‘Can't help you, I’m on a break': Servers takes a break to eat while ignoring customers entitled requests to 'stay on shift', leading to a dispute

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Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Mar 8, 2024 1:00 PM EST

More often than not, customers tend to completely forget that the servers who are standing in front of them are human beings too. While it is understandable to want to get a proper service for something that you are paying for, treating servers how you would want to be treated yourself is the least you can do. So for example, if you see that a server is taking their much-deserved break, maybe just leave them be.

Which is exactly what the customers in this Reddit story should have done, at least in my opinion. The original poster (OP) is a server who wrote to Reddit after they had customers complaining about them. The server took a break after bringing the food to the customers' table and set down to eat not far from them. A few minutes later, OP sees that the customers are talking to the manager, and later discovers that they complained about OP taking a break to eat. Personally, I thought that the customers were way out of line, but apparently, a lot of other Redditors agreed with their complaints.

Scroll down to read the full story and the responses. Once you are done, click here for a story of an employee who got fired after refusing to work on his time off.

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  • 01
    "Can't help you, I'm on a break"
    via Canva
  • 02
    Table complained because I was eating
    via u/drakemangos
  • 03
    For context, this was during shift change. My coworker asked if I wanted to take a table, I said sure. I had arrived to work probably an hour prior. It was a Saturday, around 3:30. It was a middle aged man and woman. I got their drinks,
    via u/drakemangos
  • 04
    they ordered an appetizer and their entrees in one go. We had a food runner, and I had just cashed out the only other table I had, so I decided to put in food for myself before the dinner
    via u/drakemangos
  • 05
    rush. To put it simply, our dining room has 3 rows of tables, one on the left, in the middle, and on the right. These people were sitting at the second to last table to the right, farthest from the kitchen.
    via u/drakemangos
  • 06
    I took my food and sat at the tables to the left, closest to the kitchen, at the complete opposite end with my back turned to them. I watched the food runner take out their appetizer. Then their entrees a
    via u/drakemangos
  • 07
    few moments later. I turn around about to go check on them and see my manager standing at their table. When he returned to the kitchen I asked him what they said and he explained that they weren't
    via u/drakemangos
  • 08
    happy that I was eating while they were there. I've never had anyone complain about this. We have no room in the kitchen to eat, there is no designated staff area, so we
    via u/drakemangos
  • 09
    usually sit at the table closest to the kitchen. Again, they were at the opposite end of the restaurant, and my back was turned to them.
    via u/drakemangos
  • 10
    My manager wasn't angry, and my other manager agreed with me that it was a little ridiculous to complain about that. For all they knew, that was my first meal all day. Not that they cared. I awkwardly went over
    via u/drakemangos
  • 11
    and checked on them and they said everything was good. They ended up stiffing me. God forbid I eat at my place of work I guess.
    via u/drakemangos
  • 12
    Wrathchilde 11 hr. ago Nine Years You might as well have just sat next to them, and when their food was delivered asked, with mouth full and buffalo sauce dripping from your chin, "man, this is great, how's yours?"
    via u/Wrathchilde
  • 13
    Just kidding, sorry that happened and you don't have at least am out of view spot to chill for a minute.
    via u/Wrathchilde
  • 14
    PerkyLurkey 14 hr. ago I've never worked at a place that permitted staff to sit down at a table. It's always in the back near the back door by the towel bins. So gross.
    via u/PerkyLurkey
  • 15
    teatimecookie - 11 hr. ago I worked at a place like Red Robin in college and staff were able to eat at a table right outside the kitchen when it was slow like OP. It was never a problem & we never had complaints.
    via u/teatimecookie
  • 16
    trottingturtles · 14 hr. ago One Year There really was no need to complain to your manager about it, but I think this is why it's standard in most places to never eat (or use your phone, etc) in an area that is visible to guests. The
    via u/trottingturtles
  • 17
    fact that your place actually has you sit down at a table in the dining room to eat is crazy to me. Obviously not your fault, but yeah, that is weird!
    via u/trottingturtles
  • 18
    Kitchens never have a dedicated place to sit and eat, but I've never sat down and ate while working at restaurant. I always ate standing up. Not saying that's how it should be, but it is common.
    via u/trottingturtles
  • 19
    Lann42016 12 hr. ago We were always told to put on a jacket or something while we were on our breaks for this exact reason.
    via u/Lann42016
  • 20
    Stingre1956-9 hr. ago Here's the thing. OP arrived at work an hour early? Why? You should have eaten before you went to work, OR, not taken the table.
    via u/Stingre1956
  • 21
    SunshineAlways · 15 hr. ago Some people are always going to be miserable, but maybe you should've checked on them after they got their app?
    via u/SunshineAlways
  • 22
    Susan44646 8 hr. ago Sorry but no way. I'd never do, or allow this in my restaurant. Do you not check on your tables? 2 min/2 bites? It's very unprofessional. They're our guests. It's in bad taste to eat on the floor while you have active tables. No way.
    via u/Susan44646
  • 23
    TinyDinosaursz. 14 hr. ago They're jks but IMHO you should have checked on them when they got their app. What if so.ething was wrong with it
    via u/TinyDinosaursz
  • 24
    earmares 14 hr. ago I have to agree with the guests. I wouldn't have complained to anyone, but I don't think staff should eat out in the restaurant. Especially when you have. an active table and/or wear a uniform.
    via u/earmares
  • 25
    objectivelyyourmum 3 hr. ago If you went into a shop to purchase something and the cashier had their back turned to you eating a burger whilst you wanted to pay, would you be happy about it?
    via u/objectivelyyourmum
  • 26
    KombuchaBot 11 hr. ago . You never realise how weird the general public are till you have a job dealing with them.
    via u/KombuchaBot
  • 27
    ToughAd7338 12 hr. ago They were just looking for a reason to not give you a tip. Cheap people go to great lengths to justify their behavior
    via u/ToughAd7338

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workplace-stories employee job server retail tales-from-the-workplace reddit story entitled customers workplace Reddit tales from your server funny entitled people
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