Genius Or Cruel: TikTok Spots A Chick-Fil-A Worker In A Portable Pod During A Storm
While controversy is familiar to Chick-fil-A, the chicken fast-food chain is well known for its exacting customer service standards as well as its signature menu items. As CNN reported, the chain borrowed a tactic from The Ritz-Carlton by urging its employees to say "my pleasure" rather than "you're welcome" when customers thank them.
According to Reader's Digest, Chick-fil-A has won multiple customer service awards, including top ranking in a 2020 survey by Newsweek and Statista. It's hardly surprising considering news reports of a Florida Chick-fil-A employee who went beyond the call of duty and thwarted a would-be carjacker (per News 4 JAX).
In the interest of speeding up its drive-through lines during peak periods, Chick-fil-A sends employees outside to serve customers in their cars (per Chick-fil-A). That's all good, but TikTok wants to know, do the employees really need to go outside to tend to drive-through customers in bad weather?
Service in rain, sleet, and snow?
TikToker @trippinhaley shared a video of a Chick-fil-A employee out in freezing rain inside a "weather pod" while serving drive-through customers. The video prompted mixed reactions ranging from "Keeping everything dry. looks genius to me" to "They don't pay enough for this."
The "Under the Weather" pods like those seen on TikTok were originally created to shield people from rain and wind at outdoor events like football games (per Business Insider). Use expanded to include people who need to work outside in all weather conditions like crossing guards, parking attendants, and people who staff the drive-through at fast food restaurants like Chick-fil-A.
According to Under The Weather, a pod like the one a Chick-fil-A team member might wear weighs around 3.7 pounds. It is kept in place using waist and backpack-style straps. Reactions to Chick-fil-A's pods vary as some appreciate the protection from the elements while others question whether employees really need to be outside in the drive-through.