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Waiting staff (BrE),[1] waiters (MASC) / waitresses (FEM), or servers (AmE)[2][3] are those who work at a restaurant, a diner, or a bar and sometimes in private homes, attending to customers by supplying them with food and drink as requested. Waiting staff follow rules and guidelines determined by the manager. Waiting staff carry out many different tasks, such as taking orders, food-running, polishing dishes and silverware, helping bus tables, entertaining patrons, restocking working stations with needed supplies, and handing out the bill.
Waiting on tables is part of the service sector and among the most common occupations. In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimated that, as of May 2023[update], there were about 2.2 million people employed as servers in the country.[4]
Many restaurants choose a specific uniform for their waiting staff to wear. Waiting staff may receive tips as a minor or major part of their earnings, with customs varying widely from country to country.[5]
- ^ "WAITING English Definition and Meaning". Lexico.com. Archived from the original on May 15, 2021. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ "What is the politically correct term for waitress?".
- ^ "SERVER English Definition and Meaning". Lexico.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved 2022-08-24.
- ^ U.S. Department of Labor - Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024-04-03). "Occupational Employment and Wages - Waiters and Waitresses". US Department of Labor. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
- ^ Reg Butler; Carole French (2011). Tips on Tipping: A Global Guide to Gratuity Etiquette. Bradt Travel Guides. pp. viii–ix. ISBN 978-1-84162-210-1.