When is National Waitstaff Day?
May 21st is National Waitstaff Day.
What is National Waitstaff Day?
They walk us through the menu, keep our glasses full, and often put up with some pretty grumpy customers. They deserve some applause. National Waitstaff Day celebrates our nation’s waiters and waitresses for their hard work in making our meals a pleasant experience.
Waiting tables isn’t an easy gig, and it’s not for everyone. The waitstaff often skips meals to serve us, and they usually depend on tips to make a reasonable wage. It doesn’t always work out, especially for beginners.
So as your server runs around managing four persnickety tables, fighting the bartender for your drinks, and carting off towers of dirty dishes, be sure to show your gratitude on National Waitstaff Day.
Fun facts about National Waitstaff Day!
- The federal minimum wage for waitstaff is $2.13 an hour. Of course, servers also make money off their tips, but on a night full of lackluster tippers, that may not be much.
- If your order is messed up, there’s a good chance it’s the kitchen’s fault, not your server’s.
- The U.S. had over 660,000 restaurants in the Spring of 2018. That makes for a lot of servers!
- Many countries don’t tip at all. In Japan, tipping is even considered offensive. The practice only became somewhat normal in the U.S. after the Civil War.
How to celebrate National Waitstaff Day:
- Tip a little extra for good service. Maybe they couldn’t wait on you hand and foot, but consider a 30% or 50% tip if you never had a good reason to get frustrated.
- Compliment your server on speedy service, the skillful management of a pile of dishes, or even how friendly he or she is. (But, you know, back that compliment up with how you tip.)
What’s the hashtag for National Waitstaff Day?
Use #NationalWaitstaffDay on social media to thank the nation’s servers.