Fast Food Workers Are Not Your Slaves

Maybe it's been that kind of month when I'm a witness to inconsiderate behavior. This morning was no different:

Today is my day off. I got a late breakfast at McDonalds. I'm sitting in a booth, and there's a couple in front of me at a table.

I'm not paying attention to them until I hear the man spill his drink. I still don't look up... until I hear the unmistakable sound of liquid pouring off a table onto the ground. For 20 seconds. Neither of them is moving.

The guy says: "Don't clean it up. That's what these people get paid to do."

Instead, they move two tables down and leave the entire mess -- wrappers and unfinished food and bags and the still-dripping spill. A total mess.

I quickly got pissed. "These people" make minimum wage and even McDonalds has acknowledged workers would have to do two jobs to get by on what they're paid.

Normally, I would have verbally called it out on the spot, and although that has its place, I went a different route.

I calmly got up, walked over to the counter and asked if I could speak to the manager.

Manager comes up. I request a mop.

"I'm sorry, Sir. I don't understand."

I explain the situation and promise not to say anything to the customers (unless addressed by them). Amused, she follows to watch.

I roll the mop bucket through the restaurant. Customers are turning their heads and raising eyebrows.

I roll it up to the table of the spill. The couple is sitting there and go dead silent when they see me with the mop bucket.

The manager is standing there with a huge smile.

I take out the mop and go to work.

After five seconds, the woman speaks up:

"We're really sorry."

"That's okay. You should just treat people how you want to be treated."

The man, boisterous before, is still silent. He picks up his bag and walks toward the door to exit.

The woman appears shell-shocked. They had been laughing a few moments before and now both looked grave.

The manager thanked me and wished me a happy day.

It doesn't matter your station in life: You do not get a pass on being considerate to others. Don't be that person who gets publicly embarrassed because you were a jerk.