Just recently I started working as a sandwich artist for Subway in my hometown. I can honestly say that already I've learned so much in these short couple of weeks. Not just about sandwiches and food preparation but also about how people commonly treat those in the food industry and just how little people care.
Don't get me wrong, I love my job. My co-workers are great, I have flexible hours, and I really enjoy doing something well for people. It's nice to be appreciated when I am, and more often than not I'm given warm smiles and thank-yous from many of my customers. I smile and make their sub without complaint and they see the effort I put forward. my purpose here is to give just a few tips to the thousands of people who frequent Subway. As a disclosure, my words here do not represent Subway as a corporation, these are simply my thoughts and opinions.
1. It's loud behind this counter.
I know, you hate to repeat yourself and why the hell can't the kid behind the counter just listen to you the first time!? Well, it isn't always as cut and dry as that. Behind the counter of food that you see is an oven, a proofer, a microwave, two ovens, and three different freezers, All of which make an ungodly amount of noise. You can't tell, being on the other side of the large ingredient display. Please, have some patience. These sandwich artists aren't asking you to repeat yourself to annoy you. Most likely they couldn't properly hear you and they simply want to make sure that they're making your sandwich as perfectly as you would like.
2. We have two sizes...
We do not sell "regular" subs. That does not tell me a single thing when you're ordering. All you need to do is tell me "footlong" or "six-inch". Heck, you could tell me you'd like "a big one" and I would understand it better than "I'd like the regular sub". Getting frustrated with a sandwich maker for not being able to understand you, or better yet, read your mind is a little ridiculous. We rely on your instructions to make what you want. If you aren't willing to give us specific instructions, why come to Subway? All you'll do is complain and make someone else's day miserable just because they didn't do their job perfectly. Which, to be frank, wasn't their fault.
3. Female Sandwich Artists aren't your flirt pals.
Yes, I am a young woman. Yes, I am considered pretty by some. Yes, it is my job to smile, laugh, joke, and even converse with you as I make your sub. What isn't my job is to put up with your sexist and often rude comments. When I ask you what I can get for you, don't say "Well give me a smile first sweetheart, then we'll see". No. I am not here for your pleasure. I'm here to make you a sandwich and to be polite. Not only is it inappropriate, but it makes me uncomfortable. I can't risk a complaint because I'm "rude" or "unwelcoming" so I literally have no choice but to smile, laugh awkwardly, and accept the rude comments you throw my way. Imagine I'm your daughter. Now tell me that you'd like a side of me with your sandwich.
Exactly.
4. Not every Subway works exactly the same way.
This one seems a bit odd, but it is true. Some Subways don't accept coupons, or they don't take online orders, or they might not even have the same sandwich or coupon deal that another one does. When that happens, it isn't our fault. We show up to work, wash our hands, and are told by our manager what we have to do, prep, etc. Coming into a Subway and then berating the workers for a decision that is made by corporate is about as useful as yelling at the trees for the sky being cloudy. If I could take your coupon, believe me, I would. I know how tough times can be sometimes and every little bit helps, but if I don't have the software to accept it, I can't. My hands are tied.
5. Sandwich artists don't control the prices
Shockingly enough, as a sandwich artist, I don't control the prices. Again, that is entirely a corporate decision. If you ask me what your meal would be with a medium drink and a chip choice, it is inexcusable for you to harass me because you don't like the price. Call corporate. Yell at my manager. Do not presume that I will lower your meal cost, or do anything but smile and say, "I'm sorry sir. Does that mean you'd just like the sandwich then?", because I won't. Your anger will get you nothing but a fake smile and some forced courtesy on my part.
To be fair, I could keep going. Every day I encounter rude customers, kind customers, inappropriate customers, and customers who make me laugh like crazy. I learn things about people, how they see me, how they see service workers in general and most days it makes me sad. At Subway, my mission is to treat every customer with respect and to create quality subs. I stand by that yet each day I am pushed down by a woman who doesn't like that I asked her to repeat herself. Or I cheerily tell a man what his change will be and he responds with, "yeah I figured that out. Damn kids, Just give me it." before storming away. If I could say anything, remember that I am a human being. I am young, a college student, who is simply trying to work her way through the summer to afford her education. So are a lot of my co-workers. So are a lot of the food industry workers. We are humans, deserving of kindness and respect.
If you can't see that, stay home. Make your own sandwich, and don't take your bad attitude out on me and the others working simply to make people happy and satisfied every day.
