Is this b*tch crazy or am I the b*tch?

Question

I waitress part time. One evening, my last table left. I found one person of that party meandering about the lobby. " Can I help you, m'am?" I asked. She asked the hostess and I if we had comment cards. We hadn't carried them in awhile and I asked if everything was okay. The lady informed me that she was upset that the other waitress had interrupted the conversation she was having her family to ask if she would pass the sugar caddy to refill. This lady said the other waitress had no business doing any type of cleaning let alone interrupting her conversation. She felt rushed to leave. I apologized and reassured her that I didn't mean for her to get that impression. The thing is, the manager had motioned us to tend to our closing duties such as cleaning our section 1 hr. prior. The lady went on to say that if she felt like like staying until midnight, we should hold off on cleaning up for the night until they left! Who's out of line here?

We are making the most use out our time so that we can go home to OUR families as well. I understand that it is my job to tend their needs during their stay but to deny me the right to clean up so I can go home sooner to my husband is something I found to be offensive. I still apologized because "the customer is always right'. I would never rush a guest out.

No, I don't practice spitting in people's food. That is below my standards of class.

LOL I'm NOT the one who interupted them. Although, the other waitress who did, apologized profusely to my table when it happened. I know I'm not at fault but I'm not at ease with a guest telling me to cease all other clean up until she leaves. I agree that restocking a table while guests are still seated can be rude. Again, I didn't do that.

Answer 1

I worked in a restaurant for 5 years as a hostess and a server. You should never ask somebody to pass something to you so you can restock it. You should only ask them if they need more sugar or whatever if it is for their convenience, not yours. I also think the guest did the right thing by telling the manager. Your manager should let all of the employess know that this is not the right thing to do. I do believe that your manager asked you to start cleaning up but one table could have been left until the guests were gone. It would have taken all of 2 minutes to finish up before you left. Next time, if you're in a hurry to get home, ask one of the other girls staying to clean your late table in exchange for you cleaning one of her tables. As a former server, I would also feel rushed if my waitress was trying to close out my table before I left. And if my bill was already paid, I would have no problem staying until I was ready to go. Don't feel embarassed for being wrong, just chalk it up to another lesson learned.

Answer 2

Actually neither one of you is really out of line.

While I understand that you all have families that you'd like to go home to, in your line of work (right or wrong) your primary concern is for the comfort of the customer. If their comfort level is being compromised by the activities around them even if it's something that your manager told you to do then it needs to come to a stop.

I have waitressed before and it's no fun to sit there and wait on people while your trying to get the rest of your job done.

Maybe the next best thing would have been for her to ask (while the conversation was at a break) "Excuse me, feel free to stay however long you'd like, but would you mind terribly if I refilled the sugar and other items on your table?" That way they feel as if they've been given the option to decline.

Answer 3

No it's not right to start pulling salt and pepper shakers, sugar caddy's, etc. off an occupied table unless the customer asked you to do it. Which by the way there is no excuse that they should be empty in the first place during business hours. There is other cleaning you could do besides interrupting the customers such as filling ketchup bottles, mustard bottles, cleaning the salad bar and restocking it, etc. I suppose you and that other waitress don't do very good on tips. So hard to find excellent waitstaff these days! No wonder you work part time only!

Answer 4

You shouldn't interrupt an ongoing conversation the customer is having. I am sure there were other duties the wait tress could have done and simply saved that table for last. Maybe midnight is a bit much, but you shouldn't make the customer feel rushed, unless you don't want them as a repeat customer. Word of mouth travels fast, the customer tells one person, that person in turn tells 5 more, those 5 ppl tell 5 more ppl each...So it depends on what you want ppl spreading around, that they had a great time, or they had a bad experience.

Answer 5

Wow! Rude customers like that make it difficult for other customers to get good service. You're not the b*tch. She is, definitely! I think she needs to go back on her meds, because she's crazy. And mean.

I've felt rushed to leave in restaurants before, but I just smile and pretend I don't notice a sense of urgency if I'm not ready to go yet. Obviously, if it's near closing time, I won't hang around because that's rude. Waiters and waitresses are people with families, too!

I think you already know the answer to this question, but I'm confirming it: she was completely out of line.

Answer 6

I would have to say that both of you are making more out of it than it needs so be. Yes, I sympathize with you for wanting to go home and be with your family, and following your managers orders but I do however think it is rude when the waiter/waitresses come and sweep or clean up when I am eating. So, I would just be mindful of customers when they are dining at the close of business. As you stated the customer is always right!!!!!

Answer 7

Im sorry it think it all depends on the attitude the waitress, how she asked,, and on the the customers mood.. i know what its like to be interrupted by a waitress and they dont even say sorry or excuse me and are in a hurry to rush you out. But i also know what its like to work with people and always put up with their crap, cuz the customer is always right.. I would definately say say it depends on the moment.

Answer 8

I'm sorry, but she is right.By cleaning up,while she was there is like literally telling her"its time to go".I know that u or the other waitress didn't mean it that way, but that is the impression u gave her.
I wouldn't call her a b*tch.I think she handled it quite well.Some other ppl may not have been so polite about it.

Answer 9

I would say the lady was out of line, ma'am.

I do believe the closing hours are regulated and she could have been reported for obstruction, ma'am.

And, yes, one should realize and appreciate the fact that you people in the Hospitality Industry also are human beings and have your own lives.

But, don't worry, ma'am, you don't have to face half the stuff that we need to and still stay polite and courteous.

Have a nice day.

Answer 10

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