i visited mcdonald's today and ordered a filet-o-fish combo with a bacon cheeseburger on the side. i parked in the lot, eating in my car while listening to an audiobook, when i happened to glance up and saw the employee who took my order earlier standing outside, smoking a cigarette. she waved at me, and i acknowledged her with a nod. i was forced to wait a full seven minutes until she reentered the building, allowing me to resume my meal in peace. personally, i believe its rather inappropriate for employees to engage with customers outside the restaurant or drive-thru, but thats a matter for another discussion. later this evening, i returned to mcdonald's for dinner, opting for a mcchicken combo with another bacon cheeseburger. as i approached the second window, i noticed the same employee was still on duty. she greeted me with an overly familiar air, attempting small talk by asking, "why dont you come inside to eat instead of sitting out here in the cold?" this interaction irked me for several reasons. first, i dislike the idea of my routine being tracked by a fast-food employee. secondly, its not her place to dictate how i choose to live my life. i prefer the comfort and solitude of my vehicle, where i can enjoy my meal in private, undisturbed, and immersed in my audiobook. ultimately, i found it unprofessional for her to bring up such a comment. each drive-thru visit should be a neutral encounter, free of unsolicited interrogations or assumptions. i dont believe i did anything inappropriateafter all, eating in fast food parking lots is a common enough sight. for all she knows, i could have been en route to an urgent commitment or simply in a hurry.
United States