Is it ever acceptable to cuss at fast food workers over long waits?

[Joe917]

I work at mcdonald's. The drive through was backed up, and there were a lot of people in the restaurant waiting for orders. I noticed a couple had been waiting at a table for a while. I walked up to them, and said "mind if I ask what you guys are waiting on?" The woman was like "we are waiting on our fucking food" thats what I meant and I know she knew thats what I meant. I juts wanted to know what they ordered so I could go back and see what was going on with it. I went back and looked for their order.

It was a pretty big order with a lot of drinks. Honestly. There wasn't a very good reason we hadn't gotten it out yet. We were just busy with a lot of other orders. I apologized profusely, and offered them shakes. They said no. They said they'd been waiting for 45 minutes. The lady once again was like "this is fucking ridiculous" she calmed down a little bit, and said that it wasn't my fault and she realizes we are busy. Was using fowl language warranted in this situation?

[CassandraSpender]

No. Complaints, sure, but even then, direct them at management. Generally when you see long waits its because management understaffed or aren't giving their employees adequate breaks or support. Last place I was, I managed the sales dept. As a rule, complaints from. clients and the owner stopped with me. From day 1 I made it clear to the owner that she would NOT criticize my staff, that she was free. to yell at me til she was blue in the face, and she would, yell... and I even had a few clients try to yell at my sales girls. or some of our event coordinators, and if I were on site, they ALL knew to direct their negativity towards me... and my girls knew id have their backs and would move mountains for me.

If we had an issue, either in meeting numbers or similar, id pull them aside and ask why and what I could. do to help them do their job, whether it was personal or professional... one time I even had to have a couple. of my big GAY Harley friends ride me to ones apartment and have a word with her boyfriend who had been hitting her and explained to him that if she EVER mentioned him hitting her or forcing himself on her again, that my friends would be back without me to return the favor... I believe he had a new appreciation for reality after that because she became one of my top selling sales girls after that and never had a bruise again.

Most employees mirror what their management show them... if they feel supported, they will support the company... so slow service is really a management issue.

[OfDeath]

I never do. It’s easy to get upset about waiting but you have to remember mistakes happen, it gets busy and food still has to be prepared. It’s also worth remembering that nobody should be eating that shit anyway. If you find yourself in a McDonald’s waiting too long for unhealthy shit which will slowly poison you, that’s a you problem.

however, from a business point of view, it still pays to have good customer service and communicate clearly to customers. I can tell you a story about what happened to me once:

I was in a busy Domino’s pizza and I had ordered a pizza and was waiting a lot longer than usual. I asked what was going on and they apologised because they had forgotten about my order. They said they would do it again and I said that’s fine I’ll wait. When the pizza was ready, I opened it right there on the counter because I knew there would be some kind of issue given how busy they were. Most of the ingredients were missing and I pointed that out only to be told sorry they had run out of those ingredients. Keeping my cool and without using personally directed profanity, I pointed out that I had paid for a pizza I did not get and I asked why didn’t they just tell me they were out of these ingredients and why did they try to serve it to me poker faced. They didn’t give me a satisfactory answer so I asked for a refund and left the pitiful excuse for a pizza on their counter.

That was well over 10 years ago and I haven’t been to or ordered from a Domino’s Pizza ever since and unless Hell freezes over, I never will again.

[Texaskid1]

Nope.

One should stay classy. I did work - very briefly - in the fast food industry when I was an undergraduate. I hated it. People are assholes and it is stressful job that does not pay much. Cussing at the workers demonstrates a lack of class and does nothing for the situation. Anyhow, the workers are doing their best to get the food out. Yes, their could be a reason that the food is taking a while or the order came out wrong ; maybe a machine broke down , maybe a glitch in the software , perhaps human error - who knows; but don't cuss at people doing the best they can do.

[emeraldsaphire]

No! As someone who use to work for them. Lots of stuff can happen. Sometimes the computer stops working. The delivery truck is running late. 3 people called up sick. Honestly it can be a shit show. So show some grace.

Now if the employee is being a huge dick then I could see wanting to cuss at them, but even then, just be the bigger person. There are like 100 fast food places in every metro area. Just go somewhere else

[LifeHitMeandRan]

NOT acceptable. As a customer, YOU chose to take the risk of being at a restaurant during peak hours and KNOW it can take longer than normal to get your food. THAT'S ON YOU, McKaren McCustomer. Also, anyone who has worked ANY customer service for 5 minutes knows the very first face you see is the guy/girl with the LEAST amount of power to do anything. Even if you are unhappy, verbal abuse is NEVER ok. This is the reason I didn't last long working fast food. The moment someone treated me the way you were, somebody would be going to the hospital and/or jail.

