Rest Breaks, Meal Breaks, Smoke Breaks

I just came across an interesting post from Under Cover Waitress!

All about breaks, smoke breaks, rest breaks, lunch breaks...  I was completely unaware...  In all 22 of my waitressing years...  Completely unaware that the laws about breaks actually applied to me! 

Here is the post:
Rest Breaks, Meal Breaks, Smoke Breaks

There are certain types of breaks that we get.  And in all of the restaurants that I have worked in, these rules for these breaks have been the same. 

Smoke Break -
It's a quick 3-5 minute break that is only allowed if the waitress has every single one of her tables in good shape with absolutely no needs expected to rise in the next 5 minutes.  (I know, kind of hard to judge, and we don't always get it 100%, but we try...  most of us try.)  I should also add that as a general rule, only smokers get this break. 

Lunch Break -
Middle of a shift???  Not going to happen.  Some of the nicer managers have allowed a full 30 minute break for servers on a double, but not always. 

Dinner Break -
I always worked the dinner shift, so I have always gotten a dinner break...  They happen around 9:00 PM or 10:00 PM, when the dinner rush is over.  Actually, the most recent restaurant I worked at didn't allow any eating until the last table was cleared and all of the sidework was done.   

Bathroom Break-
Same rules as the smoke break.  "It's a quick 3-5 minute break that is only allowed if the waitress has every single one of her tables in good shape with absolutely no needs expected to rise in the next 5 minutes. "  Hopefully this happens more than once per a shift. 

I Can See Right Through You!

Remember when I said that I saw a lot of new comments???

HAHAHAHAHA!  I read more of them, and found myself laughing throughout. 

As a former server, I find the humor in the profession because I have seen it all.  If you take a moment to look through the comments on some of the posts, you can clearly pick out who HAS worked in a restaurant, and who HAS NOT. 

It gets a little feisty, which, I personally find amusing.  There are many Anonymous comments.  Well, If I was as mean spirited and bitter as many of those people, I wouldn't attach my name to it either. 

I had to leave my own comment on one of those rants, written primarily by people afraid to write their names:

Hahaha! Love all the comments! To those of you who seemed to miss the SARCASTIC HUMOR in this post and the rest of the blog... Thank you for proving my point.

When you look down on others because they have chosen a line of work that puts them in a position to HELP YOU, you are only pointing out that you are indeed a jerk.

Enjoy the food at the next place you eat... May the wait staff treat you with the respect and courtesy that you seem to know nothing about.

It's Saturday!!!  Enjoy your nite out.  And remember...  BE NICE!

Go Ahead... You Know You Want To.

We have all imagined that moment when we will simply drop our apron on a countertop, tell the manager what you REALLY think of him, and walk out the back door leaving tables sitting unsuspectingly in the dining room. 

Actually, I had been visualizing this moment for years.  Would I yell and scream?  Would I walk out the back door quietly?  Would I simply take my apron off, sit down at the bar, and order a drink? 

Possibilities are endless.  All with the same result.  The release of years of holding back on what you want to say, what people really should be hearing.....

Well, I'll tell you what.  On the evening of Saturday, December 17, 2011, that moment became a reality for me. 

I started the evening with a conversation with one of the managers about the possibility of me covering Saturday, December 24.  Obviously, with two children, this was not something I even wanted to consider.  However, my regular shift was Saturday night, so if worse came to worse, it was mine to cover.  This conversation left a very sour taste in my mouth, but I went on with the evening with a smile on my face. 

I waited on a few very nice families and couples.  (I should also mention that this is the very first post about a new waitressing gig I had picked up in my new hometown.)  I was working in an upscale, fancy restaurant where the entree costs were higher than most of the check averages at the place mentioned throughout the rest of this blog.

So I waited on a few very nice families and couples.  Check averages were high, and tips were higher.  It was a pretty ok night! 

Until I was sat with a table with some severe allergies.  No problem!  We can handle just about anything.  Armed with ingredient questions, I went out back to double check with the owner/manager/head chef.  He was obviously stressed with the way the rest of the evening was going.  And, frankly, when he answered my questions, he did it in a manner that was meant to demean me and make me sound stupid.  And I am not stupid. 

