First daily (or so) salute to underappreciated workers! Wait Staff

[blondeatlast]

How I remember those days, both the pleasure of really great patrons and the pain of the really nasty ones. Quarter tips and the occasional $50 dollar ones. And the drunks, oh hell, the drunks.

While I'm at it: shout out to the great busing staff we had; they can make or break your day, and we had wonderful ones.

My time in limbo: Pancho's; Scottsdale, AZ--long defunct.

On edit: I think this is valuable, gang--please keep it positive. If ya gotta be negative, start another thread, PLEEEZZZZEEEE?.

[Christian73]

1. Here, here!

My mother raised us and put herself through school waiting tables.

It's NOT an easy job and I always appreciate (both verbally and tip-wise) good wait service.

[Mikimouse]

2. Sonic; pre-rollerskate era

I always give the carhops a dollar tip, regardless of the order. I know what kind of wages they get, and they earn every penny. While we are at it, could we send greetings and salutations to convenience store clerks? Both of these groups work like dogs and get little for it. Plus, they have to put up with some terribly rude people. :hi:

[blondeatlast]

3. I shall send shouts to them in the future--PM me if I forget to do

it this week.

I love Sonic Cherry Limeade--just made for AZ summers. I always tip them at least a buck, even if I only get a CL. I tell them they should buy one for themselves.

MMMMMMMMMM, guess what I shall be having later this afternoon?

MMMMM.

[Mikimouse]

6. My favorite was always cherry vanilla 7up...

and even better were the old frosties! Great on a hot Texas summer day.

[underpants]

4. NPR is running a feature on single mothers. Friday it was waitresses

Three of them at a place in Maine. Very different situation for each.

They mentioned that one of them gladly hands out her business card and I was thinking "waitresses with business cards"????

Turns out she is a Maine state representative, she got elected under Maine's "clean election" laws and the card lists her phone number at the state house. Wasn't expecting that.

I always tip at least 15%, 20%+ if it's really good service.

Back in high school when I waited tables Virginia asked you to report how much in tips you got. Of course everyone lied so they changed it, they now ASSUME 15% and tax you on it.

[blondeatlast]

5. GOOD ON HER! That is sooo cool.

Here's the link, gang:

http://www.npr.org/news/specials/low_wage/index.html

Now I'm off to post the link to the Moon Pies story!

[blondeatlast]

7. Snip.

Simpson now works just half of the year at TJ's -- she was recently elected to serve in Maine's House of Representatives. That job pays $9,000 a year, but Simpson was able to vote herself a pay raise of sorts: the Maine legislature agreed to increase the state's minimum wage, which slightly improves her waitressing pay.

[underpants]

9. In Maine waitresses get 1/2 the minimum wage as hourly pay $3.18/hour

She commented that she forgot to mention on the House floor (I think it was the House) that she made minimum wage.

[blondeatlast]

10. Pretty much standard throughout the US

that "tipped" employees start at half the (already pathetic) minimum wage.

Think about that, low and non tippers!!! Hell, I've been known to tip the drive-thru gang. Crappy job and they still manage to be efficient AND cheerful!

[blondeatlast]

8. Nominations are now open for the next installment.

Convenience store personnel
IT personnel
Police Officers
Nurses
Librarians (hint)

Give me your noms, I'll run a poll later today.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

17. Police Officers... in my opinion

Are vastly over-thanked for what they do and the "dangers" they face. Not to say that there are no dangers, but to call them unapprieciated...

how about people with really dangerous jobs who you don't think of...

electricans

commercial fishermen

miners

sewage system workers

subway and railroad workers

dockworkers (if you can even find one anymore)

[blondeatlast]

11. Kicking my own damn post--no waiters/waitresses out there?

[FloridaJudy]

12. Postal Workers

I don't know how these folks got a bad rap.

The employees who work in my local post office are invariably polite, patient, and efficient. That's no mean trick here in the heart of the Student Ghetto, where half their customers are people trying to mail unwieldy packages back to their native country, don't speak English, and try to pay for the postage in zlotys.

Not to mention Anthrax!

The fact that those postal workers can smile at me, ask "How can I help you?" and sound like they really mean it, suggests that they're either well-paid, on drugs, or both. I'd like to think it's the first.

[blondeatlast]

13. If you don't see them saluted this week, PM me and I'll get on it.

Thanks--they really do deserve a salute. I'll save the flowers for their salute.

I'm glad you thought of this, very deserving people.

[chefgirl]

14. In a search for some karmic redemption.....

I have to be honest and say that on the job I'm sure I've been the bane of plenty of waitresses and waiters.
That said, however, I do appreciate the hard work that the really good ones do, and whenever I go to a restaurant as a patron, I make it a point to always tip very well. (25-35%)
From my vantage point as a chef though, I've seen far too many of them who couldnt care less about 'service' to the customer.
My mother was a waitress when I was very small, and she was the best damned waitress I ever saw.
She always told me that it doesnt matter if you have to pick fly shit out of black pepper for a living, as long as you are the BEST fly shit picker you can be. ~Words to live by~
So to all those service workers who understand the value of that statement.....complete respect from someone who has to depend on them to do the best job they can do every single day. :toast:

-chef-

[blondeatlast]

15. Great perspective. I think the difference

(correct me if I am wrong) is that you have a career as a chef. For most of us, waiting was a way to get through college or till something better comes along.

Do you know corarose? She is a DUer in culinary school, bet she would like to know you. She's hanging in with it despite some setbacks that would try the best of us (I think she may be the best of us!).

=In the sevice professions, everybody gets it and gives it. That's why I think shout-outs are in order.

[chefgirl]

16. Shout-outs????????

Why, whatever do you mean?? LOL

Yes, I've had my share of them, and honestly, its usually because some waiter/waitress isnt taking the job seriously. The customers dont care that they just broke up with their boyfriend/girlfriend or that they failed a test that day, or that they're only doing it until something better comes along. They are paying good money to eat well and be served well, and should never have to endure a waiter/waitress who couldnt care less about them. It is a sore spot with me, I must admit.
Another thing I learned from my mother and have passed on to some of my service staff.....
"If they've got a dollar in their pocket and they dont give it to you, then you werent doing a very good job serving them"

I do think that the pay scale is the largest contributor to poor service, however. Then again, nothing is stopping any waiter or waitress from 'inspiring' a customer to tip well, and I do try to instill that in every member of my service staff. After all, it benefits everyone involved.

To answer your question, no, I dont know Corarose, however, I applaud her efforts. Culinary school is never easy, even in the best of circumstances.
Corarose, if you read this......Hang in there...Pretty soon YOU will be the one with the power!!! LOL. :evilgrin:

-chef-

[scarlet_owl]

18. Waiting tables was a love/hate job for me

There were some things I absolutley loved, and others that I hated.