away for months at a time and I am concerned about getting into something that limits my flexability. If my son gets sick I need to be able to be home with him which is the reason I've stayed as long as I have. Anyway, thank you all again.
Posted by financiallyfit on 2009-02-19:
Very good review. I rarely find myself in a fast food restaurant, but even in my limited experience, it seems people treat fast food employees like idiots. I'm especially amused by the people who speak really slowly to the cashier. I'm even more amused when the employee speaks really slowly back :) Hope you find a job where people treat you better - you sound like you deserve that!
Posted by sherdy on 2009-02-19:
One of my students works at a fast food place. He is saving money for college, too humble to think he'll get a full ride to Harvard or MIT, both of who are interested in him. He scored a perfect score on both the ACT and SAT, one of 35 kids in this country. Fast food folks aren't necessarily stupid so they shouldn't be treated that way.
Posted by decco on 2009-02-23:
I applaud you for hanging on so long in working ff. It's a tough job, made tougher not only by nasty rude customers who are looking to make themselves feel better, but also by co-workers with bad attitudes not only about the job itself, but about how they treat the people they work with, and management that just doesn't care about anything beyond their paychecks. I know from experience (5 yrs at Wendys) that the work is hard, thankless, and disgusting enough as it is, and then to have customers who think they are the be-all and end-all, well! It's just another small sign of the diseased society we currently live in, where common courtesy is dying a swift death. Good luck to you, take the time and enjoy your son, it won't be long til he's grown!!
Posted by Big Al2674 on 2009-02-23:
Excellent commentary. McDonald's will be losing a very valuable employee when you leave, and that is a shame. It sounds to me like you could make an impact on the company if you were in their headquarters.
Posted by BoA Pissed Customer on 2009-02-23:
I can appreciate the individual who works in McDonalds and how customers can be very rude. I have also worked at McDonalds (25 years ago), and currently work in an upscale restaurant, where we also joke that everyone should work in the service industry for at least a year...but, back to his/her comments re: McDonalds: I have stopped going to fast food restaurants any more than twice a month anymore because of the piss poor customer service (This is in Savannah, GA). I am IN customer service and some of the worst experiences I have had in restaurants is the fast food market. THEY don't say "thank you", "Please", "May I"....the one that gets me the most is the lack of the "thank you"...Some of these associates act like I'm doing them a favor by coming into their restaurant! They get the orders wrong, and do nothing to fix it, I have seen people in the window at the drive-through on their cell phones while tending to customers (THAT individual got a piece of my mind as soon as I saw it). This is a double-edged sword, from the server perspective as well as the guest perspective. I'm actually GLAD this individual treats guests with respect and dignity. He or she should, and I'd definitely go to that restaurant, even though McD's is not my favorite! I usually make positive comments when I have a positive experience, but I'm not afraid to make negative comments for a negative experience, I don't care if it's Wal-Mart or the convenience store! In general, customer service skills are seriously lacking in EVERY department, from Verizon Wireless, the gas company, down to the fast food places. Customers are starting to get tired of it and are being more vocal and even obnoxious. That COULD be why the person complaining about the customers feels the way he/she does. It doesn't make it right, but I understand BOTH sides!
Posted by shortontime on 2009-02-23:
I certain agree that customers should be polite, actually works both ways. I do believe the situation could have been handled differently; I'm sorry! I wish I could help you but I didn't notice what kind of vehicle she was driving as I'm very busy with orders. It doesn't leave any room for any other question about the vehicle and lets them know your mind is on your job. Yes, I worked fast food when I was a kid and I take my grandkids to McDonald's ever now and then. Most workers are young and some are overwhelmed with a rush. No matter what age, life issues will happen. A customer that is rude could have lost
a love one, job, home, etc... or a grump or plain mean. Try not to be so offended and remember the nice customers.
a love one, job, home, etc... or a grump or plain mean. Try not to be so offended and remember the nice customers.
Posted by Nosliw on 2009-02-25:
I would have handy a police whistle.
Posted by cccmaa on 2009-03-15:
Ok, I can agree with everything posted. I am a current employ of Mc Donalds, and I take orders in drive thru for atleast 6 to 8 hours a day. There are soo many customers who are rude and sometimes rarely will you get the nice ones who say thankyou and so on.... It's usually the nice ones that get the better treatment, and usually the nice ones who come in and politely tell us we got their order wrong, but it's not problem because they were nice about it, so we are happy to fix it. Now it's the rude customers who come through, and expect us to bow down to them.. Well they will usually get treated just like the way they treat us. And if we get their order wrong, they are the ones to come storming in talking crap and trying to make complaints or get refunds. Those customers are most likely not going to get the same treatment as a polite customer.
Posted by MikkiMarvelous on 2009-03-25:
McDonalds are poor career choices in general. The company doesn't understand the foundation of communication inside a business and the evils that apathetic behaviors can cause. It was this kind of attitude that made me recently quit as well. I will post a review very soon. Thank you for this post. Merely confirms my views and my feeling that I made the right choice.
Posted by kari91 on 2010-06-24:
great point of view. i still work at mcdonalds and have been here 3yrs and really enjoy my job but i agree with everything u said
Posted by PepperElf on 2010-06-24:
thank you for bumping this one back up.
EXCELLENT REVIEW.
I'm glad that this employee is still doing their best, despite having to deal with people who feel "fast food worker" means 'stupid"
it's an honest wage, especially if that worker is really trying to do a good job.
"Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing future of time."
- From Desiderata by Max Ehamann
What's sad is that i've seen people with the mentality of looking down on others because of their job. I've even seen it here in complaints where someone pulls the attitude of "well you're just an employee for company X - you're beneath me!"
cos, well first of all that's a horrible way to treat people.
second... sometimes that "lowly worker" is actually the smarter person. i've seen enough cases where that "lowly worker" was in fact someone working part time to finish up on a master's degree etc. or they're working a second job just for extra cash.
but really... great review
=)
EXCELLENT REVIEW.
I'm glad that this employee is still doing their best, despite having to deal with people who feel "fast food worker" means 'stupid"
it's an honest wage, especially if that worker is really trying to do a good job.
"Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing future of time."
- From Desiderata by Max Ehamann
What's sad is that i've seen people with the mentality of looking down on others because of their job. I've even seen it here in complaints where someone pulls the attitude of "well you're just an employee for company X - you're beneath me!"
cos, well first of all that's a horrible way to treat people.
second... sometimes that "lowly worker" is actually the smarter person. i've seen enough cases where that "lowly worker" was in fact someone working part time to finish up on a master's degree etc. or they're working a second job just for extra cash.
but really... great review
=)
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