Usually, in ANY industry, long waits are because MANAGEMENT fucked up. They probably planned schedules poorly or the place is understaffed.

In the restaurant industry (including fast food), they have this made up concept called "being over labor hours". That's code for "it is slow right now so send people home so we don't have to pay them". Then they act all shocked when a sudden rush of people arrive and the few workers left cannot keep up. Better practice is to budget so MOST, if not ALL, workers can work their full shift. Even in slow times, grills can be cleaned, lobbies mopped, etc. There is ALWAYS justifiable work to do.

The ones that pay the price for such a policy are the very workers that get ZERO say in the decision, yet have to be the ones to deal with the customers while the managers hide in the back somewhere.

[RingOfFire]

That kind of foul language is an impulsive mandate sometimes. It goes beyond whether it is appropriate or not. Of course it is not. But you never know what the customer is dealing with in their life... maybe they needed the food for a party or for children or something like that and were under a lot of stress to get it more quickly, maybe they are having some kind of stressful family problems, or maybe they are just having a bad day. After she calmed down she said some sensible things. Everyone has their own life and you have to give them some slack on things like this.

[Paradiseequeen]

Nope! I use to work at Mc Donald’s too and people need to be patient. In this case it may not been enough people working or drive through was hectic. It’s always helpful to remind someone you waiting. On weekends it’s crazy! My manager use to lock the door at times

[Screenwriter]

Of course it wasn't. But some people don't control themselves well, and she was one of those people. All you can do is ignore it and do your job the best you can.

She obviously came at a busy time and there are long waits when even McD's is busy. Seemed unusual but, then, don't come back. Seems like she was having a shitty day and dumped on you, or low blood sugar. No excuse to be rude.

[Telekinetic-Potato]

Lol yea. 45 minutes in a McDonald's? I probably would have canceled everything 10 minutes ago.

Saying "I'm waiting for my fucking food" is passable but hopefully they didn't direct any cussing at you or your team specifically.

Because that's when the customer goes from rightfully upset to just a whiny loser.

[Daniel707]

Not if it isn’t their fault. Most McDonald’s are not staffed the way they used to be and the quality of workers has gone down. But if they’re working doing the best they can…. Cut them slack. I love how people hate being yelled at when they’re doing their jobs…. but think it’s okay to do it to other people.

If it’s that big of an issue. Then….. call a manager in the morning if you start yelling you’ll look like the asshole and might not take you as seriously.

[Lliam]

No. Swearing in a situation like that is lowlife.

Besides, what kind of person would sit at a table in McDonalds for 45 minutes without getting up to inquire about their order? They should have been very grateful to you for being so observant and proactive.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

Customer/worker is an unbalanced power relation.

Some people abuse it. Customers know they can fool around to an extent, without facing consequences, which isn't true for the workers because they're subordinated.

It isn't acceptable. Your power in this situation is your capacity to let things slide, and/or venting, which is somewhat the option you choose here. It's a good one.

[beenherebefore]

When I attend fast food restaurants I keep in mind that the service might not be the best. People are underpaid and overworked. You can't expect five star service.

[purplepoppy]

No. The staff are doing their best to sort out problems they're not to blame for and deserve respect not abuse.

[Kelley1]

It is best to just get up and leave, paying nothing since you haven't received your food. That is the best message you can send to the establishment.

[AngryCarl3]

No it's not acceptable, but waiting 45 minutes for your order to turn up isn't acceptable either. But instead of yelling at the staff I'd put a scathing review on Trustpilot and never go there again.

[KostasKouvalis]

No. I didn't work fast food, but the place I worked also often had long lines. People usually didn't cus at us, but they would be rude and impatient.

[Staximus]

You have to have the best person in the window checking orders ( where the ready orders are placed in the kitchen after cooking, not the drive through window) at a restaurant

[exitseven]

Fast food workers have no control over long lines at the drive through. Get a grip.

[whosnumber_1]

Just snort a big loogie in his burger like Super Troopers!

[darkcloud1945]

There is only one word for people like that: they want everything yesterday ASSHOLE

[cranberrycattoystory]

Nope. Not at all, unless I really need to be somewhere else fast... They can take as long as they want, as long as I get that delicious meal, perfectly cooked meal at the end.

[HairF3tish]

No, not at all it comes from deep frustration

[Honeyateleven]

Why not eminem does it 😛 emma roberts does it 😆

[PinkSchmetterling]

No, that’s awful

[LaFemmeFatale_1]

Never…

[NathanDavis]

nope

[oldman26]

Never