What is it about KFC staff?

McDonalds use just as many low-skilled foreign workers, but the people always seem to be much more well-trained, professional, and much more invested in their job. Every time I grab a KFC, the staff barely look at you and act like there’s nowhere else they’d rather be.

I’m not some middle-aged “how dare they not smile” type, I don’t demand that minimum wage workers have to act like they’re doing anything other than getting their wage. The pattern is so strong across a number of different KFCs around the country, so it can’t just be one franchisee not bothering with training.

I remember about a year ago, the two girls behind the counter were turned away from the customers and just talking for about two minutes whilst a queue of people were stood there, I was at the back of the line so I just left and went somewhere else. I worked in McDonald’s when I was a kid and it’s not like I went on a week long customer service course, but I knew I would get written up if I just straight up ignored customers.

The dudes in the local chicken shop don’t act like I’m their best mate as soon as I walk in the door, but they also don’t seem actively pissed off to be serving customers either. It must be a decision at corporate level that “customer experience” isn’t what their customers care about, so it’s not worth the cost to invest in the staff.