To make a few extra dollars, I worked part-time at a local restaurant. Although I am a former waiter, I became a host to keep customer contact to a minimum. Although the work isn’t bad, it’s the customers who often make the work experience unpleasant. Last Friday, I realized that I had made the right decision to become a host. After a co-worker delivered an overcooked steak, a customer became irate. After the incident, I heard another co-worker say, "I think customers forget that we are human."
And yes, it's true. Customers, who dine out often treat servers as either second class citizens or slaves. Sorry, but the price of your steak doesn’t give you the right to mistreat your server. Another incident involved a co-worker who sat a 300 pound woman in a booth. She was so obese she couldn’t fit into the booth. She became angry and demanded to speak to a manager. She claimed my co-worker intentionally put her in a booth to humiliate her. The explanation was simple. When you offer an obese person a table, you are assuming they are too overweight to sit in a booth. To avoid embarrassing the woman, my co-worker offered a booth instead of a table. Regardless, you’re damned if you do, damned if you don't. There's just no pleasing some customers.
I would like to take a few moments to enlighten people about servers with some facts. Yes, it's true, servers are human and they work hard for their tips. They tolerate constant verbal abuse and attitudes from snooty people. Like everyone else, servers have families to support and many of them are college students trying to survive. Servers also have feelings and become upset when you degrade them. If your food isn't prepared right, don’t become angry. Besides, the server didn't cook your food and they want you to enjoy your meal so they can earn a good tip. If there is a problem, just ask your server to fix the problem. Servers share their tips with bartenders, food runners, and busboys.
I have heard people say, "Well, they should find a better job." And this statement shows total ignorance. Most college students work in restaurants because restaurants offer flexible scheduling. And if you’re a parent with children, this flexibility allows you to manage your life to either avoid daycare costs or keep those costs to a minimum.
Also, have you tried finding a job in this economy? If not, I will tell you that most jobs aren't flexible. They give you a schedule and expect you to work it. They don't care about your school schedule or your children. So when I hear someone say, "They should just get another job, it only proves their ignorance. So the next time you dine at a restaurant, try to remember that your server is human. Like you, they also make mistakes and take pride in what they do. If they provide you with good service, leave a decent tip (20%), thank them, and shut up.
And yes, it's true. Customers, who dine out often treat servers as either second class citizens or slaves. Sorry, but the price of your steak doesn’t give you the right to mistreat your server. Another incident involved a co-worker who sat a 300 pound woman in a booth. She was so obese she couldn’t fit into the booth. She became angry and demanded to speak to a manager. She claimed my co-worker intentionally put her in a booth to humiliate her. The explanation was simple. When you offer an obese person a table, you are assuming they are too overweight to sit in a booth. To avoid embarrassing the woman, my co-worker offered a booth instead of a table. Regardless, you’re damned if you do, damned if you don't. There's just no pleasing some customers.
I would like to take a few moments to enlighten people about servers with some facts. Yes, it's true, servers are human and they work hard for their tips. They tolerate constant verbal abuse and attitudes from snooty people. Like everyone else, servers have families to support and many of them are college students trying to survive. Servers also have feelings and become upset when you degrade them. If your food isn't prepared right, don’t become angry. Besides, the server didn't cook your food and they want you to enjoy your meal so they can earn a good tip. If there is a problem, just ask your server to fix the problem. Servers share their tips with bartenders, food runners, and busboys.
I have heard people say, "Well, they should find a better job." And this statement shows total ignorance. Most college students work in restaurants because restaurants offer flexible scheduling. And if you’re a parent with children, this flexibility allows you to manage your life to either avoid daycare costs or keep those costs to a minimum.
Also, have you tried finding a job in this economy? If not, I will tell you that most jobs aren't flexible. They give you a schedule and expect you to work it. They don't care about your school schedule or your children. So when I hear someone say, "They should just get another job, it only proves their ignorance. So the next time you dine at a restaurant, try to remember that your server is human. Like you, they also make mistakes and take pride in what they do. If they provide you with good service, leave a decent tip (20%), thank them, and shut up.
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