Everyone needs a job for the most part, and I feel everyone should do that job to the best of his or her ability. Yet this just isn’t the case with many people because they are always “looking to the future” or “striving for something better” while being completely incompetent or mediocre in the present. People complain about lack of opportunity to chase the fabled American Dream, yet don’t want to put any effort into what they have on hand. I bet all the heads at “kitchen fresh chicken” that Jason went to all had some sort of grand idea for their futures. But don’t want to put effort into the present.

I also think for most people, doing a good job gives some sort of personal satisfaction, even if you hate the job you’re doing. If you can’t quit, at least get something positive out of it and do it well. Practicing and performing well at something shitty in the present only prepares you to do the same at something better in the future – ie providing quality work and performance. But people don’t want to do this anymore.

anyway, i bet i know how their “filet” works. i bet they take strips and put them on a bun and then make you ring it up as something other than a “filet” because that would involve actually adding something to the computerized inventory thing. never underestimate the power of corporations to make things impossibly difficult for employees who dont give a fuck anyway.

nobody working in your local KFC, Osco, K-mart or any other soulless, drab chain establishment gives half-a-shit about what they’re doing, not least becuase the corporation doesn’t give a shit about them.

Don’t forget, on average, they make $5.25 an hour. They are treated like dogshit by the store management, who only do so because they, in turn, are treated like dogshit by the corporate middle mgmt, who in turn…you get the idea. It’s the most shining example of a pecking order.

Also, don’t forget the race issue. Jason said that he’s tired of facing teenage attendants who don’t speak English. That’s going to be the case in most of these places in urban areas, and in much of Texas and California. As frustrating as it is——and I’m as deserving of a racist placard slung around my neck as the next guy——it’s gotta play a part. There’s some expected hatred going on, and it’s probably a two-way street. They see you as XYZ, you see them as ABC…etc. Now, this isn’t the case in every store with every attendant, but it’s gotta play a part, I think.

Bottom line is, the way our economy is built, and the increasing rigidity of class differences makes for a great deal of frustration and anger in the job world.

Tom’s point about the relative insanity of the way corporations tend to run things is paramount here. It’s entirely counterintuitive. They seem to do things SPECIFICALLY TO befuddle employees and screw the customer. All in the name of profit, I suppose. The sadder part is there’s really no one to blame. Capitalism buoys us all, and yet it seems to keep us from getting our lunch in a timely manner.

Me, last night: “It’s so enjoyable to post something light and breezy instead of bitching about politics like usual. Hell, I didn’t have to use the terms “Bush” or “the administration” even once! First spork reset of 2004! Rock on! ”

Me, today: “Uhm…what happened?”

Great commentary by all, as usual. But one thing (Sam, this is toward you):

Also, don’t forget the race issue. Jason said that he’s tired of facing teenage attendants who don’t speak English. That’s going to be the case in most of these places in urban areas, and in much of Texas and California. As frustrating as it is——and I’m as deserving of a racist placard slung around my neck as the next guy——it’s gotta play a part. There’s some expected hatred going on, and it’s probably a two-way street. They see you as XYZ, you see them as ABC…etc. Now, this isn’t the case in every store with every attendant, but it’s gotta play a part, I think.

All I’m saying is this: in a job where the primary function is to communicate with customers, it should be a given that the employee be able to actually, you know, comprehend what the customer is asking for. I think this falls under “common sense” rather than “racism”. It’s ridiculous that a customer should accept shoddy service just because it would be considered racist to complain about it.

Jason is completely right with his comment, and also, I can see how someone would want to make a “racist” accusation of the situation he was presented with, but not the case here at all.

When I had put up my other site I had problems with the uploading my files, I called the support line and tried to get help, instead I got pissed off because I could’n understand a damn word they were saying. Why? They were from India. My anger didn’t come from the fact they were from India and I couldn’t understand them, my anger came from the fact I bought a service from an American company in Connecticut and they outsourced their support line. Had I not figured the problem out, I would have drop their service and found someone else.

Do you think Jason will be hitting that KFC anytime soon? Maybe, maybe not.
Retail business, any service industry is based on the customer and how they are served. Plain and simple. Want return business, use common sense.