Why are people rude to McDonalds workers?

Question

I have worked in other areas of retail, and the most rude and ignorant people I have encountered have been at McDonalds.
Not matter how patient or smiley I am, I always get someone who tests my patience.

I have had drinks thrown at me, food thrown at me, sworn at, threatened, and slapped.

Answer 1

Some people aren't just rude to McDonald's workers, their just rude in general.

I'm a manager in a retail store, and I've had many customers who think that their better then me because they don't work retail like I do.

I've had many of them tell me that I should open my own business and when I tell them that I'm not interested in the headaches that come with owning your own business, they look down their noses at me. What they don't seem to realize, is that if I wasn't here managing the store, they wouldn't get anything.

Every job has its purpose. Just like every @sshole is put on earth for a reason. Try not to let them get to you. When I have irate customers, I just keep smiling and try to be as nice as possible to them. It makes them look even worse. Once their gone, then its ok to vent and complain.

Answer 2

It's an issue of the stigma the job has. You'll hear people use "You want fries with that?" as an insult to say the person has a horrible job. As a result of this, I'm guessing people think it's socially acceptable to mistreat fast food and retail workers.

Certain jobs have more prestige than others in a lot of countries. In the US, doctors, lawyers, and media personalities have the highest, and retail and fast food workers have the lowest. I work as an afternoon drive radio news anchor, but you won't ever, EVER see me mistreat someone just because of the type of job they have. Honest work for pay is honest work, and I won't put that down once.

Answer 3

Well first of all if you have had drinks and food thrown at you, threatened and slapped, well that is against the law. You could have these people arrested. You should not have to tolerate that. And if the McDonald's management does not do anything to assist you I would call McDonald's HR department. Their are laws to protect you. Again, if you have to be abused, and I would get the customers tag number off the car and call the Police. I would dare the manager to give me lip service. If he did, the manager could be sued as well. Please do not fee that you have to be treated like that. I do not know how old you are, but if you are young I would talk to your parents, guidance counselor.

Answer 4

No. It wasn't appropriate. Dude. You visibly have a pretty decent job if you drive a BMW and a decent job typically means that you have some kind of intelligence and / or education. You should then know that whatever the wage of the worker in question, she does not deserve your disrespect. OK, I agree, she didn't react as she should have if she had had any sens of customer clientele, but SHE visibly doesn't have the educational background to KNOW how to react properly. You had the right to complain to her and to her manager and to ask for a refund / free meal... any kind of compensation. But NO, you do not have the right to slap her for this. Although I know you won't, I still think you should apologize, if not in person, at least in writing, anonymously.

Answer 5

It's a viscious cycle. McDonald's food is cheap (at least compared to other fast-foods, restaurants and such) and it's widely known. So the place is going to attract all sorts of clientele, and the most frequent clientele are probably going to be lower-class with no manners, because they aren't able to hold good jobs and make more money because of their attitude. They are looking for anything and anyone to feel better than, and aha, here's a McDonald's employee. Any little thing may set them off into a furor. And many people, who already realize this, will go out of their way to find jobs other than McDonalds, because they're aware of the treatment they'll receive. Leading the majority of McDonald's workers left to be the poor, ignorant sods like those who frequent McDonalds (no offense intended to yourself, I most certainly DO NOT believe all McDonalds workers are low-class sods without manners, but I have definitely seen my share). Good luck. I'd just do my best to find something else, I think it's a phenomenon we'll never be able to break. But there are going to be rude customers everywhere. =(

Answer 6

Sorry to say this, but to alot of people you are nothing but a worthless low paid worker which is why arrogant sods treat you as such.

Personally, working in places like these when you are young can seriously impact on your view of the world so I would get out of there asap. If possible, try and avoid any customer service facing roles as it can only lead to depression and wanting to kill people.

Having said that, the only time when I have been annoyed at Macca's staff is when they handed me my drink at the drive thru when the lid wasn't on properly and dripping coke down the sides of it.

Answer 7

There is a general decline in pleasantries happening in society today, on both sides of the counter. You have no direct control how others act therefore if you desire to be treated better you need use your own behavior to influence the customer. A smile and a genuine good morning before you take the order can make all the difference in the world.

Attitude is contagious.

Answer 8

You can take legal action against them for the physical violence such as the slapping and food/drink throwing. The problem is most people experience really bad customer service and rude staff at other fast food outlets, and so they assume that your outlet is just another one. I have encountered really rude fastfood outlet staff who have called me vulgar names and I phoned up the HQ and made an official complaint. I have worked in the retail line before, so I understand your predicament, but you have to look at the customer's point of view too. That's how difficult it is, working in the customer service line.

Answer 9

Because unfortunately we still have a lot of idiots who somehow think that paying someone to do something is cart blanche to do whatever you want and treat them like dirt. Newsflash imbiciles. This isn't Alabama in the 1850s anymore. Paying someone does not mean you own them.


Also a lot of them aren't aware that being rude to the cashier is not a good idea. You may think it's funny to be mean to the cashier just remember She has friends in the kitchen who may think it's funny to put their penis on your hamburger or spit in your soup.

Ever see Fight Club?

Think about it.

Answer 10

People want someone to look down upon. What's interesting is that you probably only think about the people who are rude to you, you don't really think about the people who don't mistreat you. I have worked at McDonald's before, as a matter of a fact that was how I got my first arrest when a guy spit on me, I leaped over the counter and knocked him unconscious with one hit.