Waitress Speaks Out About the Ins and Outs of the Biz

My sister Charlotte (I’m changing her name to protect her identity) has worked in various restaurant venues for over four years. She’s seen the good, the bad, and the so ugly it would make you puke. Here are just a few insights about the restaurant industry from a young woman who’s been there.

You’ve gone back and forth between a few different restaurant jobs. What, would you say, is the main attraction for working in this industry?

The money! You always have cash on you. You never have to worry about having money. Every night you work, you make at least something. That’s the one thing I like, that you don’t have to wait for a check. I always have cash on me.

That said, you’ve also left some restaurants with some pretty bad feelings behind you. You’ve seen plenty of other waitresses come and go as well. Why do you think restaurants have such a high turnover rate for your position?

One reason, I think, is probably because some restaurants do better in different seasons; so people come when it’s busy. When it’s dead, you don’t make as much cash as you normally would. And another is probably because of the people you work for or your customers. It’s easy to get mad because you can get disrespected by customers or employers. In my situation, it has mostly been my employers.

What is one thing you’ve learned as a waitress that you think everyone should learn?

Don’t bail on your check! Your waitress has that come out of her pay. I’ve learned that it’s harder than it really is, too. You don’t get minimum wage, and if they’re good waitresses, you should tip. When you’re not a waitress, you might not tip as well, but once you’re in the industry you realize how hard it is to make tips. I tip a lot more now when I get good service; I even tip when I get poor service, though not as much.

What advice would you give to people hoping to enter the restaurant business today?

Other than don’t do it? (Laughs.) Just be yourself and don’t take anything any customer says personally. Don’t let the restaurant owners or managers disrespect you. Stand up for yourself; if you find that your pay is cut, find out about it immediately and get it taken care of immediately. Always check your hours, your slips, and your check.