Why do waiters think their job is so difficult?

Question

You have the opportunity to make a good amount of money for doing nothing more than placing an order, filling a glass, serving and clearing food. If you do this, you can expect to be paid anywhere from $10-50 from me based on the check. That's for less than an hour's worth of service. I think that's fair. I was a former waitress and now an attorney. It used to baffle me how so many servers used to complain about their job when all they had to do was be friendly and pay attention to their customers. Seriously, why do you think what you do is so hard? There is no science or math to this. There is no heavy lifting. Most customers who are angry are not angry with you. If you simply apologized and blamed the kitchen, the customer would calm down. Instead, most waiters get defensive and make the customers more angry. All jobs require thick skin. I have people yelling at me all the time. It comes with the territory. Grow up kids

To Barbarel

I can see that reading comprehension is a challenge for you. Here let me help

"I was a former waitress and now an attorney."

To Peachy

I worked my way through school and had those types of tables on Saturday evening. Again, it wasn't that bad. I do know that there are waitresses like yourself who are oblivious to how they are perceived and never think they are rude or do anything wrong. It's no wonder you receive bad tips. Look in the mirror honey and accept the fact that you could work on your personality instead of thinking everyone else is the problem. There are a lot of waiters here that agree with me and shared my positive experience of it. Sure, it's hard but there are always complainers in life who don't know how to make the best of situations. It's usually these people that fail and blame the world for their problems. I would tip you well because apparently you need help with your self esteem.

To Kari G

Thank you for the polite and empathetic response. I can tell you are truly one of the nicer servers that are working today unlike many of the other respondents.

Unlike the other waiters, I am glad to hear you admit that customers are not angry at you but at the restaurant. Again, it's up to the person to be mature and strong enough to realize their anger is not directed toward you. Most waiters can quell the situation by apologizing on behalf of the restaurant and doing something (free dessert) to make up for it. However, most servers have too much pride and are unwilling to apologize or offer a free desert or appetizer. Most managers will agree to such a gesture and customers appreciate it as well. Again, it comes down to ego and immaturity; most servers are not like you and I. They have too much of an ego

Answer 1

Some of your points are valid but please read on. I had a girl in a speech class give a talk on tipping. She brought in a paystub for a forty hour week that ended in zero dollars to her. They have a thing called "tip back" which is basically sharing the tips with the buss boys and cooks. So roughly half of the tip is gone before they ever get to the bank. Second, yes it does take thick skin but how thick would yours be if you had multiple demanding customers and no matter what you did nothing appeased them? It happens to them and to others in other jobs. It's called a bad day and they do happen. As for it being hard, it's more stressful than hard but they are on their feet for the entire time and the managers want the customer to enjoy their meal but not take all day to do so. Time and seats are money lost or gained. They want the customer to come it, order, eat, be happy and then leave in approx. thirty minutes so they can do the same thing over again.

Yeah it is not rocket science but it's not a job for everyone. I have no problem tipping well for great service but I don't go overboard for the average waitstaff.

Answer 2

The work can be heavy, hot, and there are a lot of tempermental chefs, customers, and co-servers to deal with.

Here in Virginia servers make HALF OF MINIMUM WAGE! Who can live on this or supplement their studies on such a wage without tips.

Many years ago, I worked in a very nice restaurant where the waiters had to act as sommeliers as well. I've seen tables of 4-10 persons eat multi-course dinners with drinks and wines, leaving the server less than ten percent in tips. Serving such a mean takes a great amount of effort.

Also, our restaurant was located in the super wealthy hunt country, and our clientele included many very wealthy patrons: people who owned private planes, rode to the hounds, academics, etc. Some of these people would come into the restaurant obviously upset about something that had already happened and take it out on the waiter. Our owner/manager was so nervous about losing customers that he often allowed this to happen unchecked!

That is the other side of being wait staff. I couldn't deal with it.

Sandi

Answer 3

Waiting tables is a hard job, but every job has its annoying and demanding parts. If a waiter gives me good service I will tip them very well, if they give me poor service I will not. I feel that is the risk you take when working a job that the income is not steady. You accept that you may make less money some days for the chance that you may make more other days. It is the same with sales commissions and many other jobs that are not salaried. Many waiters think they are automatically entitled to a good tip just because their hourly wage is not high. Again that is a risk you take and may servers take home enough money to make it worthwhile.

