20 Things Only Employees Of The Service Industry Will Understand | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

20 Things Only Employees Of The Service Industry Will Understand

If you work in the service industry, you understand.

123
20 Things Only Employees Of The Service Industry Will Understand

No day on the job in the service industry will be the same. There is always a new challenge to overcome or complication to fix, and although we have practically perfected our "customer service voice," sometimes we are not okay. You have to be a special kind of person to survive the service industry, or fall to the ashes in the "Battle of the Karens." So, here are twenty things only the trusty employees of the service industry can relate to:

1. The walk-in cooler is your therapist.

Giphy

If you haven't cried (or screamed) in the walk-in, are you even a server?

The walk-in cooler is a home-away-from-home in the industry of service - plus, it is way cheaper than actual therapy!

2. You can never have enough pens.

If you're a server, you probably have lost more pens than you would like to admit. They're basically an equivalent to gold in the service industry. And if you're lucky enough to have borrowed one from a fellow server, they either really like you or really trust you'll give their beloved pen back.

3. You have no feeling of heat in your hands anymore.

After being burned well over a few hundred times, you most likely wouldn't, either. But the best part is when you're carrying three or more plates of hot, hot food and your beloved table of five stops you to ask what your favorite meal on the menu is, while your skin happens to be burning off in the midst of it.

4. "My Pleasure" is an auto-response.

Giphy

It's naturally just a part of your many server-gained reflexes now, and it always will be.

5. "The customer is always right" applies even when they aren't.

Even if you brought them exactly what they ordered, you didn't. Even if you didn't overcharge them for their drinks, you still did. And even if their coupon is "expired" it's not - silly me, I should know that there is no such this as expired coupons in the restaurant industry!

6. There's always that one regular that may just be your bestie.

You know their name, family life, schedule, and order by heart.

7. Nothing is worse than large parties when they all want separate checks.

Giphy

And of course you don't want to sabotage all your hard work, but "Seat 1" has moved five times, the guy that was at "Seat 4" has been missing for thirty minutes, and three of those guests split an entree...sure, no problem!

8. You have nightmares about forgetting that one guy's Coke refill two shifts ago.

Once you have finally relaxed, your server flight-or-fight responses kick in and suddenly you're worried about something you forgot two shifts ago; it's basically a server's curse.

9. The two alpha males at your table fighting over the check is one of the most uncomfortable parts of your job.

Semi-professional mediator was not in the job description!

10. But cutting someone off is even more uncomfortable.

Giphy

You basically have to approach the situation as diligently as possible. And if you're a server that doesn't have the guts to do it, hopefully they don't notice that their tenth vodka sprite is, well, just sprite.

11. There will never be enough "sides of ranch" to satisfy your guests.

Don't get me wrong, I don't half-blame you. We all love ranch, but when your ranch needs to be refilled more than your beverage, you might as well ask for the bottle.

12. You say "behind" or "heard" even when you're not at work.

Just another part of your trusty, server-gained reflexes!

13. You don't have to worry about getting your steps in.

Giphy

I'm sure by now we've all mastered the infamous server half-walk-half-sprint. So, forget about getting your steps in because at the end of the day, a double shift basically feels like you just did a marathon and a half. But hey, at least we're saving on a gym membership!

14. You have perfected your customer service voice.

Some may say we have multiple personalities, but to us, it's our way of guest survival. Our customer service voice has been worked on and perfected over our years of service - it truly is a work of art.

15. Non-slip shoes are a staple to your wardrobe.

Shout out to our trusty sneakers! If it was not for you, our almost-falls would have been real-falls, and our half-sprints through the BOH would not be possible without you.

16. The limit to Karens does not exist.

Giphy

The army of angry Yelp reviewers never ends, and you must not forget their famous slogan. But you know what they say, kill them with kindness!

17. You can never seem to get that smell of food off of you.

No matter how many times you shower, the smell of your work kitchen will always be apart of your uniform and - call it a kiss from the service industry devil.

18. Sometimes your guests share way too much of their personal life with you.

I'm sorry if it comes off impersonal, but your not-so-short story about the one time "________" restaurant caused you to have food poisoning and the immensely long detail about your situation is not exactly necessary to include with your order.

19. Gluten-free people don't even know what they can and cannot eat.

Giphy

Even if your restaurant provides a gluten-conscious menu, you're still somehow required to rattle off every single gluten-free item your place of work provides. Which is fine, but when you're not a fellow gluten-free conisuerrier, the task at hand is slightly difficult.

20. The table you assign your guest will never be good enough.

An exciting game of musical tables is always the peak of seating your guest. Kinda like "Goldilocks" - one table is too big, one is too small, and one is "too sticky."

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

179210
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

6377
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

451895
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

22964
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments