5 ms·

It seems like you're only classifying the physical labor as "work", and ignoring the skill and effort it takes to do all the stuff a waiter/waitress does. Ther

It seems like you're only classifying the physical labor as "work", and ignoring the skill and effort it takes to do all the stuff a waiter/waitress does. There's a lot of memorization involved, being able to answer a lot of different questions, making sure the meal gets delivered as soon as possible, with the right stuff, and checking back at the correct times to see if anything else is needed, including drinks. It's a lot harder than it seems. The bussing jobs are a lot more physical and there's less to think about. Also, he gets 10% of the tip... But where does the rest go? You're assuming the other 90% goes to the waiter/waitress, but it's possible a large portion of it goes to the kitchen staff.

nommm-nommm 10y ago
The busboy was the one who made sure the meal was delivered as soon as possible with the proper stuff. The waiter had no part in the food or drink delivery. Even if "it's a lot harder than it seems" (which really, what?) it's not 90% more work the busboy was doing... remember the busboy also buses the tables. Answering a few questions about the menu is not significantly more difficult than clearing tables. (Then there's the places where the kitchen staff brings out the food...or they have "runners" who are responsible for bringing out the food.... really, I hate to generalize but as a group servers have a seriously inflated sense of importance, restaurant service is a team effort)
shanemhansen 10y ago
As someone who worked in the restaurant industry, and who's immediate and extended family worked in the restaurant industry, this feels like: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism_of_small_differences https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism_of_small_difference... I've worked at pretty nice restaurants and while attitudes like yours were pretty pervasive, the only real difference between bussing and waiting was that wait staff was over 21 and thus able to serve alcohol. I can also tell you from years of experience that waiters are the most stuck up classist poor people I've ever seen.
- nommm-nommm 10y ago
  In this particular case the waiter didn't even bring us the alcohol, someone else did. Bartender? Runner? Who know, but it wasn't the waiter (or the busboy).

nommm-nommm 10y ago

The busboy was the one who made sure the meal was delivered as soon as possible with the proper stuff. The waiter had no part in the food or drink delivery. Even if "it's a lot harder than it seems" (which really, what?) it's not 90% more work the busboy was doing... remember the busboy also buses the tables. Answering a few questions about the menu is not significantly more difficult than clearing tables. (Then there's the places where the kitchen staff brings out the food...or they have "runners" who are responsible for bringing out the food.... really, I hate to generalize but as a group servers have a seriously inflated sense of importance, restaurant service is a team effort)

shanemhansen 10y ago

As someone who worked in the restaurant industry, and who's immediate and extended family worked in the restaurant industry, this feels like: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism_of_small_differences https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissism_of_small_difference... I've worked at pretty nice restaurants and while attitudes like yours were pretty pervasive, the only real difference between bussing and waiting was that wait staff was over 21 and thus able to serve alcohol. I can also tell you from years of experience that waiters are the most stuck up classist poor people I've ever seen.

nommm-nommm 10y ago
In this particular case the waiter didn't even bring us the alcohol, someone else did. Bartender? Runner? Who know, but it wasn't the waiter (or the busboy).