If you have worked as a waitress, you completely understand all the stresses and pains waitresses have to go through on a daily basis.
If you have worked as a waitress, you completely understand all the stresses and pains waitresses have to go through on a daily basis. When you are on basic pay, dependent on tips and expected to work long hours, it is understandable there are many things that just drive you crazy! You might work in completely different restaurants but your problems are very similar. The fact is, waitress problems never stop. Here are some of the most common problems waitresses have to face:
Sore feet: You would think as a waitress, the biggest pains you have to face are your arms (when you’re carrying plates) or your voice (for talking to customers). But in fact, it’s always the feet. Being on your feet for long hours can put a lot of pressure on your body and sadly can put you at risk of long term health problems.
Working late, starting early: When your boss decides to put you last on the work rota and first in the next day: Clearly they don’t want us to have a life.
Hands smelling of condiments: One of the daily waitress problems you have to face is food smells. Some smells just stick to you, even after your shift is long over and you’ve treated yourself to a fragranced bath. Having your hands stink of ketchup is not a good thing, but at least it’s better than mustard...
Parents who just don’t care: An additional point to the problems above, it’s stressful when parents just don’t care. When you are trying to carry three plates and have kids running around the tables, it’s not easy to dodge. When you are trying to serve half a dozen tables, you don’t want to be minding a child. Parents should understand: ‘the waitress is not a babysitter!’
When customers aren’t leaving: As some restaurants don’t close until all customers have left, waitresses are usually left to hang around until all the diners have gone. This can be frustrating when they are showing no signs of leaving. “Here, have your tip back, please just let me go home!”
Staring: On busy shifts, the likelihood of ‘staring customers’ gets higher. It’s hard to concentrate when you know customers are staring because they’re waiting for their food to come out. Staring at a kettle doesn’t make it boil any quicker, and staring at the waitress wouldn’t make food cook any faster either.
‘Funny’ customers: This doesn’t happen often. But sometimes when customers start sharing their funny jokes and stories with you, it’s just frustrating. Although you want to laugh along, you don’t want to encourage them either. After a late shift, you just want to say: “I am sorry sir, but you’re just not very funny” - however for the sake of the tips, silence is golden.
Customers who want to share their personal lives: Whilst having a nice conversation with customers is often a perk of the job, waitresses aren’t counsellors or therapists. Honestly, after hearing so many customers share their problems, it’s likely most waitresses have enough experience to become therapists! But please, just keep your thoughts and feelings for your counsellors, we have our own set of troubles.
When the menus change: There are always some customers who hate change and will likely take it out on the waitress: Like we said before, we serve, we are not in charge of the food. If you have a problem with the changed menu, please direct your annoyance at the right person.
Customers who are having a bad day: Usually you can tell when you’ve got a ‘trouble’ customer. They’ve walked in and from one look, you know they’re already in a bad mood. Rather than keeping their bad day to themselves, they like to share their anger with you. If you can keep your cool and not let yourself get upset, it’s fine but either way, customers should be keeping their bad mood to themselves.
Customers who don’t speak up: The fact is that you can’t blame customers who don’t speak up but it’s irritating when you ask them to speak up but they just repeat their order without increasing the volume, so you have to bend your head down to listen. Please just speak up!
Customers who speak like you’re an idiot: “Yes, ma‘am, we know what you’re saying, you don’t have to repeat it. You can trust us to get the order right.”
Splitting the bill: Nowadays more customers want to split the bill. If you want to split the bill between a group of 4 or 5 people that is fine, we can do that. But if there is a party of 20 people, that’s just cruel.
Customers who make a point of getting your attention: When we say this, we mean customers who make a scene to get your attention. Instead of simply trying to catch your eye or just making the ‘can I have the bill’ gesture, they wave their hands or talk very loudly. Or they even try to flash a light from their phone. We are not flies who get attracted to bright lights, we are human beings, please treat us like one.
When customers test your patience: “Can I please order the chicken and avocado salad, but without the chicken and the avocado?” Instead of saying “Of course,” you just want to say “Are you kidding me?”
Really sore feet: We know we have already covered this one but when your feet still hurt even after you have gone home and snuggled in your fluffy blanket, it feels like you are still at work. Aching feet just reminds you of work and makes it difficult to get up and do anything just because you want your feet to recover.
Although you may feel like losing the will to live, remember these experiences are making you into strong and independent human beings.
Courtesy: blog.sfceurope.com
