You’ve Been Served:

Taking the night off of cooking in the kitchen and treating yourself by eating out is always something to look forward to. Despite the expense, you don’t have to worry about setting the table, pre-heating the oven, making a disaster on your stove and you most certainly do not have to touch a dirty dish. Best of all, you have somebody serving your every need with a smile on their face.

Demonstrated throughout this multimedia compilation is a server’s perspective on what it’s like on the other side of the dinner table. Through multiple interviews with plenty of servers, readers are able to recognize the inside scoop of the hardships that members of the restaurant industry experience on a regular basis. Working in this industry comes with many pressures to act and look a certain way. Although money is the ultimate goal as an employee and employer of any industry, how and why are servers coping with such high stress in a sometimes unsafe and unfair work environment?

The servers that are featured throughout this multimedia compilation have recognized a detailed focus on the effects that the restaurant business has on a server’s overall health and well-being. There are particular standards and qualifications that each restaurant holds their servers responsible for. A waiter or waitress is expected to be the best possible version of themselves both physically and mentally in order to create an impressive name for the company and in order for them to earn their share of income as well. Through their intriguing experiences that they refer to as “horror stories,” servers from different restaurants surrounding the GTA describe the main challenges and troubles that come with being a member of the industry. The servers involved in this compilation unanimously decided to keep the locations and restaurants anonymous to ensure job security.

Taking the night off of cooking in the kitchen and treating yourself by eating out is always something to look forward to. Just don’t forget, he/she is your server not your servant.

The controversy surrounding the uniform that some servers are required to wear dates back years ago. Hygiene is a given, however, it is noted that the extent of superficial appearance in the restaurant industry has reached an all-time low.  Often times restaurant management will refuse their employees to work their scheduled shifts due to shallow perceptions that have unfortunately become the norm in this industry. Not applying makeup or wearing a loosely-fit uniform would not be a reason to refuse an employee their shift in any other business.  The industry recognizes success through appearance first and foremost. Due to the negative attention displayed through the media as of lately, the contracts have changed to be less discriminatory against race, sexual orientation and gender. However, as described through the servers involved in this compilation, it appears that the controversy and debate surrounding uniform in the restaurant industry has not changed enough to keep servers feeling comfortable in their own skin.

As a piece of general knowledge, everybody is entitled to a lunch or dinner break. In fact, according to Ontario.ca, “an employee must not work for more than five hours in a row without getting a 30-minute eating period (meal break) free from work.”  Leave it to the restaurant industry to find a way to beat the system. Servers often go 12-hour shifts without having a second to sit down and catch their breath, have a bite to eat or even take a sip of water. It is crucial to maintain a healthy diet especially when you are working in a stressful environment and are constantly on-the-go. Servers describe that the only loophole is to step out for a “smoke break” in order to escape such an overwhelming environment.  Servers also mention the impact that fatigue takes on their body when constantly working and never getting an opportunity to eat. They say they find themselves “mowing late at night”– or early in the morning, depending on the person!

Have you ever ignored your server when he/she introduced themselves and then snapped your fingers or waved your hands when you needed their attention? If so, congratulations! You are likely to have a leading role in one of your server’s “horror stories.”  Through the eyes of a server, we are able to recognize how they are feeling when their customers are giving them a bit of a hard time. Servers in the restaurant industry claim that they “have it worse than anybody working in customer service because retail doesn’t have to deal with ‘hangry’ guests.” It is important to remember the impact you may have on a person’s day- not specifically to servers in the restaurant industry but just towards each other.  Unfortunately, human beings often mistreat one another regardless and these servers share their “horror stories” through in-depth descriptions of some of their worst altercations with customers.

The servers insisted that their reviews should be implemented in the multimedia compilation. They said that reading positive feedback is something that they are constantly looking forward to and are recognized for. “Honestly, although the industry is difficult and it does come with many downfalls, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Not only because of the money but because of the impact that you leave on others as well as their impact on me. It is truly rewarding,” says Naccarato.