No worries.  Shake it off.  I tried, I really did.  But I now had to ask what this new, custom meal would cost.  Ugg.  So I pulled my head high and asked.  And received the same treatment.  I mentioned I'm not stupid, right?  Nor do I appreciate being treated as such. 

No worries.  Shake it off. 

Another server needed help running food for her table, so I stepped in to help.  The manager was obviously irritated with my stupidity.  While asking which seat number received each meal, the server who was working the table took the plates that he had described to me.  Ugg.  This was not going to be good.  So I had to ask again.  The response I got was worse than before. 

To keep my sanity, I walked away to shake it off.  What followed me was a battering of obscenities yelled at me within earshot of the entire bar and most of the staff. 

I finally turned around and looked at him.  His words at this moment were, "What, you can't take it???"  and I realized that it wasn't that I COULDN'T take it, it was simply that I DIDN'T WANT to take it.  I calmly untied my apron and set it on the counter.  I walked to the bar area where his wife, the owner/manager/bartender was working.  I told her that I would no longer be able to cover the Christmas Eve shift because I was walking out. 

And that's what I did.  Right after I made sure that all of my tables had new coverage. 

It wasn't overly dramatic.  I didn't yell and scream.  I didn't set anything on fire.  I simply walked out.  I called a few friends and we went out for one of the best nights on the town that I had had in a long time. 

I'm back!

I'm back. &  I'm not a waitress anymore.

Maybe not even ever again.

Ever.

Over the past two years, there have been a number of huge changes in my life. I moved, got a day job I almost love, and settled into a brand new life as a divorced single mom.

  Life has been good to me!

So, I kind of forgot about this little blog... Initially started to simply give myself an outlet for all of the annoying frustration that comes with constantly being nice to people who are not always that nice.

Imagine my suprise when I was searching "waitress awards" on google for a project that is related to my current field and I found a link to this blog.

  As I went through all of the old posts, reminicing about the "fun" times in my old position, I saw a lot of new comments.

Well, in all fairness, it really has been almost two years since I visited, so most of them were new to me. I am amazed at the positive response. 

I'm proud to say that although I may not be a waitress at the moment, I still have a lot to write about!

Remember When???

So last night, I got into an interesting conversation with one of my co workers...

We've both been at the restaurant for WAY TOO many years, so between the two of us, we were able to remember some of the most interesting moments.

Remember when a certain waitress accidentally sat on a tub of grill cleaner that was left out of the closet and got burns on her behind? (Yeah, really toning that down - I know)
I hear she still has scars. She was out for almost two weeks. (Sorry, honey, yes, we laughed...)

Remember when the teenagers set off the fire alarms and we all had to go outside and wait in the rain for over an hour while they cleared the building?
Yep we were busy that night! And we still had to go back in to clean up the messes on the table. Too bad no one had to pay...or tip...

Remember when the power went out, and I was waiting on a party of 10 that would certainly have left a sweet tip - if I could have served them food?
Yes I do - and remember cleaning up the mess in the galley after waiting over 2 hours for the power to come on?

Remember when we got the alarm for the take out people to "wear" to the cars?
Remember how many times the restaurant lit up and the alarm rang through the dining room before they took it away???

Remember when Woburn had ecoli in their drinking water, and we caught people brushing their teeth in the bathroom?
And scrubbing their armpits?

Remember when a certain bartender chased a customer out the door because he left a crappy tip?
Yep - she got fired...

Remember when a certain waitress chased a customer out into the parking lot because they didn't pay? Then proceeded to scream at them even though the customer was twice her size?
I miss her...

There are a million more... and I'm sure we all have some...

Where did the Doorservers Go???

Don't get me wrong... I know that being a doorserver is not an easy job. I've done it. I hated it. I would do everything I can to avoid doing it again.

But the fact remains that a crappy doorserver car ruin your night. And don't think that only the new ones are the crappy ones....

So I have put together a little list of important points to remember, just in case anyone needs a little refresher course.

*Someone needs to stay at the door. There are 4 of you, you can't all walk off at the same time...

*You really need to know where the clean tables are before you start walking people into the dining room.

