12. When Co-Workers Don't Get Rid Of Their Meal/Drink Tickets
It's one of the easiest things in the world, just stab the ticket or toss it away once you take your food out of the window or pick up your drinks from the bar! But no, instead the ticket gets left behind and the ADD bartenders can't remember if they made the drinks or not and start to shift into nuclear meltdown. When a ticket is left behind in the window, the manager harasses everyone until they find out if the food was made. And any server will tell you, they
don't want managers talking to them during a shift unless he/she says, "You're done for the night."
11. Being Stuck In A Section Next To The Server Everyone Hates
Why does everyone hate this server? Well, maybe because they suck. They don't run their food. They neglect their tables. Oh, and because the managers know they suck and don't fire them, they just give them smaller sections and place them next to strong servers ... like
you! Congratulations, you get to pick up the slack! Isn't that just delightful!?! Don't worry, tomorrow is a new day and it'll be someone else's turn to be their keeper.
10. That. Stupid. F'n. Birthday. Song.
"Excuse me, what do you do for birthdays?" We run. Far away. Fantastic, not only do you have to stop what you're doing to fetch them their stupid birthday dessert, you now have to physically assault co-workers into joining you in serenading the table with a birthday song. The worst part about all of this is that it's the first birthday of the day, and now that it has been brought up and everyone heard the song in the restaurant, they too magically have a birthday at their table. Aces!
9. Needing Help From A Manager And Realizing You Have A Higher Probability Of Raising The Dead
Why is it that when you have a tray full of drinks or you're actually busy, your manager is there asking you to run food, sweep the floor, and inspecting you to make sure you're wearing black socks? But, low and behold, when you need a manager because a guest is upset, dissatisfied, or on fire ... he/she is
nowhere to be found!? What pocket universe did they sneak off to!?!
8. Being Punished For Being A "Strong" Server
Managers are selfish. Period. They want the smoothest shift possible so they don't have to work as hard. Generally, that means weeding out the crap servers as quick as possible. Guess what that means? Andy in section one gets to go home early, even though he's a closer, because he sucks ... and
you now get to stay and close. Forget the fact that they didn't ask you. Arguing is pointless because they then act like you don't want to "make money" and may never have you close again when you need it, and they know they have this upper-hand. You made plans, but now they are ruined because you're being "rewarded" for being good at your job. No one needs to know that your plans were to go home and play Sims 3 in your underwear till four in the morning.
7. Serving Someone You Can't Stand
We're not talking about nameless customers here; we're talking people you know personally. Nothing is more bothersome than when someone realizes they have to wait on their sworn enemy, an ex-lover, or their mother. Are they going to make a scene? Are they going to stiff you on the tip? Are they going to make up false complaints about you to your manager or leave a bad comment on that annoying bill survey? These are all the paranoid thoughts of a server being forced to essentially work for people they can't stand.
6. Being Asked To Make Change For A Large Bill That's Being Used To Pay A Small Tab
This seems to only take place when you're in the middle of a huge rush and usually when you have no change to give; what's even worse is running around like a beggar, asking for people for change. Don't you dare ask the bartender, because they'll ask you what happened to the money they gave you the first three times you asked them for change. And God forbid if you get a guest who complains if you short change them on a dime or a nickel.