bitterwaitress

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Mini rant on elitists and the lowly server

December 1st, 2007 · 8 Comments

by The Girl 

 

Other servers will love this, the rest of you won’t get it…but every time someone asks me “So, what else do you do?” “What’s your real job?” or any other variant of the former…I want to say this.

 

 

Followed by “you may think this is just a pretend job, but it pays real money.”

 

 

*sigh*

 

 

I work to live, not live to work. I like my life, my job, and the way things are…sure, I’d like to finish my education. And I will, this next year. But I’m okay with being a server for now. I get my days free to be with my kids before and right after school…and that’s pretty damn important too. I’m only gone from them for about 4 hours of their day, and then they’re sleeping until I pick them up.

 

 

And you know what?

 

 

I like that.

 

 

So, for all of you who look down upon waiters/waitresses as lesser people, servants, or any other elitist bullshit attitude…remember this. We’re around to raise our kids…not chained to a desk in the office. Our priorities tend to be in the right order…kids/family first, friends second, job third. We might not have the most financial security in the world, but we have our families and the ability to spend more time with them than most corporate 9-5ers. And the last time I checked, the more time you spend with your kids, the better adults they grow up to be. Remember that as you’re listening to your nanny tell you about little Dakota’s day. Most servers have the freedom to be there…to be a part of our kids’ days and their lives.

 

 

And that’s why I stay…part of it anyway.

 

 

Also, who in the hell made it okay to leave your used insulin syringe on the table after dinner? And why wouldn’t you mention it to the server? Thank gods you were smart enough to cap it, but damn. I could have gotten stuck, which would lead to months of my having to take HIV tests and drugs that I can’t afford just to make sure that I don’t leave my kids motherless. Really. There’s a garbage can 10 feet away. Throw it out, or take it with you. Your thoughtless behaviour could have cost me more than money.

 

Tags: Opinion

8 responses so far ↓

  • 1 happy212 // Dec 16, 2007 at 5:47 am

    So true i worked at Joe Allen restaurant everyone who works there is an actor but not me. All the clientle are actors but not me people were actually shocked that i am actually a Waiter in disguise as an actor

  • 2 jmhxbabe4 // Jan 19, 2008 at 5:26 am

    On most days I don’t really care about how much they tip me, but more so about the way they talk to me. Some people are just down right nasty or mean with their tone of voices and picky or they think their comments are really funny when they are not, so on so forth, they don’t see that I have a mind, that I think and that I am many times more intelligent then themselves in actuality and the most important point of all that if they have any sense of self respect , they should not treat me or any other servers for that matter as their bitch.

  • 3 hellokitty // Jan 21, 2008 at 6:47 pm

    I always treat servers with respect but I will say that I have greatly lowered the amount that I tip in San Francisco and here is why:

    In the past, servers made crappy wages and had few or no benefits. Now, by law, servers here make $12 an hour and receive mandatory health care, sick leave, and vacation. Consequently, I’ve lowered the amount I tip to 10% (used to be 20) in the City, but still tip 20% when dining outside of it.

  • 4 admin // Jan 21, 2008 at 10:24 pm

    well, that’s just fucked up

  • 5 hellinahandbasket // Jan 24, 2008 at 3:24 am

    lol @ hellokitty…..Do you also adjust your utility bill when you discover what the bitchy ‘customer service’ operator is making per hour?

    Do you try to reduce your doctor’s bill, thanks to the fact that he or she may have recently been given a tax break by the federal government?

    Do you realize that the vast majority of people in the service industry in CA and NY have, at minimum, undergrad degrees…and many, many, are either working toward or already hold advanced degrees?

    Any why should that be any of your business, anyway? Why should a waiter or bartender have to justify a tip based on their IQ, degree status, multiple language fluency, extensive travel, or other extraneous information–including what an employer is paying out in hourly?

    Do you realize that, in order to be available to serve your uppity arse, the people who serve you must (gasp!) PAY rents/mortgages, utilities, parking, fuel, insurance, etc. in that community? Think about your monthly expenses, hellokitty, and tell me how far $12 an hour would make it.

