What NOT to do While Ordering at Fast Food Chains

I've spent 6 years working at a fast food chain establishment and while I have learned a lot of skills and life lessons, I still think it should be the law to work at a chain like this for at least a year...for everyone. Mostly because people don't acknowledge their behaviour when they're at these location or in general public and I think if they experienced at first hand how they act, life would be so much better.

So here is a short list that I created that outlines a few things that I have come across multiple times a shift and that will help your fast food chain etiquette or etiquette in general. Take notes.

don't order more than two orders in the drive thru at a time

when you order more than two orders in the drive thru, it really just slows things down for everyone inside the store which causes you, as the customer, to be upset with the staff members that are doing their best to get you your order(s).

2. don't arrive right before the location closes and spend $40.00 in food

More than likely, the staff have finished cleaning everything and are ready to go because the majority are high school students and have to be up early in order to make it to school on time. Ordering tons of food write before a close may be funny to you but it can actually be really inconsiderate for those tired students trying to stay awake while attempting to figure out what the hell y=mx+b actually is.

3. don't leave your table without throwing out your garbage

after you have finished eating, clean up after yourself. I'll be honest when I say that it's a lot of parents and adults that leave their trash everywhere and while it is our job as the employees to clean, teaching your children that it is polite to clean up after yourself is a great life skill that will hit them later on when no one is there to clean up after them.

4. don't pull up in the drive thru to place your order and not know what you want to order

this happens a lot in drive thru and it really doesn't help anyone. The staff members inside are stuck waiting to see what you would like while the drive thru lanes become backed up and other customers behind you are frustrated with waiting for you. Not a positive environment all around. Take the time to pull over and decide what everyone wants, right it down or go inside.

5. don't be too angry when you have to wait extra time on your food (especially when you have ordered 20 of something. ITS ALL GOING TO BE FRESH WHICH IS AMAZING)

the most common complaint or snide comments that I have received over the years is "wow I'm really waiting on that?" This always confuses me because you are getting fresh food which is better than anything else that has potentially been sitting for a few minutes plus no one can rush the cooking time so you may as well enjoy your short wait!

6. don't mumble while placing your order

it is always a struggle hearing through those headsets or in person while there is a lot of noise, beeping and other talking in the space. Please speak up and your order will be accurate!

7. don't rush the employee, please wait for them to finish what they are doing before asking them to do something else (chances are they are trying to finish the order!)

the other day I was trying to make change for the customer, they asked for their cups while I was in the middle of something, then they asked again after I said "just one second please" and then they ripped the receipt from the machine before I could close the register for them. Please just don't be this person.

8. don't hit on people that are serving you....most of them are V underage and your children are watching from the backseat

people of all ages do this. It is NOT okay nor is it welcomed. Leave the employees alone, take your order and enjoy it. That's it.

9. don't make snide comments or awkward jokes that aren't really that funny

sometimes these jokes and comments are racist, demeaning, sexist and just not really that funny. Keep them to yourself please!

10. don't lose your patience, it's all a learning experience and at the end of the day your food will get there

this is perhaps the most important piece of advice I have to share. If you haven't taken notes at all, take note of this.

I think that the way that you behave in public says a lot about you as a person. Whether you have a bad day and it has impacted your mood, sometimes it is best to keep that energy to yourself or talk to someone about it because people pick up on these emotions and it impacts them and their day, too. The way you present yourself can impact so many people, especially children because they imitate what they see. Be a good role model or at least a kind person.

So the next time you are out and about, think twice about what you say or do. People notice and you may regret what you say.

-E