Fast-food eateries are supposed to be magical places where you forget all your problems by gorging on unhealthy but delicious food.
So, when there is a spate of fights in several fast-food places, you know that it’s a dark period for humanity.
Just a few days ago, a food delivery rider started shouting at staff members because his order was taking too long.
And a Playmade staff member and another food delivery rider recently got into a tiff due to long waiting times too.
Well, it’s happened again, but this time, it’s the staff member who’s all riled up.
Burger King Staff & GrabFood Rider Had War of Words With Threats on Online Shaming Over Cancelled Order
A video of an argument between a Burger King (BK) staff member and a person believed to be a food delivery rider has been circulating on Facebook.
According to Mothership, the rider filmed the incident, but the video was uploaded by an unrelated member of the public.
At the start of the video, several witnesses can be seen restraining the male BK staff member and attempting to calm both men down.
The BK staff member was visibly furious and tried to snatch the man’s phone at one point, after which the man egged the BK worker on, threatening to call the police.
The rider also threatened to make the BK worker “viral”, to which the BK worker responded by lowering his mask and saying he wasn’t scared of going viral.
After a few more pleasant exchanges, one witness convinced the rider filming to leave, saying in Hokkien that everyone is stressed during this period, reported Mothership.
In response, the man said that this is no excuse to “show attitude”.
Here’s the full video:
So, What Actually Happened?
The person who posted the video online speculated that tensions may have flared due to long waiting times, as it has over the last few days in several F&B establishments.
Reader: Ya, that’s why I got angry when this officer told me not to eat my Fillet-O-Fish at McDonald’s.
But dining-in is not allowed and McDonald’s isn’t even open.
Reader: STOP TELLING ME WHAT TO DO
As I was saying, many thought that the long waiting times caused the fight, but this may not have been the case this time.
A detailed comment was posted on the All Singapore Stuff Facebook page, allegedly by the rider who filmed the incident, in an attempt to explain what actually happened.
“Hi this happen at BK @amk hub, when I reach there seeing all the phone on the table, I knew something Grab system down. I decide to cancel but Grab call center was busy so I take a photo n report using their online help center.
but this guy became agitated asking y I take him and shouting at me, so I reply I’m not taking photo of him. den he was getting out of control challenging me to a fight, and eventually he hit my hand and cause my old wound crack open again. eventually police came.
every1 is stress, but pls don’t insult rider, the handling can be better.”
Basically, the rider was frustrated that Grab’s system was down, and wanted to snap a picture to report it, but the BK worker must have thought that the rider was filming or taking a photo of him to shame him online.
And then the worker became agitated and started shouting at him. He allegedly even hit the rider.
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Surge in Demand
Now, if you’re wondering why being filmed can drive a man to such murderous rage, it’s because these workers are under tremendous pressure at the moment.
Speaking to Mothership, Burger King’s marketing director Irene Tay said their surge in orders has “aggravated the tremendous pressure on both [their] crew and the delivery riders”.
As a result, orders are also taking longer to fulfil, even though staff members are working tirelessly.
Tay urged both customers and delivery partners to be patient and understanding in light of the longer wait.
She also said that while she empathises with pressure on food delivery riders, Burger King will not “condone nor tolerate any abuse to [their] staff”.
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“We have a Dignity at Work and Zero Tolerance policy. This means that aggressive or violent behaviour towards our staff or any member of the public within our premises will not be tolerated under any circumstances.”
It’s a tense time, but getting angry and fighting with one another isn’t going to solve anything.
If your order is taking long, it’s not because the staff members are watching Tiger King in the kitchen; they simply have too many orders to deal with.
Let’s all practise a little patience and kindness during this trying time. Negativity just breeds more negativity.