Who doesn't like Five Guys? There's a reason why the franchises are so successful and not just because of the good food and free peanuts, but also the exceptional service and food served with a smile. We can't see the smiles now unless we look at the employees eyes or listen to their words because of the face masks. Yes, they are uncomfortable and yes they make glasses steam up....but wearing them in public says, yes I'm protecting you and hope that you in return will protect me. But this is not normal times. We are in the midst of a pandemic and so many changes have had to be made in our lives when it concerns being in public and especially when it comes to the handling of food. Ohio law mandates that all employess in any business MUST wear a mask....not just the food industry, but ANY business unless an employee, for a particular reason, cannot wear one. That person and his employer must submit a request, with reason, to the health board as to why he or she cannot do so and in return, has to have written permission to work without a mask. In food service, a mask is imperative and an employee who cannot wear a mask does not belong anywhere near food.
I went into Five Guys at approximately 7:30 pm. on Sunday, June 28. I was forth in line and the first two groups while ordering separately, consisted of about 8 or 9 people, none of whom were wearing masks. The same with the person in front of me...no mask and a couple others waiting for orders, also no masks. One gentleman standing off to the side, the young man behind me, and myself, were the only 3 with masks on.....except for the guy at the french fry station, who was wearing his mask perched under his nose and resting on his lower lip. He was also wearing a shirt different in color from the rest of his co workers. More about him later.
When, after standing in line for a good 10 minutes (two registers, but only one cashier), it was my turn to order but the phone rings and the cashier answers. Not only does he answer, but takes a huge order instead of putting the caller on hold or calling one of the 3 employees either coming back from break just standing around. The line behind me gets longer and finally with the cashier still on the phone and tallying up a never ending order, I ask if someone could please take my order seeing as I had been waiting a good 15 minutes now and having more difficulty standing every minute. (am old..78 and using a cane because of leg and back problems), but even so, don't look it. Makes no difference because the cashier should never have taken a phone order out of sequence, or given the phone to someone else to take the order. So, up pops the guy with the different color shirt and drooping mask and I complain about my wait and then tell him he should have that mask covering his face. He pops it up where it belongs and said I should only know about how hot it was back there and especially by the french fry station where he was working while his co workers were on break...two at the same time...another no-no. Also said he was the manager. Being the manager does not entitle one to let a mask slide when working with food to be eaten by others, nor is it setting a good example for the rest of his staff who were all wearing masks as they should be worn. When I told him I would report him to the Board of Health, he told me not once, but twice to have a good day. Needless to say, I did not order food there like I have at least once a week from the time the franchise opened in that location...well minus the two and a half month lockdown and earlier remodel....and needless to say, I will not be going back there again because of the person who was in charge Sunday evening. Wearing a different color shirt does not mean entitlement, nor does it set a good example for the people he is in charge of. Being a good manager means he needs to deligate workers where they are needed and not let them stand around when people are waiting. What it does do is alienate customers and by not wearing a mask properly, says to everyone around him and the customers...he doesn't give a rat's behind about them. And what it does as well, is tell his boss he doesn't take his job seriously and could care less if a customer leaves with a bad taste in his or her mouth or he loses his job to someone more deserving. read more