Dear Guest,

I can’t tell you how many times someone has waved me off or snapped at me or even just talked AT me instead of to me while working in quick service at Chick fil A. One time, someone came up to me and asked for some dipping sauce and then said, “She was standing over here and no one waited on her…my daughter.” And I said something along the lines of “Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t see her.” And not only did this woman walk away without another word, but she waved me off. Yeah, we PURPOSELY ignored your daughter until she walked away. That’s our goal. The next girl in line told me that she saw the girl standing there and she thought she was waiting for ice cream. If she had been in line, she would have been taken care of. If someone had seen her and realized she was waiting to order, she would have been taken care of. We can’t help if we don’t realize you need help.

I have been snapped at because I didn’t understand or hear someone correctly when they told me their name. In the couple of years that I have worked at Chick fil A, I have NEVER been able to understand this. Like, I’m pretty sure you don’t always hear everyone correctly when they speak to you. I mean, unless you’re perfect. But yet, because I am your cashier, you get angry with me for not hearing you correctly. Sometimes someone will give me their name and I might not be sure if what I heard is what they actually said. So, I repeat it and do you know what they say? Absolutely nothing. I do not even get a response.

I have had guests come up to my register upon my greeting of “Hey, how are you?” and say “Number one, no pickles, large, with a coke, name is Bob, to go.” When did our society become so afraid to have a conversation with other people? I mean, I don’t expect you to have a full blown conversation with me. Honestly, you don’t even have to ask how I’m doing. I’m trying to get on with my day too. However, the polite thing to do, something I thought we all learned as children, is to at least answer when someone asks how you are. It takes two seconds. You are NOT in THAT big of a rush.

Another thing that really just blows my mind is that some people totally freak out when they are told that their food is cooking fresh for them and it will be a few minutes. Please just think about this for a minute. You are ANGRY that your food is going to be completely fresh for you. You are angry that you might have to wait five minutes tops. I really can’t understand how you can be in this much of a rush. If you are, you probably shouldn’t be stopping for food in the first place.

I can’t speak for all fast food/quick service restaurants, but if you are missing food or forgot to get sauce, we will give it to you. No questions asked. It is not necessary to come up to the counter all upset because you forgot to get barbecue sauce. We will give it to you. We don’t charge for it. You didn’t get your medium fry? We are sorry; we’ll have it right out for you. See what I mean? No reason for an attitude.

I really just want you to be aware that the way you treat fast food/quick service employees matters. We are doing our best to make sure that your experience at our restaurant is excellent and that you are treated with kindness and respect. I don’t think it’s too much to ask that you treat us with the same kindness and respect. The thing is we forget that the people that are taking our orders and preparing our food and giving us our food are people too. We are all human. We all have feeling and we all make mistakes. We also have lives outside of working at the fast food/quick service restaurants that we are employed at.

So basically, I’m just asking you to be kind. Say thank you. Smile. Understand that sometimes the food will not be ready right away. Be patient.

Love,

A quick service employee