It sucks to get out of class hungry, only to be stopped short by the long line at your favorite on-campus restaurant. Chances are though, you’re still going to stick around to get your food (I know this because we still have that 20-person line every day).
Just because you’re hangry doesn’t mean you have the right to make my job harder. Yes, I love my job, but as an ode to all of my other fellow student employees, here is a list of the worst things you can do when you eat on campus.
1. Blaming employees for shortages and what’s on the meal plan
GIF courtesy of giphy.com
It’s annoying. I get it. However, we have NO control over when the truck arrives to restock us, or what upper management decided your meal plan was worth. If we ran out of balsamic vinaigrette today, do not give me the stink eye.
2. Trying to cheat the system
GIF courtesy of giphy.com
Yes, it’s sad that you can’t have that turkey sub or Cobb salad with a meal swipe, but no, acting dumb at the register isn’t going to get you anything. We start recognizing you when you come by every day. We are happy to give a little extra here and there, but if you’re blatantly trying to abuse the system, then we have the right to get mad.
3. Being on your phone
Photo courtesy of huffingtonpost.com
Put it down. If you are in line and need to answer that text from Mom, by all means do so. Same deal if you ordered and are waiting for your food to be ready. But, the second you get in front of someone who is trying to get your order right, look away from the screen.
4. Spacing out
GIF courtesy of giphy.com
Guys, think a little bit, I’m trying to make your food the way you want. If I have to call your attention back to ask you what you want, what size, what toppings, what cheese, and what dressing, things go slowly. Focus on what I’m asking you, and then you can zone out for the rest of the day.
5. Not participating in our small talk
GIF courtesy of giphy.com
Yes, it is part of the training. But for real, it gets boring to be doing the same thing for hours. If we are making the effort to ask how your day is going, or how you like your classes, we genuinely mean it. Please, be kind enough to respond.
6. Ignoring our requests for you to do the survey
GIF courtesy of Giphy.com
If you laughed at our corny joke, or really liked how friendly we were, take the business card and fill out the survey. If you guys are anything like me, you are already on your phone for the entire time that you are eating. Take the few minutes to give us some credit.
7. Asking if we are open when we clearly are not
GIF courtesy of giphy.com
This is my least favorite. Yeah, at the start of the semester and around holidays hours get weird. But the biggest clue is this–if the lights are off, food is put away, and the floors are being cleaned–we are closed! Trust your heart, and accept that dinner is coming from the POD Market tonight.