8 Polite Habits McDonald’s Employees Secretly Dislike
Updated: Aug. 06, 2020
Here's a closer look at the friendly things that McDonald's employees wish we'd all stop doing.
Not Being Specific with Your Order
No one wants to be the customer who demands overcomplicated orders. But when you’re not specific enough, it slows down the line as the cashier asks for clarification. For example, even a simple Happy Meal has three different entree options and choices for different sides and drinks!
Asking Your Child to Order
You may think it’s cute to let your kiddo shyly order a Happy Meal at the counter. The truth is, McDonald’s employees are not as charmed as you think. It’s tough to hear or understand what your child is saying, and while they clarify, other customers are waiting.
Ordering Too Many Meals at the Drive-Thru
The drive-thru line is meant for quick orders. It’s all about efficiency and speed! It may seem harmless to order 10 meals for the baseball team; however, this slows everything down. Instead, save the big orders for inside the restaurant.
See what McDonald’s employees won’t tell you.
Talking First in the Drive-Thru
There’s nothing wrong with a friendly “Hello!” at the drive-thru—but wait for the McDonald’s employee to greet you first. The drive-thru has a sensor in the ground under your car to alert the worker when you pull up. If they haven’t said anything, it’s probably because they’re busy finishing up a previous order.
Asking for Your “Usual”
If you’re a frequent customer at your local McDonald’s, there’s a friendliness to asking for “the usual.” Some employees might know your favorite meal; but others will not, so don’t assume everyone knows what your regular order is.
Here’s what McDonald’s looked like when it first opened.
Leaving a Tip for Your Cashier
In most restaurants, it’s important to leave a tip. Unfortunately, this can be complicated at McDonald’s. According to their website, tips are not accepted as McDonald’s restaurants. Instead, show your appreciation with a friendly thank you or tell the manager how happy you are with the service.
Asking for Order Suggestions
McDonald’s employees are usually in a hurry to move the line along as quickly as possible. Wandering up to the counter and asking, “What’s good here?” may seem pretty harmless, but you’re slowing down the line and frustrating the cashier. Decide what you want before standing in line. (It helps to know the most popular items on the McDonald’s menu.)
Going Back for Condiments
A lot of customers don’t see the harm in asking for condiments after they’ve already received their meal. But employees would prefer you to order your condiments (like sauces for your Chicken McNuggets) with the meal. This avoids you having to go back up to the counter and interrupting the workflow.
