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‘Pet Peeves As A Server’: Restaurant Employees Reveal What Annoys Them The Most
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‘Pet Peeves As A Server’: Restaurant Employees Reveal What Annoys Them The Most

'Pet Peeves As A Server': Restaurant Employees Reveal What Annoys Them The Most'Pet Peeves As A Server': Employees Reveal What Annoys Them The Most While Working In The Service IndustryWoman Asks Her Colleagues To Share Their Biggest 'Pet Peeves As A Server'Woman Asked Her Coworkers To Share Their Service Workers Share Their Biggest Job 'Pet Peeves' In A Viral Video12 Pet Peeves That Servers Have According To These TikToks12 Servers On TikTok Reveal Their Biggest Pet Peeves So People Would Stop Doing Them12 Servers Share Their Biggest Pet Peeves In These Viral TikToks12 Things Servers Just Can't Stand As Per These TikToks
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Anyone who’s spent time working in food service can tell you that it’s no walk in the park. Every now and then, workers have to deal with entitled customers, their weird preferences, and ridiculous demands. It’s just a part of the job. But thanks to social media, people can share their criticism online and enlighten others about their lack of common sense.

Recently, TikTok user Bobbi Swan created a couple of short videos where she asked her coworkers to share their “biggest pet peeves as a server.” While knowing the inner workings of the restaurant industry, the group revealed just how annoying customers can be.

From snapping their fingers to interrupting the staff, some complaints they raised seem almost unbelievable, and others prompted quite a discussion in the comments. Scroll down below to find out the things that grind servers’ gears the most.

TikToker Bobbi Swan asked her coworkers what their “biggest pet peeves as a server” are

Restaurant workers started airing their grievances

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You can watch the full video right here

@bobbiswan #server #serverlife #serverproblems #servertiktok #servertok #fyp #fypシ #foryoupage #arbysdiablodare #CloseYourRings #trending ♬ original sound – bobbiswan

The creator later continued with Part 2 of the series

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Watch the full video, which got over 1.7M views, right over here

@bobbiswan “you got sat” #server #serverlife #serverproblems #servertok #servertiktok #fyp #foryou #picasso #comedy #relatable #elfitup ♬ original sound – bobbiswan

When the creator posted the videos on the platform, they sparked quite a debate in the comment section. Many followers shared their own pet peeves and started discussing restaurant etiquette and what working as a server is all about.

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However, some were confused why ordering “water with their fountain drinks” was considered an annoying habit. Bobbi posted another clip, explaining that it was not meant to make people feel bad. She said it’s only a little annoying because most people don’t drink the water. So when she has to bus tables, she can’t stack those cups together and it just takes more time.

It’s common for people who never worked at a restaurant to not fully understand what a thankless job it is. You see, not getting properly tipped by customers is just the tip of the iceberg. A server’s job is high-stress by nature—they have to get used to the fast-paced environment and juggle different customer demands while keeping a smile on their face.

Of course, not all customers lead to nightmarish experiences. There are plenty of great diners who respect their servers and appreciate their efforts. Yet, there’s also a fair share of people with non-existent food allergies and privileged attitudes that can truly push servers over the edge.

According to Food & Wine, customer entitlement at restaurants now is extremely high—and restaurant workers are at their limit. The pandemic has worsened customer behavior, often making the staff feel unsafe and unvalued. Many servers report “impatience regarding wait times, name-calling, frustration over limited seating and menu options, and disregard for safety protocols.”

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Ever since the pandemic began, there seems to be a trend of people forgetting how to be nice to and understanding of each other. One server told Food & Wine that they need to provide customers with above-and-beyond service, even if they are offensive: “It makes us feel like we are not allowed to have the expectation of being treated like a person.”

Sometimes, diners throw temper tantrums when the service does not meet their expectations. But if the management does not stand up to it or, even worse, encourages such behavior, the restaurant industry might begin to seem like a one-way street.

According to Alexander Kjerulf, the author of the Chief Happiness Officer Blog, if companies encourage the “customer is always right” attitude, it can lead to bad service. One reason behind it is that it makes employees feel unappreciated and gives annoying clients an unfair advantage.

