It’s been a long day. You’re tired, hungry and looking for a quick bite before getting back to work. You place your order at a fast food joint or grab something from a deli, and expect the worker behind the counter to take care of what you want. Immediately.

But what happens those times when the person you’re expecting to do their job shows a moment of hesitation or is unsure of how to do something?

The usual tendency is to question, “How do they not know how to do this?” or, “What is so difficult?” And generally, there is very little patience when one has thoughts like these.

Everyone knows what it’s like to have a day filled with tired, busy people. People who don’t have time for mistakes. We also know the reaction when something goes wrong. That “Umm …?” that comes along with furrowing brows and a slight tilt of the head.

However, sometimes it doesn’t end with a look and slight raise in the pitch of someone’s voice.

One day I was next in line at a fast food place, with a friend to make my order. The girl in front of me ordered, and the woman who was working asked her, “What do you want on it?”

Of course, the girl was surprised. Her pause and glance toward her two friends showed she was wondering how the woman could work there and not know how to make her food for her.

The woman apologized and explained that she was new, and made an effort to give her customer what she wanted.

However, the girl was frustrated at the quality of service, and spoke in a rude tone, making it obvious she thought the woman behind the counter was incapable.

The worker turned red. Although she attempted to hold her composure, it was clear that the insult would not leave her mind as she attempted to recover her dignity.

I watched this display in shock. I couldn’t believe how this girl was treating the worker, who was not being lazy or mean but was simply unsure of how to do something. It made me wonder: To what extent do people feel they have the right to treat someone providing them service however they choose?

Is it the person’s uniform and lack of a business suit that makes them any less respectable as a person? Does a person become undeserving of politeness when that person is no longer standing next to you and is instead behind the counter or register?

To some, the choice of using manners may be specifically applied to only certain times or people. But speaking politely makes a bigger difference than one may imagine. It seems like an obvious way of going about life, but it does not always occur to everyone.

It may not seem too harmful if you’re not the person on the job. For you, it’s five minutes out of your day, and once you get your order you can move on and forget about it.

But those kinds of things stick with you if you’re the one working — especially if you receive that kind of treatment repeatedly throughout a day.

Although good service should be expected, when this cannot be received immediately, people should not take out their frustration on the person serving them.

And when one does get the service expected, a “thank you” would be nice.

Whether at a fast food joint or an office, why should the treatment of those that are serving you differ? At the end of the day, a smile and kind word can have more power than one may realize. Giving someone a smile in return for them making your food is all it takes to make their day — and yours — a little bit better.