Mop-Wielding McDonald's Server Accused of Whacking Customer: Are Fast Food Outlets Dangerous Beyond the Fat?

The Sandusky Register reported Tuesday that a Perkins, Ohio man complained that a McDonald's employee whacked him with a mop two nights earlier after they got into an argument over the freshness of the store's french fries. Because police were unable to verify whether the McDonald's employee actually hit the customer or merely swung the mop threateningly, no charges were filed.

This news comes less than two weeks after a Detroit Burger King employee punched an elderly customer, causing him to fall, hit his head, and die.

Up until this month, stories about safety in fast food restaurants typically related to obesity concerns. A Big Mac's 10 grams of fat, combined with another 3.5 grams in a large fries, provide 67 percent of the recommended daily fat allowance. Add another 12 grams for a 16 ounce Chocolate McCafe Triple Thick Shake and you're already consuming tomorrow's calories before this single meal is done.

Customers are already taking their health into their hands by entering fast food restaurants unless they're unusually disciplined when it comes to ordering. Now it appears they face the added risk of assault by impulsive workers unable to restrain themselves in the face of minor frustrations.

Whether the McDonald's employee in Sandusky actually hit a customer with a mop or swung the mop at the customer threateningly is immaterial; disagreement over the freshness of french fries is no justification for mop assault. The Sandusky Register report suggested that the customer was unwilling to leave the store until the worker replaced his fries, refusing a refund. So what does the well-trained fast worker do? Apparently this one grabbed the mop and started swinging.

In the Detroit case, the customer who died may have provoked the fight that led to his death by swinging at the employee. Nevertheless, the 20 year old worker swung back with enough force to fell the elderly customer, rather than take refuge behind the counter or call police.

Ohio's unemployment rate was 9.8 percent as of Nov. while Michigan's was 12.4 percent. PhD's are out of work, in many cases willing to take on any job they can find. Fast food chains have the opportunity to hire the best and the brightest to serve up their burgers, fries and shakes. So what's with hiring aggressive employees who assault customers over order disputes?

Have fast food restaurants given up the refrain "would you like fries with that?' and replaced it with "would you like a punch with that?"