Believe it or not, I had never had a real job in my life until about a year ago when my parents bought a food business. It's a small place in our tiny "mall" that was started in the 80s, and has been around ever since. I was so excited that we had bought the place that I didn't ever stop to think about how much work it was going to be. Not only is it a lot of work, but you know those days when you wake up and all you can think about is how much you don't want to see people? Try having a job where all you do is talk to people. All day. Not only do you talk to them, you have to serve them. This job has opened my eyes to so many things. I've had a lot of people tell me that being a waitress is a job everyone should have to do at one point. It teaches so many skills. Since having this job, I've learned to always tip my waiter/waitress. We put up with a lot, and work a lot harder than one may think.
I've had people complain about things like not enough cheese on their nachos and too much ice in their Pepsi. I've had people not even look at me while ordering. A few of my co-workers have been accused of being racist (which they aren't) because they weren't taking orders fast enough. On the other hand, I have people who smile and order very nicely. People who ask how my day was, and joke with me. There are all different types of people in the world and with a job like mine, you learn that quickly. We deal with a lot, and usually don't get the pay we think we deserve. Knowing what I do now, I've learned that tipping your waitress is a must. I used to not think about tipping, but now I tip everyone. I tip the lady who makes my coffee every morning, and I tip at every restaurant I go to.
If you haven't worked as a waiter or waitress before, you may not understand what the big deal is when it comes to leaving a nice tip. Well trust me, it's appreciated more than anyone knows. Tips are another way of saying "Thank you" or "I see that you're working hard." If you don't tip, I highly encourage you to start. I know they say the standard low for tipping is 15%, but even just starting at a few dollars is better than no tip at all. Honestly, I don't think many people actually tip 15% because not very many people can tell you what 15% is off the top of their head. So no, I don't think you have to tip 15%, but leaving a few dollars is a nice thing to do.
Next time you go out to eat, be kind to your waiter/waitress and let him/her know that he/she is doing a good job. Acknowledge their patience and thank them. When you're done with your meal, leave a tip. They will appreciate it, and they'll look forward to the next time you come back. And remember: the nicer someone is, the easier it makes it to wait on them.
