The image was met with a flurry of impassioned responses on Twitter
(Picture: @GreatApeDad/Twitter)A simple photo has come to symbolise the struggles faced by low-wage workers, particularly in the hospitality industry, after it went viral online.
The image, shared to Twitter, features a note stuck outside a US branch of McDonald’s, reading: “We are closed because I am quitting this job. And I hate this job.”
The post racked up 200,000 likes and 20,700 retweets in less than 48 hours, as viewers debated the circumstances surrounding the blunt message.
Numerous commentators focused on staffing shortages across the restaurant industry, with many citing other examples of employees feeling overstretched and overwhelmed.
A number were shocked that a single person could be responsible for the running of an entire branch, with one writing:
Wait, did they seriously have a shift of ONE PERSON at an entire mcdonalds such that one person quitting mid-shift shut it all down?
— TMP-3M Tempest (@TMP3M_Tempest) June 14, 2021
I'm willing to believe that, but my goodness, the sheer amount of neglectful staffing involved...!
Whoever walked off from that crap is great!
Another suggested:
It's possible. I've seen it before where one person seems to be all on their own, particularly with covid restrictions where there where it was drive through only. But could easily just be the person running drive through put that sign up to make customers go by.
— Valkrys (@Valkrss) June 14, 2021
While a third commented:
This makes me sad because I know how it feels to be extremely understaffed. https://t.co/x1nxJl3HyG
— Q U E E N 👑 Muva (@TailoredDream) June 16, 2021
Meanwhile, the man who originally posted the picture pointed out that workforce cuts owing to the coronavirus crisis had left remaining staff crippled by the pressures of keeping businesses afloat:
Workers were already stretched to their limits before the pandemic. Of course people are going to break down under these conditions.
— Great Ape Dad 💪🏿🦍 💪🏾🐵 (@GreatApeDad) June 14, 2021
Scores of users, who themselves claimed to work in hospitality, responded with their own messages of desperation – with many suggesting business owners weren’t the only ones to blame for their hardship:
I work at MickeyDongs and the managers that run it are petty, passive aggressive, its a very toxic environment, no working a/c AND get verbally abused daily by customers.. I've developed heart problems from eating the food daily. I cry daily. I feel like I'll die on the clock.
— Cheen 👑 (@Cheen_Queen) June 15, 2021
Can we talk about how it's not just the pay? It's also about yall mean ass garbage ass consumers that mistreat tf out of us in the service industry!!! https://t.co/lxwpORGkFK
— W i c k e d B e a u t y (@TrinityRoze) June 16, 2021
Others shared their concern for those affected:
Customers treat fast food workers like pieces of shit and then wonder why the don’t feel respected. The company pays them little to nothing and then they have to deal with a 50 year old cursing at them for things they can’t control. I’m not surprised. I’m also proud of them. https://t.co/Zc9X9JLReu
— 💙 (@kaylaaaax_C) June 16, 2021
I'm seeing this trend on the internet a lot lately and really hoping it hits my town/surrounding towns soon because you can see visually how overworked/uncared for these people are
— Nekomancer (@Neko_Crimson) June 14, 2021
Good for them. I worked at one for 5 years and it was awful. Even the managers are treated like shit and not even paid that much more than an entry level employee (at franchises mostly)
— Anna// B! L! M! (@Kekekeaya) June 16, 2021
Keep in mind, a lot of places are offering more money but also asking for a lot more hours since they don't have as many employees. It's Dangerous out here. https://t.co/LrsHKaWz5l
— 👿The Devil's Advocate👿 (@IAmAdiKaine) June 16, 2021
We really have a modern day labor movement on our hands. Unless workers stick up for themselves, the big men and higher ups will continue to exploit the hard working people of this country. https://t.co/sMbgQcqqyy
— Peyton Crowder (@PeytonCrowderSC) June 16, 2021
It comes after a video showing a restaurant employee suffering a panic attack went viral on TikTok.
The clip showed a young woman called Tay sobbing and struggling to breathe as she tried to deal with unrelenting demands from customers.
She captioned the recording: “When you’re understaffed and overwhelmed and the customers won’t stop yelling at you.”
In it, she gasps through tears: “Can someone please come in and help us? I’m having a panic attack,” as she administers an asthma inhaler.
“We have a catering order, we have 50 online orders – please come help. Please.”
In a comment on her post, Tay explained that she had originally sent the plea to her work group chat, but no one had responded.
Tay’s heart-wrenching video has been viewed more than10.1 million times and racked up more than 2.1 million likes in two weeks, as fellow TikTokers offered her their support and empathy.
“Literally all of us in the restaurant industry right now,” one commented.
“Every day during this damn pandemic,” added another.
While a third issued a public appeal, saying: “Please remember how much stress restaurant workers are under before you scream at them for not getting your food out in 30 seconds.”
