The Gen Z stare keeps us from getting fired

There’s been a lot of discourse lately surrounding the “Gen Z stare.” As a Gen Z who worked fast food over the summer, with a terrible resting face as-is, I’m here to address the allegations.  

Look, I get it. You think it’s disrespectful when we stare at you with a “dead inside” expression. But, take a beat and think, what just came out of your mouth? 

Because sir, this is Zaxby’s, and you just ordered a burger. We don’t … have … ?  

We’ve also been open for less than 15 minutes and you just handed me a $100 bill. I don’t … have … change for that. But sure, give me just a second while I go bug the already annoyed assistant manager to open the safe and get change for your $100 while a line builds up behind you because I’m the only one working counter. Sure. For your $9.63 (after tax) meal.  

Suuuuurrrreee.  

Genuinely, I can’t count how many times in my three months at Zaxby’s that I gave the Gen Z stare because I was simply flabbergasted at what had just happened.  

Let me take you through one of the worst ones! 

The scene of the crime: It’s peak rush, lunch time. Our dining room line is full. The line is never-ending. I’m also trying to keep up with cleaning trays, brewing tea, sending food out, giving people extra sauce (which by the way, you’re supposed to pay 25¢ for) and this man comes up to the register.  

I can smell the entitlement already. Which is incredible, considering the smell of chicken is permanently embedded in my sinus cavity. 

“Hey sir, what can I get started for you today?”  

He ordered a meal and a salad. Then he said: 

“I need something for the kid. Uh, can I just get three chicken tenders?” 

“Yes sir, you can, would you rather get our Big Zax Snack? That’s three tenders, fries, and a piece of toast with a drink.” 

“No, that’s too much. Just three tenders.” 

“Ok sir, three tenders. Anything else for you today?” 

“No, that’s all.”  

He paid (key information, because after you pay, I can’t change what you ordered) and then as I was about to hand him his receipt, he said: 

“How much were those three tenders?” 

I looked at the receipt, as he could’ve easily done. 

“Well, it looks like the single tenders are $1.69 each, so after tax, that comes to $5.55.” 

He. Blew. Up. Gen Z stare alert! Is he six or 60? 

“THAT’S OUTRAGEOUS?! 6 DOLLARS FOR JUST THREE TENDERS???” 

“Yes sir, sorry about that.” (I just work here. I don’t make the prices.) 

“WELL, WELL DO YOU HAVE A KID’S MEAL???” 

“Yes sir, we have a tender meal and a grilled cheese meal.” 

“WELL, EH, HOW MANY TENDERS ARE IN THE KIDS MEAL???” 

“The kids tender meal comes with two tenders, fries, a drink and a treat.”  

“AND HOW MUCH IS THAT??” 

I very slowly turned around, and looked at the menu. As he easily could’ve done.  

“$5.55.” Gen Z stare alert! 

“WELL UGH IF I’D KNOWN THAT I WOULD’VE GOTTEN THAT NOT THESE OVERPRICED THREE TENDERS!!!!”  

I looked at this man. Gen Z stare alert! Took a breath, and said: 

 “Ok?” 

(His face following this comment was filled with rage and rather hilarious.) 

Look, I don’t know what he expected me to do. I don’t make the prices, and he had already paid (apparently without listening to the total I told him.) So then I said: 

“That’s what you ordered. Sorry sir.” 

He huffed like a child and walked away very disgruntled. I remained unbothered. He got what he ordered.  

Look I’m just saying, if I hadn't perfected the Gen Z stare, I would've launched myself over the counter and strangled that man with my sticky sauce and sweet tea-covered fingers. Instead, I just stared at him, with every hope and intention that he might reconsider his life choices and GET A GRIP, MAN! 

I have many, many more stories like this one, just from three months in the hole. Some probably worse. But no doubt, those times I used that Gen Z stare, those are the times that if I had done what I had actually wanted to do in the moment, I would've been fired. Or in jail. Or both.  

So the next time you get blasted with a Gen Z stare, maybe reconsider the words you just said, or the attitude you just gave, or the human being you just handed a very soggy dollar bill out of your bra to. Because I promise you, there will be a day when that stare isn’t enough for them, and you may find yourself in a compromised position.  

We don’t need the job that badly. That nine dollars an hour isn’t really worth our sanity. The Gen Z stare is as much for our protection as it is yours, and that’s the truth.