    Bottom line…What is your hourly salary, and how should I summarily judge that?

  • 6 prndl // Feb 2, 2008 at 3:03 am

    Helo “Hellokitty!” And Happy 25th!

    (Hello Kitty is 25, and also used as a “badge of shame” in Thailand.)

    As a San Francisco Server, I appreciate the respect that you say you give us. Thanks, we deserve it. But your respect doesn’t pay our rent.
    But, as far as the rest of your post, it is factually inaccurate. Check the laws: www.sfgov.org

    “Now, by law, servers here make $12 an hour and receive mandatory health care, sick leave, and vacation.”

    The Facts:
    Minimum wage in San Francisco County is $9.36 per hour as of January 1, 2008.

    There is NO LAW mandating or providing any health care or vacation pay.
    Some sick leave hours are mandated (at 1 hour for every 30 hours worked) but only since 2007, and only at the minimum wage rate. They are not often provided by employers, unless a savvy server demands them.

    So, please learn the facts before you decide to “punish” the “”overpaid and over-rewarded” servers in San Francisco, or please limit your dining to other localities, We’d all appreciate it.

  • 7 mlbski // Mar 5, 2008 at 12:24 pm

    Been part of the hospitality industry for nearly 10 years. I come from a big loving family who I utterly adore. There’s a lot of people out there that think I’m destined to be “something.” I think am all ready and love what I do. I always say, “it’s not glamorous, but it’s wonderful to actually like going to work.” Take pride in your job, keep your dignity, have some self respect…even if you are “just a waitress.” The original issue mentioned by, “the girl”, has hit the nail on the head. That is one of my biggest bitches! “No, I’m not going to college. THIS is what I do, this is my career! Now, is this on 1 check or 2? asshole.” Although my list of pet peeves in relation to this topic is almost endless, here is the one that takes the cake: the co-worker (in my case the coke whore) that waltz’s around triumphantly with no self respect & no dignity. The person I get scheduled with and am embarrassed to be in the proximity of especially when guests are around. Picture this: casual lounge. seat yourself. 3 servers: 2 descent human beings valuing the honor system and fairness of rotation, 1 table stealing _ _ _ _ (4 letter word) we’ll call her Dirty. You’re about to greet a table, ’cause it’s YOUR turn. Dirty, cuts in front of you and in her loudest voice ever and in one breath says, “HI LADIES, MY NAME IS DIRTY. I’M A SINGLE MOM AND GOTTA SOLICIT ALL THE TABLES I CAN. IT’S A SLOW DAY ya know? and I’m just trying to make ends meet. Gotta son that’s wants to play soccer in the spring…but I don’t have any gas in my car so I hope you ladies pay cash today b/c I don’t get my cc tips for another 2 weeks. Now what would you like to drink?”

    Please note: I do not have children. I am happy I’m not a single mother. I don’t ever wish to be. I can’t even imagine what a challenge it must be. I have much respect for single mother’s and want to give a shout out to all my single mother friends! YOU are heroes. I am refrencing the Dirty broad in this story for her lack of tact, class, and respect. It also infuriates me that my table was stolen and the insinuation that those of us that don’t have children don’t have “ends” to meet or struggles to over come. It’s bad enough that customers have a tendency to look down on our profession, but to actually announce and give reason to the guest to feel sorry b/c blah, blah , blah?!&$! MAKES MY BLOOD BOIL! I hate to give this bitch that much credit, but it’s true. Maybe someone out there can identify with me. If not, thanks for letting me vent. I know this was long, sorry.

  • 8 n0d0ubt // Mar 26, 2008 at 8:44 pm

    so true. i always feel like i have to “prove” myself to my customers. yea i have my college degree AND i work in a restraunt right now. i dont know what the heck i wanna do with my life yet, but i KNOW i dont wanna sit in an office under flourescent lights all day. i’ve had the freedom to travel around the world and have experiences that i would never have had the opportunity to do if i started a “real job” after college.

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