Stores, restaurants, and other businesses are constantly having to add more rules because employees do not understand how to behave or dress professionally. Often it is a case of one person's extreme behavior ruining it for others because the business has to adopt a strict rule to prevent it recurring. I would imagine a business staffed predominantly w/ high school kids would need many rules!
It drives me nuts when I am in a store and the employees are so busy talking to their friends or each other that they can't be bothered to help you or ring you up. There is a great deal of tidying up, stocking, pricing etc. involved in retail. It is part of the job and what you are supposed to do when the store is empty. If it was true that you weren't allowed to eat at the food stand next door I would imagine it had more to do w/ employees wandering over when they were on the clock instead of on break.
I'm sorry if someone had a bad experience working there, but from the sounds of it, they need to toughen up and realize that's why it's called work. I've had far worse jobs and working conditions and I'm sure many other people have too!