*Since there are 9 food servers, please follow the rotation set up by our corporate managers to make sure all servers get at least one table.

*Don't make elderly people walk through the entire restaurant for a back table.

*Don't skip me because you just sat me 10 minutes ago. I can handle it.

*Don't put people on a wait if I have 3 open tables.

*Don't forget about Station 9. I know it's in the back, but.....

*Don't give customers menus with teeth marks in them ~ or hot fudge on them.

*Don't seat dirty tables.

Anyting else??

Babysitting???

You know the night is off to a rough start whan the first three tables you wait on all have some sort of issue.

I'm working on the bar tonight, but I got to hear a wonderful story from one of the more animated waitresses.

Table number one ~ Read the wrong price when ordering and was upset by that extra $2 on the bill.

Table number two ~ "But the Medeteranean Chicken doesn't look like the picture..."

Table number three ~ Declined Credit Card. So what does he do??? Leave his kids at the table to run to the ATM. Ummm... ok, but there"s gonna be an extra charge for that...

Can We Put the Yankees on the Big TV?

"No"

I love bartending.

Notes from the meeting....

They let me leave the meeting 30 minutes early, so I feel a little bad about trash talking, but seriously, was it really that important?

First, they fed us Tootsie Rolls (At 8AM?) Ok
THEN - they told us that the person who took the most candy at our table had to stand up in front of everyone and share something personal about their life. Thank goodness I can't eat candy until after that second cup of coffee is down.

Next was the Award Ceremony - which for the first time went to someone who is not a huge show about how much she helps. Someone who actually DESERVED the award. I was already impressed.

Following the Award Ceremony, we took a look at out Customer Service scores. Almost impressive - we're near the top of the company. (Hmmmm - manager's scores are a little low, though...)

Next - and this is my favorite part - we got to ROLE PLAY being servers. Please tell me we weren't expected to take this seriously, because I need far more coffee to pull this one off.

Finally, we - Oh - 9:30 - Time for me to sneak out the back door!

So I arrived back around 5PM for my bartending shift. What a riot! Half the staff was on doubles, the entire bartending staff had been at work since 7:30 AM. We were too tired to pretend that we were anything but a bunch of laughing idiots. We had a blast.

Thank goodness for regulars. I simply told them about my day, and to keep their expectations low. They loved it. So did my tip jar.... Maybe I need to be tired more often.

Mandatory Meeting

Don't you love those???

One of the joys of working for a corporate company who thinks that the $2.63 an hour that they pay me entitiles them to impose on the rest of my life.

Oh Wait - that's right - they do provide me with the Opportunity to make more money.

Either way - there is a "mandatory" meeting tomorrow morning. 7:30- 10 AM.

Ok - so I show up a 7:30, leave early to go open my shop at 10, work at my shop until 3, then go BACK to this hole to bartend until 12:15.

And the best part - after paying for gas to drive back and forth, it will actually cost me to go to this meeting....

I'm irritated. Does it show?

I can post from work.....

Well that just added a whole new dimension to my blog. Usually I can sit and reflect before writing. I can find the words that show the emotions in a humourous light. I have time to cool down before writing something that would surely be no more than a rant.

Not now. Now I can share the honest truth behind being an overworked waitress.

New wait staff, pushy customers, angry cooks - beware...

April Fools

"There's a guy choking out front!"
Riiiiight. After 3 recent choking incidents there's another one on April Fools Day. OK.

Good thing I'm the only one that thinks that way. A customer was able to do the heimlich and several people called 911.

The guy was fine. Sat down to finish dinner after all was said and done. A stream of medics from the local PD and FD stopped by his table to check on him, but he left with a full belly and a happy smile...

What I Really Meant to Say...

By now we all know that waitressing is all about creating a pleasant, cheerful, persona. One that doesn't get upset or frustrated. One that can handle anything thrown its way on a busy Friday night.

I have found the best way to keep that persona alive, is to play a little game I like to call "What I really Meant to Say". So the customer may never actually hear what I really meant to say, but believe me, the rest of the staff knows...

