That makes sense. We didn't have any fast-food restaurants in the city where I served as health inspector so I have never made those comparisons.
As long as they do not pick up and use what is dropped on the floor, I couldn't care less what their floor looks like. Lots of customers to serve in fast-paced environment, no time for food preppers to keep stopping to sweep the floor, customer would complain when they have to wait too long to get their order. You and I know that when we go through drive through, we do not want to be sitting and waiting for our order. If we have to wait too long, we start getting frustrated and even angry, the manager knows this so his/her workers do not have time to stop clean up what they drop on the floor. Or you would have a longer wait time. So you choose, you want a clean floor and longer wait time or faster no wait service?
The floor could be cleaned/swept during the slow times of the day. Fast-food businesses aren't busy all day long. The name of the game is "pride" in what you do and where you work. A manager is hired to keep things running smoothly, but ALSO to keep the cooking area and dining area clean. If they don't keep their restaurant clean, some could definitely wonder what their home looks like.
Excellent point, John! But, then again, I think our government has always had people that didn't agree with what is done/being said.
Your drive in analogy is spot-on. Lots of people would not bother to look behind the curtain to see what really happens. Lots of people might even catch a glimpse of it and turn away, preferring to remain in a state of denial over things they believe they cannot control...it's an understandable survival skill. You saw conditions where the business is not meeting its duty, putting you and your fellow customers at risk...and you spoke up. Not many people will do that. If they did, the pressure would force the business would meet its duty (because they clearly lack the self-respect to do so.) That is what is expected of us as citizens. The government is that kitchen. We are to follow your example of looking at things we would rather deny and--for the greater good--speak up when things are amiss. We cannot just say "they must know better" and then drive off with the bag of tainted food--and worse--tell others that there's nothing amiss in the kitchen. But before we can agree/disagree, we all must look at the kitchen and be honest about the uncomfortable mess that's right before our eyes. Not many people will do that. If they did, the pressure would force the government would meet its duty (because they clearly lack the self-respect to do so.)
Another question, and pertaining to the thread: Who works at these fast-food/drive-thru restaurants now? A lot of college students work at upper-scale department stores, like Macy's or at upper-scale restaurants, like Red Lobster. Sometimes I wonder if the employees, including the manager, are just discussed that they have to wear a mask all day at work? "I use to take pride in my job, but now, with this "mandatory mask at work" thing, I really don't care about my job anymore." it may be said. And, come to think about, how often does a corporate and/or regional manager visit the restaurant? I don't know about anyone else in this forum, but I never worked at a fast-food place and neither did any of my farmer friends. There was none close to where we lived. We all live in completely/100% farmland. A few months before graduation from high school, a classmate of mine got me a part-time job at a very upper-class restaurant in Ft. Wayne. The restaurant was so nice, our Senior Class decided to have the Senior Banquet there.
A lot of them, and I think maybe the majority, are franchises, although the franchise owner may own several franchises, often the franchise owner is local. Others are corporate-owned. My nephew did very well as a regional manager for McDonald's. He was responsible for a group of corporate-owned McDonald's restaurants within a region. At one point, I know there were six but that probably changed over the years. He retired from McDonald's with a good pension in his 40s.
I have observed cleanup personnel in the dining area of fast food places they were not exactly showing enthusiasm wiping down tables and sweeping, then again probably because they were not paid enough to be prideful of their effort. Do not know about managers, maybe the owners of the franchise should take more of an interest in the place, come around more to see how the manager is doing.
Well, those that think they don't get paid enough, accepted the pay when they were hired. They applied for the job as well. Half of American workers think they don't get enough pay, but when a "deeper look" is done, a lack of education and experience are key factors in where some people works and their salary.
Excellent point, @Cody Fousnaugh . These jobs were basically designed for part time work for students on school break, or for retired seniors who need more income than Social Security provides. They were never intended to support a family. Many of the people who work there part time only want part time work, because that way they have some extra income, but can still qualify for food stamps and medical benefits. Others still live at home with their parents, and never actually became an independent adult, so they just work for spending money. When I lived in Idaho, I worked at the Subway there, and I really enjoyed the job. At lunch time , we were swamped, with a line of people out the door and halfway down the block, because we were located near the high school, and the students often ate their lunch at Subway. If anything fell on the floor, we would have left it there for two reasons. One, we had to keep making sandwiches as fast as we could. Two, if we had stopped to pick up the food that fell on the floor, we would have contaminated our hands, and would then have had to take off the gloves, wash our hands, and then put on fresh gloves before we could make more sandwiches. Once the lunch rush was over, then we did the sweeping and cleaning and restocked the meat, cheese, and veggie bins for the sandwiches. Everything was kept clean in between the customer rush hours.
So people have no choice when accepting job offers (illegal aliens, ex-cons) does not matter what the pay, they need to survive.
We all need to "survive", but when people don't do their job, due to salary........... We are ALL told the salary we will be paid when applying and/or accepting a job. From that, it is our responsibility to do the job to the best of our ability. One thing for sure, and I definitely know this, the military, no matter which branch, a person has to do their job to the very best they can. The military doesn't accept excuses! I've talked to former military people that have asked for, and got, their discharge, found out the lack of discipline and pride there is in civilian jobs and reenlisted back in the military.