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Waiting staff

society Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Waiting staff help people enjoy meals at restaurants, diners, or bars.

Annie O'Black 1973
Annie O'Black 1973

They attend to customers by bringing food and drinks as requested. These workers follow rules set by a manager to keep things running well. They do many different tasks to help the dining room. Some tasks include taking orders and running food to tables. They also polish silverware and help clear away dirty dishes.

Servitris - Ystad-2012
Servitris - Ystad-2012

Serving is a very common job in the service sector.

In large, fancy restaurants, there are many different roles for the staff. A Maître d'hôtel greets the guests and manages the whole room. A Chef de Rang is a leader who manages a specific section. They might have a Demi-Chef de Rang helping them with guests. New workers might start as a Commis de Rang to assist.

An expeditor makes sure every order is correct and complete. They often prepare trays so all guests get food at once.

There are also many specialist jobs in high-end dining rooms. A sommelier is an expert who helps guests choose wine. A maître fromager is a specialist for cheese service.

North Korea - Samjiyon waitress (5024319154)
North Korea - Samjiyon waitress (5024319154)

Some staff members are called runners because they bring cooked dishes to diners. Others are called bussers, who clear and set the tables. A bar back helps the bartender by restocking glassware and alcohol. A cocktail waitress might even be a singer or a dancer.

Working in a restaurant requires a lot of training. Servers must learn about every food item and drink on the menu. In some expensive places, they must know exactly how food is prepared. For example, they might know how long beef was marinated. In the United States, some states require a food handler's permit. This permit shows a worker can handle food safely. In Canada, servers must take an online course to serve alcohol.

Many servers earn extra money through tips. A tip is a gift of money given by a customer. Customs for tipping change a lot from one country to another. In the United States, tipping is a very common part of income. In some U.S. states, the hourly wage for servers is lower. This is because employers expect tips to make up the difference. If tips are too low, the employer must pay more in wages.

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File:Annie O'Black 1973.jpg
Annie O'Black 1973.jpg
File:North Korea - Samjiyon waitress (5024319154).jpg
North Korea - Samjiyon waitress (5024319154).jpg
File:Servitris - Ystad-2012.jpg
Servitris - Ystad-2012.jpg
Saganaki at the Parthenon Restaurant in...
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