You’re an ass. Just thought I’d clarify that. Most fast food employees are students who desperately need the money for school – I speak from experience. Pretty much everyone I knew at the restaurant I worked at was a student – not a loser of any kind.
In fact, some of these losers were very precocious individuals with bright futures. One girl I knew who worked at Subway was studying neurosurgery in college at the same time. She’s brilliant.
We have our fair share of losers, just like more prestigious white collar jobs have, but you can’t say most of us are what you imagine us to be.
And if you view as rude or surly or stupid, take a moment to think about how it feels to be in our position. It wouldn’t hurt you to say “thank you” or be mildly civilized to us. A lot of us are abused by managers and customers alike on a daily basis. We don’t get the same basic rights other jobs do. I shall include some examples below. Don’t read them if rambling bothers you. :p
I, for example, am a college student paying for my education out of pocket. I have to balance my job and school, which wouldn’t be difficult if they didn’t regularly call me during class, schedule me for ten to twelve-hour shifts without breaks, and demand I come in on the rare days I have off. I’ve been forced to work while sick (which is a danger to myself and customers), although I called to inform my boss I had the flu. It was only after a week of working while sick and getting worse without rest that I was able to obtain a doctor’s note saying it was literally dangerous for me to work. Even then, my manager yelled at me and said I had to find a replacement for myself. I also don’t get the days off that I ask for, even when I ask for them weeks in advance. I’ve worked on the anniversary of my brother’s death, my (deceased) brother’s birthday, my father’s birthday, and my niece’s very first birthday – all days which I requested to have off well before they happened.
I’ve gotten sick and weak from working long shifts without breaks. Legally, they say we’re allowed to have our breaks (15 minutes every 4 hours) – but when I take them, I get interrupted because we’re a busy restaurant and we’re frequently understaffed to save on labor costs. You try working ten hours straight without sitting down or eating once – I guarantee it would make you a little surly, too. And being paid a meager $7.25 an hour isn’t enough to make me smile maniacally around the hunger pains every time a customer comes in, try as I might.
Not only that, but I have to deal with customers automatically assuming I’m stupid or inferior because I make less than them. I get hit on (once, I got pawed at over the counter by a drunk), yelled at, complained at, and I have people spitting their orders at me all day. Some are very unreasonable. Some won’t even look at me. Some look at me TOO much. Some make fun of me.
I know you may have had a difficult day. I know you may need this food fast, and you may be feeding your family. But please don’t assume I’m stupid and please take the two seconds it requires to smile or thank me, especially if you’ve been particularly unreasonable. That’s all it takes to make my day.