Customers need to better appreciate college restaurant servers
Being a server in the restaurant world has its benefits and disadvantages.
As a server myself, I’ve become accustomed to what the disadvantages are pretty well. At times, it can make the job more stressful, especially for college students.
I am aware it isn’t just college students who encounter obstacles in the field — all servers do. It is, however, more times then not those in school who are most affected by these obstacles due to our financial situations such as saving to pay off college tuition and everyday expenses, along with having to juggle school and work schedules at the same time.
With hectic school and work schedules, working all the time is not an option. So the three or four shifts we manage to work each week do matter. The tips we make matter and the experiences we have matter.
That is one thing some who come to restaurants do not realize.
They don’t realize a 15 percent tip or less when receiving exceptional service is not enough. I understand patrons don’t always receive phenomenal service, but in times when it is given to you, a server does deserve that 20 percent tip.
I by no means am greedy nor want to sound that way; but tips are what really make up a server’s income.
A waiter or waitress only receives the minimum wage of $4.25, at least in the state of South Dakota. In other states, such as Wisconsin, Wyoming, New Mexico, and New York, servers are only paid an hourly wage of $2.13.
So, our hourly pay is not benefiting us as much as people think. We, therefore, rely on tips, and then even those are taxed.
A server is ultimately taxed between 8 percent to 10 percent of each guest’s bill, which comes directly out of the server’s paycheck. As a server, you also claim other taxes. Therefore, if one receives no tip or a low tip, it actually can cost the server more just to provide you with service.
If one provides you with good service, we, as the servers, do not deserve to be the ones paying.
Tipping your server well is the most fundamental way to show how much you appreciate their hard work.
Another way servers deserve to be appreciated is by providing them with a pleasant experience in the same way they are striving to do that for you.
Rude customers are one thing I will always struggle to understand. If you’re in an unpleasant mood, why would you bother to go out to eat in the first place?
There are those who blame servers for everything that goes wrong. Delayed food is not the server’s fault and when they are apologizing or seeing what they can do to make it up to you, that presents them as not only a good server but a genuine person.
There are people who neglect to realize this, and they make the server feel like they’re doing an unsatisfactory job. That makes working in the restaurant industry much more difficult. These difficulties can be prevented.
Those of you who go to restaurants need to make an effort to better understand the serving field, so that way the constant battle between the waiter and the one being waited on can cease to exist. This can then make the experience enjoyable from both party’s perspective.
It is an easy task to tip your servers what they deserve and also embrace one specific rule.
The same golden rule from when we were children which, in fact, fits this scenario perfectly. That is, “Treat others how you wish to be treated.”
In this case it’s “Treat your servers how you wish to be treated.”
I can guarantee a better appreciation from you as customers will only cause your dining experiences to improve. That is simply what all servers want. Let’s both, the servers and the customers, aim to make it that way.
