Waitstaff Appreciation

We all personally know someone who is a server, or maybe you were or are a server yourself. It's an under appreciated job that just doesn't get enough cred for all the work that goes into it. This day was created to appreciate and respect all the waitstaff for all the work they do. Remember, you wouldn't have a great dining experience without them!

Let's be honest. Waiters have to put up with a lot of crap. It's an extremely stressful and fast-paced job, and without a doubt, definitely not for the faint of heart!

Here's a fun fact that may surprise you: Did you know that some servers are timed? Sometimes they have 30 seconds to get you to the table and read off all of their specials, and then after that they have just up to two minutes to get you your drinks! And that's just the beginning of their struggles.

Here are some tips we've gathered from conversations from our server friends on how not to annoy the people who bring you your food!

• Try and be a bit orderly and less caveman-like when you're eating. They have to clean up your mess as there is usually no clean up crew. The waitstaff is the clean up crew!
• Splitting the bill is usually totally cool with waiters just as long as you let them know ahead of time. Just don't ask your waiter to split the bill 26 different ways using all different types of methods of payment, okay?
• Always be polite! After all, these people are handling your food. These are the last people you want to anger in any way.
• Don't leave your number, or ask another waiter to give your server your number. It may seem cute, but they think it's pretty awkward 99% of the time!
• Don't blame the server if there is something you don't like about your food. Just like you don't shoot the messenger!
• Don't forget - they're servers. Not servants. :)

And most importantly, always, always, always leave a good tip. That's the reason they came to work that day and how they pay their bills!

The tipping industry standard these days is 20% of the bill. If the waitstaff is not making that 20% in some cases, their bosses assume they're not doing their job and they get penalized. Not cool!

If the waitstaff goes out of their way to make you feel special on your birthday by comping a dessert or making you a special drink, it's nice to show them you appreciate them. Always keep in mind that the server has to share their tips with others, such as the host and sometimes even the managers.

And after a long headache of a day, getting yelled at by managers for not making their tip quotas, dropping and breaking plates, cleaning up horrid messes, they finally get to go home smelling like food and do it all over again the next day.

Are you a server and in need of a good laugh after a rough day today? You'll appreciate this Buzzfeed article!

What are your serving gripes? Did we miss any? Get it all out in the comments!