Monday, August 15, 2011

some things i wish everyone knew involving the service industry

(1)

5-10% is not an acceptable tip amount.

why, you may ask?

Every restaurant I know of makes all servers tip out the kitchen, bar, hostess team, management, etc.  This tip out is usually 7-8% of your total sales.  So, at the end of the day/night the server still has to pay that 7-8% tip out regardless of what his or her actually tip amount was.  Generally I would say that the tip out winds up being 1/2 of what I take home each shift.  Which means, let's say of the total potential 16% tips you earned, half of that is given away (and sometimes more).

If people don't tip out more than 8%, the server makes nothing.

If people tip nothing, the server pays out of pocket for the tip out.

(2)

For all those who have never before worked in the service industry...

Servers do far more than just serve their own 4-5+ tables.  They are seating tables, busing tables, running food all over the restaurant, running plates, unloading glassware, refilling water jugs and pepper mills... all kinds of mundane tasks all at once.  And trust me, it's a workout.  I literally have lost an entire pant size/2 dress sizes over the Summer just from serving.

So, if a server takes 5 minutes to get you something and you can see with your own two eyes that the restaurant is busy, think about it...relax.

(3)

Food problems of any kind are not the server's fault.  I'm not the one making the food, as much as I appreciate the hard work of all our kitchen staff.

This problem should never be used as a reason to badly tip.  Bring up the issue the first time the server comes back to check on you.  If the problem is not remedied to your satisfaction, speak up.  Servers cannot read minds, but are more than willing to do whatever it takes to make sure you leave happy.


*sigh*  People...*grumble, grumble*...*lobotomies*...
Ok, rant over.


Friday, August 5, 2011

11 more sleeps

until Gavin and I leave for BC!  I'm so excited to get away for a week and just relax, soak up some sun, and do some reading...

We are planning to be in Kelowna for a few days visiting some of Gavin's friends.  While there we are going to check out the H2O park that has a flow rider where you can surf indoors.  I also want to go to the Mission Hill winery... something I've always wanted to do is a wine tour in BC so hopefully we get to do that.

Then we will be chilling in Summerland floating on the lake and catching up on some much needed R&R.

At the moment however...

Steph is in Calgary! :)  It's so nice to have her here.  We have been getting outside as much as possible to enjoy the nice weather.  Now if only I didn't have to work all weekend in the evenings...

The house is almost all unpacked and set up now.  It's looking really nice and cozy; I love it.  I am so loving all the sunlight I get now.  The living room has great big windows that let in so much happy sunshine :)  It tends to be really warm inside, but it's a small price to pay in exchange for so much sunshine I think.  All that is left now is unpacking books once we get some shelves up in my room, and putting pictures up basically...  The yard is a jungle too, so that is one more thing that will eventually need to be tackled, but it will get done with time.

I will post pictures soon :)

Happy Friday everybody!

blown away

these two gals are freaking amazing...



I want one of them to win SYTYCD!

amazing voice

love love love