The Pros and CONS of Being a Waiter/Waitress – Part 2/2

The whole idea around being a waiter or server has a lot of extra commentary with mixed reactions around the topic. You might have a friend that is a waiter and won’t stop complaining about how much he dislikes the customers, how they never tip, and how rude they are or you may have a family member that is a waitress and she won’t stop talking about how much she enjoys making such good money in a short amount of time while laughing and enjoying her interactions meeting a large array of different customers that enter the restaurant.

This post here will finally remove all the confusion and allow you to really be exposed to both sides of the equation. I’ve already covered in my previous discussion here on FineDiningAdvising all the different PROS of being a Waiter/Waitress. Here today I am proud to present to you the opposite end of the spectrum. All the CONS of being a waiter/waitress. Enjoy!

Cons

With Devotion and Expertise comes great Responsibility

That essentially implies the more you find out about your establishment, whether it be from the rear of your restaurant to the hostess, the more work you might need to do compared to your own coworkers. People anticipate more of you, which could make for a lot more pressure for you as well as having many others rely on you. Do you get paid for the excess weight? Perhaps not.

Being forced to work weekends

There’s pretty much a 100% probability of working weekends in the event that you’re working in a restaurant. While your entire buddy list, loved ones and family are off on weekend holidays and having dinner celebrations, you happen to be the one “caught serving” all the folks out for a night in town.

Always Having Cash Available At Hand

Yes we’ve spoke about this one previously and agreed it is a pro. But, those who are inclined to spending cash, they could have a significant difficulty with managing their money. Cash is not so difficult to spend, particularly if the entire staff is going out to get a drink later.

Years In

It takes a toll in your body. A lot of times, servers that have been working for years will feel the ramifications of always being on their feet and caring heavy plates. Knee problems and back problems are common. By being a real server, lots of strain is put on your body.

Forget about benefits

Whereas other businesses give their employees advantages like ill/sick days most restaurants don’t supply that for their employees. Are you ill? Don’t matter, either you show up or you don’t get paid.

Being forced to cope with Douchebags

I hate to say what I’m about to say, but it is not false. Individuals could be jerks and you are going to have contact with lots of them. It changes from people that understand nothing about the restaurant company, impatient people, those who believe you are their slave, and just plain vile malicious people. I am not saying you need to accept and like whatever crap people throw at you, but should you not possess a thick enough skin to let someone’s words simply roll off of you…then this isn’t the occupation for you personally.

The Mediocre Coworkers

Oh my goodness gracious…you’ll really find so many! Poor coworkers may cause you to lose your cool and could quite possibly destroy your day. It is consistently the coworkers that are at all times late, continuously assess their telephone in the rear, sneak out a million times a night through the back to get a smoking break, blow off their customers, speak back to the chiefs, are disrespectful to your tables, asking for people to cover their shift but never replacing anyone, and run around all over the place appearing like they’ve been active but never actually really lifting a finger. It has the potential to drive you NUTS! There will be times when you’ll be asking yourself “Why do I bother working so hard?” and will make your motivation plummet to the floor.

Being Forced to Work using Another Set of “Rules” than other Occupations

What I mean by that is the restaurant industry has a distinct manner of working. Certainly you’ve got the exact same group of work code and rules as other places…but occasionally not. Now, how shall I set this? For instance, the most busy Saturday night you can fathom to imagine. You will find folks everywhere! A big party in the rear corner is partying it up and loudly speaking and laughing. You can find children running across the restaurant as well as their parents not having a care in the world. Nonstop printing from the ticket printer and drinks reappearing every couple seconds at the bar. It’s intense and disorderly. Unexpectedly, you create an error that is critical. You sent the order of a table, however they wished to wait. The customers are angry that their food came out plus they would like you to bring the plates back since they’re certainly not prepared for their meals right now. You are frightened, as you walk back towards the kitchen because you messed up. Whoever is managing the kitchen is working in overdrive, attempting to have everything under control. They are sweating from yelling out orders, calling out directions and attempting to stay functioning fluently…and now you must let them know that you f’d-up and disrupt their entire system. They look at you at first like you’re lying …then you receive the “Are you f*cking kidding me?!” expression. They then proceed to call you an idiot and kick a little garbage bin against the wall. Is the way that people deal with errors in other occupations? No…not at all. However, in the restaurant industry there is plenty of discouragement, and anger particularly when beneath the pressure of a restaurant that is jam packed. People lose it, supervisors scream, dishwashers resign on the spot without notice, hostesses will not seat your section if you did something they did not enjoy, others make an effort to screw you up and back stab. That is merely the way it works at times, it’s just part of the game.

The High Chance to Become Bitter and Angry

Waiting tables after a significant amount of time can make you feeling bitter and angry. In the event you’re not attentive to your own thoughts, you may find yourself always bashing on your guests to other servers in the rear, judging customers when they sit down, becoming pissed off about the tips which people leave you. It will get so awful that to a specific stage in your occupation you’ll find it difficult to find any good in serving. You lose your faith in humanity. The worst is this sort of behavior is infectious. If you are around other waiters who are always upset and whining about the small matters, you will begin to feel that way as well unless you are of REALLY powerful control over your emotions you will feel an overpowering nature to feel that way also. It’s possible for you to turn into someone you do not like…so be cautious.

Eating Out

Some waiters aren’t unable to dine out in the manner individuals who do not serve tables dine out. They will always be cleaning up the table or piling empty plates, and will begin judging their servers particularly when they have been terrible waiters. They expect the exact same degree of service as they give…and sometimes that is not the case. They will observe just how individuals work, hear the telephone ring, and observe their drinks melt as they sit at the pub with no attention. Servers know how things work behind the scenes and it could deflect them from enjoying their only night out. That and sometimes being in a restaurant merely reminds them of work.

Alcohol/Substance Abuse

Being in the restaurant company and serving tables can result in a wide range of alcohol and/or substance issues. Where are you likely to go to unwind after work at 1 am with coworkers? Most likely a club or a bar. And what do folks do at pubs and nightclubs? Well, the answer is fairly obvious. In addition, folks searching for ways to unwind and escape the realities of life can be led to by the stress of working in the business. In the event that you’re working as a waiter at a tavern or with serving alcohol, individuals are searching for you to have a good time with them. They might go to the extreme of buying you drinks, and shots in order for you to party with them. At times it is just too difficult to decline their offer.

Simply remember…

Not all restaurants would be exactly the same. Each eatery that is individual has their particular sets of benefits and disadvantages to being employed as a waiter or server. A part of the conclusion is at least having an all around thought of the nice as well as the poor and understanding what could possibly occur. Consider either side under examination when choosing to serve tables and get ready for the greatest…and the worst.