Kathleen Goddeyne

kgoddeyn@mavs.coloradomesa.edu

A friend of mine had a birthday this week. We went to dinner and had terrible service. Although half of our food arrived 15 minutes after the first plate arrived, we still tipped our server 20 percent. I’ve made it a general rule to tip my server well even if they are doing an awful job. I do this because I’m a server too and I know how easy it is to upset a table full of strangers.

After four years of waiting tables, I’ve learned to take the bad tips and bad attitudes in stride. If I were to throw a tantrum after every incident at work, I’d probably waste all of my energy halfway through my shift. Although I enjoy my job, dealing with the general public can be exhausting. I have plenty of good customers, but I also have plenty of bad ones. I’m not talking about needy customers, or picky customers, or even customers that send their food back. It’s the rude customers that make me cringe.

Nothing can ruin my shift faster than a bad greeting from a table. For example, if your server comes to your table and says, “Hi there, I’m Katie.  How’s everyone doing today?” It is inappropriate to answer with a drink order and even more inappropriate to ignore him or her altogether. Incidents like that make me instantly hate my customers, which makes fake smiling even more annoying.

Obviously, the quickest way to destroy a server’s day is to tip them poorly. When I get a 10 percent tip, I’m fine with it. I’m not entirely pleased, but at least you made an effort to try to be fair. Anything less than 10 percent is a waste of a server’s time. Our hourly wage is barely enough to cover our taxes let alone put food on the table. We count on your tip more than you count on that extra ketchup you wanted.

While these things are annoying, don’t worry, real restaurants aren’t like the one in the movie “Waiting”. We won’t spit in your food or drop it on the floor, but we might rush you through your lunch to get you out the door.

I’m not sure why servers get treated like an annoyance, but servers everywhere are over it. Our job title is “server,” not “servant.” We don’t come to your workplace and make you feel worthless, so please don’t do it to us. The next time you go out to eat, remember, servers are people too.