OPINIONS

 

 

Editor's Box
By Jehna Holder
[email protected]
Editor


The life of a server...

Servers are people too! The next time you're out eating at a restaurant, look at your server. Do you think he or she is really happy to be doing that particular job? Most servers would say no since they only make enough money to pay the bills because a lot of people do not understand the art of tipping.

I did not understand tipping until about four years ago when I decided to start serving because I needed more flexibility with my job due to my college schedule.

I love my job except for a few things every now and then, but then again that can be true of any person and any job.

It is a tougher job being a server than you think and you should pay servers accordingly.

There are so many people out there flooding the restaurants without any knowledge of how to tip or even behave for that matter. Here are a few things that sometimes push my buttons:

1. THE CAMPERS

If you feel the necessity to stay for longer than 15 minutes after you pay, it is a nice gesture to leave an extra $3 every 30 minutes. We make our money from the tables. If you are at one and we can not seat it, we do not make money.

2. THE VERBAL TIP

Telling a server he or she is the best server they've ever had is NOT a tip. If we are good, let us know by leaving us more money. We can not pay our bills on compliments, although I wish we could because then I would be rich. It is not that we do not appreciate the praise, it is just that if you say that and then leave a horrible tip, or nothing at all, it is an insult.

3. TIPPING

It is not 1960. 15 percent is normally the MINIMUM amount you should be tipping your servers. We'll break it down for you....just look at the tax line and multiply by 2-3. This gives you your minimum tip amount. Remember, our companies pay us minimum wage ($2.13), and we are taxed on 10 percent of the cost of your meal automatically anyway. So if your meal is $100 and you leave $10 and we tip out $2-3 to the busser, then $2-3 to the bartender and whoever else then we pay tax on $10 and we make $5.

It seems small, but it adds up. How many times do you eat out per week and do this? Take into consideration that most days or nights some servers work a shift varying from four to eight hours. Some days are busier than others, but there are also slow days. We may only get two tables in the whole time we work or 12�it all depends. Just do not complain on the gratuity; smile and pay it and be thankful for the service.

4. THE COMPLAINERS

If you get a discount because your food was prepared wrong or you just feel like being a jerk, do not take it out of our tip. We did not cook it. The cooks get paid hourly regardless if the food sucks. However, we only make what you give us.

5. THE GREET

When we come to the table to greet you and we ask how you are doing, please let us know. If you are in a bad mood, we want to know that we are going to have to deal with your attitude the entire time. A confused stare or complete silence does not suffice as a reply to �How are you doing?� And do not say you are ready to order and keep us standing at your table for endless amounts of time while you actually decide what you want. There are other tables and other things that need to be done. Furthermore, stop interrupting our greeting by saying, �I want coffee.� �Can we get some bread?� or �What are the soups?�

6. THOSE DANG CELL PHONES

Seriously! Get off your freakin' phone....This is probably the rudest thing to do. If you feel you must be on your cell, at least keep your voice down out of respect for other customers. If you are on your cell phone when we walk up to greet your table, we will walk away and not return until you get off your phone. All we ask is MAYBE two minutes of your time. So get off your phone. If you want to be rude to the guest with you, by all means, go right ahead.

7. THE IMPATIENT ONES

Ahh yes... If a server comes to bring out your drinks and she/he is juggling about five things, do not ask, �Are we going to get some bread?� Do you not see their hands are full? Does it look like you are going to get bread at that moment? Clearly you will get bread, but unless the server can magically make bread appear, your question is ridiculous. Some people at your table might want their drink first, so that's what I'm bringing right now.

If you are a server, have ever been a server, know any servers or have ever had a server that you liked, please spread the word so this can get out since so many people are uneducated about tips and our lives depend on this - at least for now...or refer them to the movie �Waiting.�

Thank you, and hopefully now you understand where I and other servers are coming from.