Rant: Celebrating Restaurant Workers

Today is Labor Day, a national holiday "dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers." It is celebrated on the first Monday every September and is often seen as the unofficial end of Summer. For many people, it is a time for parties and BBQs, eating and drinking. Some may go away for the long weekend, maybe to spend the last weekend at the beach, while others may simply visit a friend or family member's home for a celebration. Not much thought seems to go into the meaning behind this national observance.

Today, I'm hoping that everyone takes at least a little time to think about the underlying meaning of this holiday, and to give thought and thanks to the many good people involved in the local food service industry. Servers, bus persons, cooks, dishwashers, bartenders, hosts/hostesses and more. They work hard to bring you pleasure, to provide you delicious food and drink and to satisfy your cravings and urges. They deserve our gratitude and recognition for all their hard work.

The honor these workers, you should dine out more often, patronizing the excellent restaurants in the local area. Each month, numerous restaurants must close, many due to financial reasons, and if you want your favorite restaurants to survive, you need to dine there more often. Give them your continual support!

When you dine at these restaurants, make sure to tip properly as many of these workers greatly depend on your tips. The issue of tips has garnered lots of press lately, with heated discussions over what is proper, whether restaurants should go tipless, and much more. Patrick Maguire, of I'm Your Server Not Your Servant, has written a number of articles about the issues surrounding tips, providing thoughtful discussion. The main point to remember is that you should tip fairly, and you really need to stop and think about what is fair.

In addition, consumers need to understand about efforts to help the back of the house staff, such as the administrative/hospitality fees used at restaurants like Ledger, Tres Gatos, Casa Verde, Little Dipper Cafe, Brassica Kitchen, and others. This is a small fee, often only 3%, which helps the non-tipped staff who work in the kitchen, behind the scenes, often toiling for long hours to ensure your food is delicious. Some diners bristle at the idea of this tiny fee, though they probably don't understand the rationale behind it.

Finally, when you dine out, please treat all of the restaurant workers with respect and courtesy. Being civil and polite should be a given, but sadly that isn't always the case. Treat restaurant workers in the same manner in which you would want to be treated. We rarely talk about the responsibilities of diners but maybe that should change. Being respectful and courteous while dining out should be a responsibility. If you don't think so, then I suggest you should stay home.

Don't just eat, drink and celebrate today. Please, also give some thought to the meaning of the day, recognizing all the service people who make your life better.