Welcome to
Food and Beverage Service
Workers as printed in the Ocupational Outlook Handbook found on the web at
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos162.htm#earnings
... .Whether they work in small, informal diners or large, elegant
restaurants, all food and beverage service workers deal with customers. The quality of
service they deliver determines in part whether or not the patron will return.
Waiters and waitresses take customers' orders, serve food and
beverages, prepare itemized checks, and sometimes accept payments. The manner in which
they perform their tasks varies considerably, depending on the establishment where they
work. In coffee shops, they are expected to provide fast and efficient, yet courteous,
service. In fine restaurants, where gourmet meals are accompanied by attentive formal
service, waiters and waitresses serve meals at a more leisurely pace and offer more
personal service to patrons. For example, servers may recommend a certain wine as a
complement to a particular entree, explain how various items on the menu are prepared, or
complete preparations on a salad or other special dishes at table side. Additionally,
waiters and waitresses may check the identification of patrons to ensure they meet the
minimum age requirement for the purchase of alcohol and tobacco products.
Depending on the type of restaurant, waiters and waitresses may perform
additional duties generally associated with other food and beverage service occupations.
These tasks may include escorting guests to tables, serving customers seated at counters,
setting up and clearing tables, or cashiering. However, formal restaurants frequently hire
staff to perform these duties, allowing their waiters and waitresses to concentrate on
customer service.
Food and beverage service workers are on their feet most of the time and
often carry heavy trays of food, dishes, and glassware. During busy dining periods, they
are under pressure to serve customers quickly and efficiently. The work is relatively
safe, but care must be taken to avoid slips, falls, and burns.
...taken from Food and Beverage
Service Workers, as printing in the Ocupational Outlook Handbook found at
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos162.htm#earnings
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hazards