Answer 4

I have been a waitress for 8 years, I started as a sophmore in high school and am currently still trying to pay my way through college. On some aspects of your question I agree, on some however, I do not. I work in a small town country restaurant where everybody knows everybody, they eat there almost everyday sometimes even twice. They even sit in the same seat, we are usually pretty busy and sometimes there is a long wait, so when the people sit down they are already angry because they had to wait. Sometimes the food takes too long and that makes them even angrier because it didn't take that long when they ordered it yesterday, all of this reflects on you whether it is your fault or not. Most of these people have been eating the same thing for the last 20 years and if it looks different, takes a little longer, or just wasnt exactly like yesterday, they take it out on you.

This is however where I agree with you, if you sympathize and pay attention to their needs, things can still go your way in the end. The customers aren't angry with you but you are the only one they have to yell at, but just deal with it and smile. that's my philosophy.

Answer 5

First of all, Barbarel or whatever your name is, re-read the question. She said was is a former waitress, so she knows what's she talking about.

We don't always know what goes on behind the scenes. The people in back may be rushed and pressured and take it out on the waiters. Some people just hate dealing with the public in low-paying jobs. Those are the people who shouldn't be dealing with the public, but if it's the only job they were able to get, they're going to take it out on the customers. I would never want to see someone fired, but I sure wouldn't put up with waiters or waitresses with bad attitudes. I would always bring it to the attention of the manager. Sometimes it doesn't hurt to look at a rude waiter and smile and make a comment like "Having a bad day, today?" Just acknowledging that you see them as a person who may be having a rough time makes all the difference.

Answer 6

I was a waiter and never had a problem with it. I think too many people are unable to provide true customer service. They get defensive when customers get upset about their performance. All they have to do is apologize and correct it. It's hard to admit when you are wrong though, and even harder to say you are when you aren't and the customer is just being difficult. But that is the point of SERVING someone. Honestly, the customer will be gone in an hour or so, and you will still need your job and tips. I always made great tips, but I never had a problem taking the blame for a cook's error, a bartender's folly, a hostess' booking error, etc. Just overcome it and make the rest of the experience as enjoyable as possible and you will be rewarded.

Answer 7

I agree with peechy keen all the way. I work in customer service and know first hand how rude customers can be. Yes thick skin is needed, but servers are people as well and deserve respect. Don't take you work/home/family life frustruation out on the server/cashier etc. Sometimes it doesn't matter how much you apologize or sympathize with a customer, there are some that are just plain rude and feel they have the right to do so because you are there to serve them. Its the servers job to serve you, not kiss your a** because the KITCHEN staff didn't cook your order right. Go argue with the cooks. I don't mean to be rude but If you feel that way, then cook your own food, that way you get to keep your money, and you wont have anything to complain about or anyone to yell at but yourself.

Answer 8

Everyone complains about their jobs every now and then. You just said you have people yelling at you all the time. Do you never complain about that to anyone? I can imagine what they say behind your back... "I can't believe she's b-itching so much about her job. Whaa whaa. So people yell at her? She makes enough money to put up and shut up."

Where did you waitress? Clearly you did not work at a restaurant where you tip out your hostess, bartender, and busboy. Even at cheap Mexican restaurants like Pappasito's the servers tip out to the bus boys and bartenders. This is a very common practice. Sometimes you tip out based on your sales for the night, so if someone stiffs you or leaves a crappy tip, you have to tip someone else out anyway, and may end up losing money on that table.

What is going on in your life to make you so angry at an entire service industry? You sound angry and stressed out. I think you need a vacation.

Answer 9

I've worked with the public all my life. And if there's one thing I learned, it's this.

In a job working with the public, they don't care. if they've had a bad day, they'll take it out on you. and not give a damn. And instead of just having to deal with the office jerk, you have to deal with every angry customer that walks through the door.

Also- people who work jobs that don't involve much work, are working there because they don't involve much work! If you don't want to work, and then are forced to work, of course you'll complain.

I got a good job a few years ago, and do NOT work with the public anymore, and I hope to never do it again

Answer 10

Unfortunately, some people will not calm down when you apologize. Others can be amazingly demanding. Still others will stiff you even if it is the kitchen's fault.

Like most service jobs and retail jobs, waiting demands a thick skin, a big smile and boatloads of patience. I'm glad I'm not a server!