When serving the couple who can drink 7 glasses of diet soda during a one hour meal.
"Of course, I'll be right back with a refill."
What I Really Meant to Say...
"Are you kidding me??? I've made 6 trips to your table already, and I know that you are only going to leave a $4 tip. Maybe I should just hook up an IV!"

When serving the man who ordered a Medium Rib Eye and got a beautiful Medium Rib Eye that is making my mouth water.
"Oh I am so sorry sir. The kitchen seemed to have under cooked it a bit, I'll take it right back and have them put it on for a minute. Would you like a salad on the house while you wait?"
And When I return with a slightly more cooked Medium Well Rib Eye....
"It was only on for a minute, I cannot understand how they managed to overcook it in only 2 minutes."
What I really meant to say...
"Just order the damn chicken!"

When serving the family who let their kids throw popcorn all over the floor, dump out all of the sugar packets, and smear marinara sauce and hot fudge on the table, the seats, the windows, and the couple sitting next to them.
"Oh, don't worry about the mess, I can take care of it."
What I really meant to say...
"It's a busy Friday night. Not only is my table taken up when you eat, I now have to take 20 extra minutes just to clean up the mess that your little heathens have made. Thank you for that 12% tip. It's good to know that you appreciate my time."

When serving the couple that can't just order off the menu, and need 15 changes made to each item ordered.
"Oh, I can't believe that they forgot the walnuts on your sandwich! I'll be right back with some for you."
What I really meant to say...
"The 17 other things you ordered changed came out right. I know you didn't ask for walnuts, too. But I will get them because you won't eat the sandwich without them, and I need you to eat - fast - so you will leave."

VACATION!!

HaHaHa - That's an understatement.

In early December, I fell down my basement stairs and injured the muscles in my back. (I'm fine now, months later, but it's still an interesting story that has led to MANY changes in my life.)

About 1 hour before my shift on a busy Friday night, I was talking on the phone and running down the stairs to get my work shirt out of the laundry. Who knows what I slipped on, or how I managed to fall the way that I did, but I caught one of the stairs square on my side. PAIN.

No one was home but me and the dog, and all he could do to help was to lick my face. Seriously, when you are stuck on the floor this is not a sensation you want.
I managed to drag myself to the top of the stairs and was able to get my phone. I called a friend to come pick me up and take me to the hospital, and I called the restaurant to let them know that I may be a little late - maybe even a few weeks late.

Long story short - I spent the next few weeks on my couch with a heating pad and some pain killers. What a fabulous relief to not have to work!! It has been years since I actually took a vacation. Although this one was forced, I still enjoyed it. Maybe it was the painkillers...

As much as I missed the money, and as much as my mortgage company missed the money, I did enjoy the time off. It made it that much harder to go back after my 4 weeks was up.

So what did I do during those 4 weeks? I may have sat on the couch for most of it, but I was sitting there with a laptop in front of me. I started a business. Yes, 19 years of waitressing experience has finally led to a career in customer service. I am now the proud owner of a small second hand clothing boutique that works to raise money for local schools. Since I just opened at the end of January, I'm still waitressing 2 nights a week. I was even able to pick up a bartending shift on Saturdays.

I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it's very bright....

We're All Facing "Difficult Economic Times"...

Um, Yeah - I noticed.

I tried to explain that to my mortgage company, but they didn't really seem to care.
Anyway - Last weekend, some of my regulars came in for a visit. Jokingly, I asked where they had been, and the wife - who was never really a friendly person to start with, looks right at me and states "Well, some of us have to cut back in these difficult economic times." As if I am the sole reason for their economic troubles.

In fact, people like them are the reason for MY economic troubles.

So we've been painfully slow lately. So we have to work harder to make the tips - with no guarantee that they'll even be there. No sweat. Just turn the nice on, come out of your shell, and start enjoying yourself on the job.

I have found that if I am willing to stay and close the restaurant, I am still able to make some money. People are simply looking for the best deals. No one is simply throwing money around any more. If you want that 20% tip - You'll now have to WORK FOR IT. And don't let it get you down if you only get 10%. Many people assume that we get paid an hourly wage, so if they don't tip well, it won't make that much of a difference. So let them leave and move on to the next table.

July?!? Has it really been that long???

Clearly, I've been too busy having fun...

