The people who work in "fast food joints" don't have what one might call glamour jobs. They receive little pay for hard work, and on top of that, they are treated like dirt by the literally thousands of patrons that grace their doors day in and day out.

The following is a list of guidlines anyone who frequently eats at a fast food restaurant should read and think about the next time they are asked "Do you want fries with that?" They were distilled from interviews with workers at several fast food restaurants in America, and while different restaurants in different countries may have different policies, these can be considered general "rules of thumb."

Points to Think About

1. This is listed first because it is the most important. Please let us know if you are allergic to any kind of common food item such as peanuts, onions, or milk products. Sometimes these common ingredients can be found in places where one wouldn't expect them, such as in sauces, breads, etc.

2. If you want something special on your order, be sure to tell them what you want changed as you order that item, not at the end of the order. (ie: "I'd like a cheesburger, a chicken sandwich, no tomato, and a medium order of fries." Not "I'd like a cheesburger, a chicken sandwich and a medium order of fries... And, oh yeah, no tomato on that chicken sandwich.") This way, the person taking your order will not have to go back and delete an item and you'll get your food faster.

3. If you want extra of an ingredient, they have to charge you for it. If you want an ingredient removed from an item, they cannot charge you less.

4. Speaking of charging, the employee taking your order does not decided the prices of the menu items. Neither does the manager-in-charge. If you have an issue with our pricing, by all means feel free to discuss your ideas with said M-I-C, but keep in mind that they will have to then consult their boss and so on up the corporate ladder.

5. Please don't pay for small orders with large denomination bills. Employees are often required to clear them with the manager-in-charge, which will cause your order and the orders behind it to be delayed.

6. When paying for your order, place the money in the cashier's hands, not on the counter. Employees in the food service industry cannot have long finger nails and it is difficult for us to pick up coins from a flat surface, not to mention frustrating when we already have our hand extended. And never leave money on the drive-thru window. It is liable to blow away.

7. Please don't leave your ticket on the counter after you pick up your order.

8. You don't have to make the place spotless after you leave, but try not to leave any huge messes. Also, try to manage your small children as much as possible.

9. If you spill a drink in the dining room, let an employee know. He or she won't be angry; it is his/her job to clean it up. However, if you let them know right away, it will be easier to clean and it won't turn off customers who will walk in and see a mess.

10. Don't waste condiments or napkins; they are expensive. (Example: a case of mild sauce at Taco Bell costs more than a case of meat.) If you actually need a lot of sauce, by all means, take it. That is what it's there for. But if you are throwing a lot of it away, that is simply wasteful. (I've seen people throwing away upwards of 50 packets of sauce when they've only ordered one item.) Also, a restaurant can temporarily run out of an item.

11. Please use the trash bins placed out for you in the dining room. Don't leave your trays and food wrappers out on the tables. If the trash bins are too full, let an employee know so that they can change out the trash bags. They will throw your wrappers, etc. away in the kitchen and be grateful for the heads up.

12. Please refrain from swearing at the employees.

13. Also, don't flirt with the workers. Invitations to a hotel room or requests for a phone number are awkward to deal with. Don't put an employee through it.

When In The Drivethru...

1. Pull up close to the drive-thru speaker. They are essentially walkie-talkies, so the clarity will not be crystal clear.

2. Listen to the drive-thru personel as they read your order back to you. Correct them in a polite manner if they missed something or got something wrong.

3. Orders of $15 or more should come inside to order. The drive-thru is for people in a hurry, and large orders slow everyone down. Put yourself in the shoes of the person behind you. If all you wanted was one small drink and you were delayed 10 minutes because the person in front of you ordered 20 sandwiches and 15 orders of fries, would you be frustrated?

4. Please have your change ready when you get to the window... especially in rotten weather.

5. Please don't be talking on a cell phone while taking an order or when paying for it. That way, the employee will not have to inturrupt you to do their job.

In Conclusion

Finally, if an employee is rude to you, then go ahead and report them to their superior. That individual wasn't doing their job and is creating a bad reputation for their co-workers. People on both sides of the counter deserve respect. And when in doubt, both should just use common sense and the follow golden rule. If we simply treat each other like human beings, than the fast food experience will be a lot nicer for all involved.