Working in the food service industry isn’t all fun and games. It’s grueling, repetitive work that isn’t always rewarded as generously as it should be. And very often, as a server or chef, you’ll also end up emotionally exhausted after dealing with people and stressful situations all day long. Some customers are great, sure. But there will always be at least a handful of less empathetic ones who will make you question your choice of career.
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.
#1 The Most Hateful Meal
Image source: FrinkyNicks, razzo11
#2 Who The Chef Really Is
Image source: mftwiits
#3 The Uselessness Of Signs
Image source: TheAngryBartender
#4 The True Stupidity Of Earth
Image source: Ashley_Dill
#5 Got Your Back
Image source: erinsewelll, simonefiasco
#6 Oops
Image source: sugarpockets
#7 As A Person Who Worked In Retail, All I Can Say Is Very Accurate
Image source: NotEthanSmith_
#8 Every Time, All While Saying “Sorry, Sorry, Sorry”
Image source: MuireannO_C
#9 An Inspiration To Us All
Image source: JakeWoody
#10 And Salt
Image source: mariana057
#11 She Knows What’s What
Image source: AOC
#12 The Honest Truth
Image source: MayorFunkytown
#13 Can’t Get Any More Accurate Than That
Image source: life_iscraZZy
#14 It Makes You More Patient With Stupid People And Also Makes You Way Less Irritable When Places Are Running Behind/Messing Things Up
Image source: kirstynhippe
#15 There’s Multitasking And Then There’s Multitasking
Image source: corollablunt
#16 At Least He Took It Well
Image source: __BigO__
#17 If You Have Ever Picked Up One Of These With Your Bare Hands, You Don’t Need To Worry About What’s In The Vaccine
Image source: desertcart.co.zw, PickleBrine89
#18 They Are So Bad At Reading The Room
Image source: theereal_one, 6foot6yata
#19 Been There
Image source: phileagle_
#20 Silly. You’re Supposed To Balance It On Your Head
Image source: CharlotteCrook2
#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”
Image source: REALBURTIIS
#22 Truer Words Were Never Spoken
Image source: phileagle_
#23 Nothing Like When The Doors Are Already Locked And They Start Aggressively Tugging On The Doors From The Outside Though
Image source: katiekml
#24 Mine Was Mr. Pickles Because I Asked For Extra Pickles On My Sub
Image source: ElyKreimendahl
#25 “I’m Scheduled Until 8, So I’ll Probably Be Off Around 10”
Image source: Callie_Kirkwood
#26 Newbies vs. Old Vets
Image source: cowboydeanwinchester
#27 I Mean He Ain’t Wrong
Image source: cleaverandblade
#28 As A Server, I Promise You We Noticed Everyone That Makes Our Restaurant Their First Date Spot
Image source: PhilosophyTube
#29 The Reasonable Requests
Image source: lucia_attanasio
#30 The List Of Allergies A Table Handed Us On NYE (The Set Menu Was Surf & Turf)
Public service announcement: “If you have life-threatening dietary restrictions please check the menu beforehand and contact the restaurant to ensure accommodations can be made. Thank you”.
Image source: yaremaa_
#31 Using Your Coworkers As Free Therapists
Image source: kylieamurphy
#32 Foodservice In A Nutshell
Image source: CameronGhering
#33 The Highest Quality Speakers
Image source: thaeox
#34 It Really Is
Image source: JustSarahJay
#35 Changing One Of Those Bad Boys In A Lunch Rush Is An Extreme Sport
Image source: beatsbyleet
#36 Bit Harsh
Image source: _Pray_For_Mojo_
#37 The Least Welcome Version Of Small Talk
Image source: taylor_mccowenx
#38 The Generational Difference
Image source: aaAyeyaaa
#39 Facts
Image source: kaitlynirene__
#40 Not To Mention We Had A Solid 50 Other People Ordering Food
Image source: MeghanPectol
#41 That’s Today’s Society For You
Image source: growupdan
#42 The Staff Have Got Enough To Do And We Clear Our Own Mess
Image source: MGallIBF
#43 Hahahah, Why Do I Relate To This Back On My Old Sales Days
Image source: nickhansonMN
#44 Better Not To Know What Is Happening Behind The Scenes
Image source: callmeAl_
#45 Accurate
Image source: emmajaynefrost1
#46 Simple Timetable
Image source: its_planty
#47 The Intense Heat
Image source: harriet_wrightx
#48 Opening The Box Was The Hardest Thing For Me
Image source: omarichozen
#49 I Always Say Sorry I Left My 3rd Arm At Home Today
Image source: _raqueeelllll
#50 I Work In An Upscale Seafood Restaurant And Get Order Like This All Day
We only had 58 covers today and I’ve already seen 3 different tickets like this. Almost every station contains fish. I don’t understand the logic of choosing to go to a seafood restaurant with a severe allergy like this.
Image source: PBR4Lunch
#51 Same Like I Wouldnt Even Think Abour Food Nor Eating And It Was So Easy
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