In our previous interview, he told us that “in America, there’s been an increase in entitled belligerent jerks who think they can get whatever they want if they yell loudly enough about it.” Yet, “Employees finally have online forums where they can share their stories and support each other.”

After all, if you choose to work in the service industry to make a living, that does not automatically mean that others have the right to walk all over you. Hopefully, the grievances this group of servers aired will help many people to become more self-aware of their behavior when dining out.

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People had a lot to say about this and were quick to share their own pet peeves

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Ieva Gailiūtė

Ieva Gailiūtė

Writer, Community member

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Ieva is a writer at Bored Panda who graduated in Scandinavian studies from Vilnius University. After learning the Swedish language and getting completely lost in the world of Scandinavian mythology, she figured out that translating and writing is what she's passionate about. When not writing, Ieva enjoys making jewelry, going on hikes, reading and drinking coffee.

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Ieva Gailiūtė

Ieva Gailiūtė

Writer, Community member

Ieva is a writer at Bored Panda who graduated in Scandinavian studies from Vilnius University. After learning the Swedish language and getting completely lost in the world of Scandinavian mythology, she figured out that translating and writing is what she's passionate about. When not writing, Ieva enjoys making jewelry, going on hikes, reading and drinking coffee.

Ilona Baliūnaitė

Ilona Baliūnaitė

Author, BoredPanda staff

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I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

Read less »

Ilona Baliūnaitė

Ilona Baliūnaitė

Author, BoredPanda staff

I'm a Visual Editor at Bored Panda since 2017. I've searched through a multitude of images to create over 2000 diverse posts on a wide range of topics. I love memes, funny, and cute stuff, but I'm also into social issues topics. Despite my background in communication, my heart belongs to visual media, especially photography. When I'm not at my desk, you're likely to find me in the streets with my camera, checking out cool exhibitions, watching a movie at the cinema or just chilling with a coffee in a cozy place

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Paul Davis
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I order water with my fountain drink all the time -- and I always drink it. I only want to drink so much soda, and also soda makes me thirsty.

Marco Conti
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, I don't get that "pet peeve" and I was a waiter for 10 years. Many of the other peeves, sure. Eating half a meal then say it wasn't good and wanting a comp? Nope. That trick was old when my grandpa was around. But water with soda? Most restaurant deliver water anyway unless they are in a draught zone.

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Anony Mouse
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please less of the tiktok content. They are one of the worst companies for data mining and selling your personal info to third parties. It's also just annoying having to scroll-scroll-scroll to read like 8 words at a time.

RaroaRaroa
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's what most of bored panda is now - taken from tiktok or reddit. And then I see the bored panda content come up on the Daily Mail and other places.

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Beatrice Multhaupt
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At age 30+, I was cooking for my parents at their house and they invited a guest. Wordlessly, he held up an empty glass and snapped his fingers. I was too flabberghasted to say anything, an absolute first for me.

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Paul Davis
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I order water with my fountain drink all the time -- and I always drink it. I only want to drink so much soda, and also soda makes me thirsty.

Marco Conti
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yeah, I don't get that "pet peeve" and I was a waiter for 10 years. Many of the other peeves, sure. Eating half a meal then say it wasn't good and wanting a comp? Nope. That trick was old when my grandpa was around. But water with soda? Most restaurant deliver water anyway unless they are in a draught zone.

Load More Replies...
Anony Mouse
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please less of the tiktok content. They are one of the worst companies for data mining and selling your personal info to third parties. It's also just annoying having to scroll-scroll-scroll to read like 8 words at a time.

RaroaRaroa
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's what most of bored panda is now - taken from tiktok or reddit. And then I see the bored panda content come up on the Daily Mail and other places.

Load More Replies...
Beatrice Multhaupt
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At age 30+, I was cooking for my parents at their house and they invited a guest. Wordlessly, he held up an empty glass and snapped his fingers. I was too flabberghasted to say anything, an absolute first for me.

Load More Comments
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