To show you some of the challenges these hard-working employees face, our team at Bored Panda has collected some of their top posts and vents about what they constantly deal with. Scroll down to take a look. If you’ve ever worked at a restaurant, you might find these takes incredibly relatable!
Bored Panda reached out to Jaime-Alexis Fowler, the founder and executive director of the non-profit organization ‘Empower Work,' for some advice on handling negative emotions and stress in customer-facing roles. Read on to see what she told us.
#21 I Showed This To The 56-Year-Old Who Sitting Next To Me And His Response Was “I Don’t Understand What That Means”
Not all rude customers are alike. Some folks are decent but they’ve had an awful day, and they snap (even though they shouldn't). Others are used to always getting their way, so they resort to bullying and manipulation.
Servers with lots of experience can often instinctively tell who’s who, and how to deal with each category of people.
#23 Nothing Like When The Doors Are Already Locked And They Start Aggressively Tugging On The Doors From The Outside Though
Often, unhappy customers just want to be heard and their criticism shouldn’t be taken personally. A dash of empathy and some active listening from the server’s side can work wonders in these situations.
It can be a ton of help if your manager roleplays with you and walks you through some potential scenarios with rude customers. Meanwhile, managers should always be available to support their newer staff members and step in if they have trouble handling negative and entitled people.
Have you ever worked in the food service industry, dear Pandas? Do you have a lot of experience as a server, chef, or bartender? What are the weirdest situations you’ve ever been in with customers?
What advice would you give anyone who’s completely new to working at a restaurant? We’d love to hear all about your job stories, so if you’re taking a coffee break, share your experiences in the comments at the bottom of this list.
#28 As A Server, I Promise You We Noticed Everyone That Makes Our Restaurant Their First Date Spot
#30 The List Of Allergies A Table Handed Us On NYE (The Set Menu Was Surf & Turf)
