Minimum Wage, Minimum Effort, Part 2
I work in a fast food place. A customer is moaning that the burger he has been served isn’t identical to what’s on the televised ad.
Me: “Let me call my manager over, sir.”
Customer: “You do that; you’re obviously unqualified even for this minimum-wage job!”
I ignore the insult and call over the manager, who responds promptly.
Customer: “Your staff are stupid, and they must think that I am stupid if they think I’m willing to accept this crap.”
The customer holds up his burger.
Customer: “This burger looks juicy and huge on the ad. This thing in my hand is dry and tiny.”
Manager: “Sir, that burger has been made to the standard specifications as outlined by corporate. If you’d like we can refund you—”
Customer: “What I’d like is to get the burger as it has been advertised!”
Manager: “Well, any burger we make for you tonight will be similar to what is currently in your hand, so—”
Customer: “Are you defending your incompetent staff out of some misplaced sense of loyalty? Your loyalty needs to be to the customer! The customers are why you all have jobs!”
He then points to me but continues to talk to the manager.
Customer: “Either get him to make the burger the way I deserve or have him fired.”
Manager: “Sir, as you have so enthusiastically pointed out, [My Name] here is on minimum wage. You’re asking someone on minimum wage to redesign a corporate-created burger on your whim.”
Customer: “Why should I care? If they think it’s so bad, they should get a better job. Lazy people spend their whole lives in minimum-wage jobs and keep complaining about how ‘unfair’ life is!”
Manager: “That’s a great way of saying that you agree that these jobs need to be done, and in fact, it’s in your interest that they are done, but the people doing said jobs deserve to live in poverty.”
Customer: “Yes! If they weren’t forced to live poor and uncomfortable lives, nothing would push them to do better!”
Manager: “Sir, I believe we’re done here. Finish your burger or get a refund, but I won’t stand here debating the issue. I’m sure your time is more precious than ours, anyway.”
Something about the manager’s sickly sweet yet almost sarcastic tone made the customer very uncomfortable. He finally shut up and left the store in a strop, but leaving is leaving, so … win!
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Minimum Wage, Minimum Effort
