People don't give waitresses enough credit. Ever. I don't know why they think the job is rainbows and unicorns, but it's actually really hard work. We're on our feet for at least 8+ hours a day and constantly running around and catering to peoples needs. I apologize I haven't refilled your drink for the 7th time, but I have five other tables. If you've never been a waitress or server in your lifetime, this article will be pointless. If you have been, you will understand the pains and struggles in the day of a life of a waitress.
1. When Everyone Pays Separately
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It's annoying when there's a table of 6 or more and they all pay separately.
2. Paying With Cash
It's even more annoying when there's a table of 6 or more and they all pay separately WITH cash. We have to use our own cash to give you money back and sometimes we don't have enough change on hand. So if you go out to eat, use a card because the process will go by much quicker.
3. Rude Customers
I'm not sure when it became acceptable for people to take out their impatience on the waitress, but it needs to stop. We can't do anything about the fact that your food is taking awhile to cook because we're not the cooks in the back. Don't take it out on us! This isn't fast food so if you're not prepared to sit down and have a nice meal, don't eat here.
4. Sucking at Tipping
Tips make our world go round because it's basically what our salary is. Our "paycheck" every week is little to nothing. We don't expect you to tip us a ridiculous amount, but 15%-20% would be well appreciated after what we put up with. But there's always going to be that one table who has a $100+ bill and only tips $5. We have bills to pay just like you do and that's going to be hard when you're tipping 5% on a bill.
5. Being Fake Happy
Even when you're having a bad day, you have to act like nothing in the world is wrong. You could have had the shittiest day, but you have to greet your tables with a warm smile and optimistic attitude. It's terrible.
6. Side Work
All servers and waitresses despise side work, but it has to be done after every single shift. If you get cut at 8 pm, you're probably not getting out of there for another hour by the time you finish side work. This includes rolling silverware, cleaning your section, restocking the back, finding a manager to cash you out, etc. Side work isn't hard, but it can consume precious time when you have plans to go out that night.
7. Losing Pens
It seems as though we can never have enough pens. You can walk into a shift with ten pens and walk away with only two. It's like sometimes they just magically disappear and you're left penless. A lot of times fellow coworkers steal your pens because they don't have enough themselves. Sometimes customers steal your pens. Sometimes you just simply lose them. I would just like to know how many pens a waitress goes through in a month.
8. Not Knowing What They Ordered
It's annoying when someone orders an alcoholic drink that you've never heard of. You don't want to sound stupid so you hurry and scribble down something that looks familiar to what they said and run to the bartender and ask if they know what the customer meant. They're usually really good about knowing what they meant, but if they have no clue you have to make the walk of shame back to the table and ask them clarify.
9. Being Scatterbrained
Sometimes you get to the computer to go ring in an order, but you forgot to ask what they want as a side. Just ring in french fries and hope for the best.
10. People Who Won't Leave
One of the most annoying things is when a table stays for hours and hours and you can't leave until they do. You can't be rude about it because they're clearly having a grand ole time, but at the same time you just want to tell them to leave.
11. Forgetting To Put In an Order
That "OH SHIT" moment when you realize you forgot to ring in an order and they have been waiting awhile. Don't worry, it happens to everyone. The only thing you can do is sprint back to the kitchen and tell them you need it on the fly. Hopefully they will be forgiving
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Even though being a waitress comes with its fair share of bad things, there are also a lot of perks that come with it too. I have a lot of respect for fellow servers because I know it's not an easy job. Just know that if I come into eat somewhere, I always tip 20%.