Well, even though I may not be blogging like I used to, I'm still thinking in that "I NEED to tell this to someone" sort of mindframe. So, every time I see something that needs to be shared, I jot down a little note in my server book.

Ok - so it's been months - and I don't always have the neatest writing, and I am pretty sure there is some hot fudge on part of one of the pages... But here goes:

more servers=better attention to customers
WhiskeyTangoNight
Superstitions?? Red Shirt?? Discover Card?? Smiley Face??
Drinking on the Job
10 Surefire ways to get fired
There is no greener grass...

Hmmm... There's more, and I'll try to decipher them later...
In the meantime...

The Art of Upselling

For those unfamiliar with the term, upselling is when a waitress (or any other type of salesperson) can talk the customer into purchasing something slightly better and more expensive than they initially asked for.

The company encourages us to do this because, in the end, it means more sales for them, a higher check average for us, and a more satisfied customer.

Yesterday, I worked an afternoon shift. People don't tend to order as much at lunch, so I had to make the most of the tables I did have.

Upselling is not just about offering the wonderful options. It needs to be done with a little finesse. Servers need to be able to read their guest to gauge the best way to approach the suggestions.

There is a certain stigmatism associated with words like loaded, smothered, king size, super size, monster, etc. So if a customer orders a baked potato, don't ask if they want it loaded. Explain the choice in descriptive words that make it harder to resist. Would you like cheese, bacon, and chives melted on the top of your potato?

You can always upsell by getting the customer to purchase a larger size of the item they already ordered. Many of our appetizers come in a regular and large size. When they are ordered, I don't ask if customers want small or large. I offer them 8 piece or 12. The same goes for our salads and several of our steaks. I offer by ounces. 16 ounces is a respectable size for a meal. But you have no idea how many people can't resist the thought of a 24 ounce plate of steak.

When you offer an appetizer or a dessert, be sure to have a specific one in mind.

Did anyone save room for some chocolate cheesecake?
Ohhh That does sound good. Hmmmm... All right...

It takes a bit of practice, but for the most part, I can raise my sales by quite a bit, just by knowing the menu, and discovering how the customers need to be approached. It definitely shows in my tips at the end of the night...

Trash Picking???

There is a continuous silverware shortage at my restaurant.
This is a serious and very frustrating issue for the entire staff.

Well, to make a frustrating situation even worse, we have opened several cases of forks and knives. SO WHERE HAS IT GONE?

Obviously, the wait staff is throwing it out. That is the only possible solution.
So, how do we resolve this issue? Well, we try the magnetic thing that goes over the top of the can to catch the silverware. It didn't work. We STILL ran out of silverware.

Obviously, the wait staff MUST be intentionally shoving it deep into the barrel, just to mess with us...
So, how do we resolve this issue? Place a pan over the top of the barrel for all servers to dump their trash into. Then make the dishwashers pick through it to get all the silverware that the waitstaff insists on throwing out...

I wish I were kidding.
Am I the only one who has an issue with this?
Is there a better solution for "Silverware Retention"?

I Quit My Day Job

Every now and then, I dissapear...

I always promise to be back, but sometimes... well, you know.

I am a junior high teacher by nature, and I spent the last year teaching preschool (I KNOW, HOW DID THAT HAPPEN?!? Well, they offered me free preschool for my 3 yo. son...)
Anyway - teaching preschool didn't exactly pay my bills, so I still had to waitress. So basically, I gave up a 3 hour waitress shift and picked up 15 hours of daytime work. How I managed to think that would work out, I don't know... I spent many days teaching in the morning and waitressing the same night. Exhausting...

But I made it through the year and I just gave up the teaching job. Now I am back to waitressing again.

I really liked teaching preschool, but the waitress perks are just too much to resist. That everyday payday is my favorite.

It Ain't My Hair!

Umm - Yes, it most certainly is!!

I put the dressing on the salad! I carried it out to your table. I would have noticed a GIANT hair in the bowl of dressing.

AND - I do not have LONG BLACK HAIR!!

But, I'm not in a position to argue, so I'll apologize and take it off your check.

(AND can you believe that they had the nerve to walk out on their check?!?!?)