Peter wrote:
>There is some validity to what you say but what other option did the
>customer have? Perhaps an angry employee will help the manager change his
>ways. The waiter is responsible for certain things that may not be within
>his control. For example if there is a really long wait to get your food it
>may be the kitchen's fault but it is still the waiter's responsibility and
>can validly be reflected in the tip.

IMO, angry employees *never* change management's mind...and I say this
as both a manager and an employee.

Angry *customers*, however, can have a huge impact.

And as for the idea that the waiter is reponsible for the wait for
food...no, s/he's not. What the waiter *is* responsible for is letting
the customer know that there's a wait...offering something in exchange
for the wait...apologising profusely for the wait...and did the server
mention there's a wait?

Anyone who has ever worked in food service knows there are only 2
reasons for delay: 1) The manager under-scheduled or 2) the restaurant
got slammed.

If it's the first of the month - or a Friday - and you go into a
restaurant that only has 3 servers for the entire restaurant...you know
the manager underscheduled. Take it out on the manager, not the
server.

If it's the middle of the month - and middle of the week - and you go
into a restaurant that has a couple busses sitting out front, and 3
servers running around trying not to go insane...they got slammed. In
that case, just be patient...they're doing their best.

Oh, I forgot about the 3rd reason for delay...the kitchen has just
caught on fire and y'all have to evacuate the building!

Lisa Ann