One of the worst parts about any job is answering the phone, especially when you work at a restaurant. For most people these days, it's really awkward to have a conversation over the telephone with a stranger. And half of the time, it's someone wanting to complain. For a Burger King employee, when the phone rings there, it's probably somebody bitching about their dried-out hockey puck of a hamburger having mayonnaise on it, or being shorted a chicken fry.
So it must have been a exciting when somebody rang up a Burger King in Shawnee claiming to be be from the fire department. From KFOR:
SHAWNEE, Okla. - A bizarre prank call is costing an Oklahoma fast food restaurant thousands of dollars.
Police said someone claiming to be with the fire department convinced employees to vandalize their own store...
“The employee stated that a person called them and told them there were high levels of carbon monoxide in their building, and they needed to break out all their windows,” said Thomas Larman with the Shawnee Fire Department.
In a panic, workers used chairs to shatter the glass.
When firefighters got there, they used a device to check the business but found no signs of the deadly gas.
This must be the most fun they've ever had at work. Seriously, I can't count the jobs I've had where I've daydreamed about the whole building burning down. If I'd have ever gotten a phone call from an authority figure telling me to smash all the windows, I'd be the first one with a chair in my hands.
Apparently, there have been similar prank calls across the country, including California, Arizona, and Minnesota.
The corporate people and franchisees probably don't think it's very funny, but I think it's great. Not only is it hilarious, but it's good for the economy. Their building is insured, so it's not like they're really out much money. The glass repair guys get a little extra work, the drive-through still stays open, and the workers get a little cathartic stress relief by vandalizing their stressful work place without suffering consequences. Everybody wins!
Hopefully, a recording of the call surfaces one day. If it's as funny as the one where the guy convinced a fast food employee to deep fry the phone, we're in for a treat.
