10 things hospitality staff definitely don’t miss right now
It’s awful, isn’t it, that we’re having to miss the hospitality industry in the Netherlands so much again. But as much as we miss the hospitality industry, and hospitality staff themselves miss the industry too, there are also plenty of things they’re more than happy to skip for a while! We asked hospitality staff stuck at home what they definitely don’t miss about their jobs.
“I’m just walking in circles”
Nearly falling flat on my face in the dishwashing area and people who keep walking around the place in circles with their baby.
Who wants to work? Anyone? No?
Making schedules. Especially when the weather is nice, there are festivals and public holidays: nobody wants to work, while it’s incredibly busy. Making schedules at this time is awful.
Contortionist
Clearing the terrace at night. It’s always such a pain! Carrying those chairs inside and squeezing between the tables with a cable lock. Awful.
Showing off those muscles
A sore arm from carrying pitchers of beer all day and holding trays full of cocktails and latte macchiatos above your head.
*Gags*
Accidentally touching the disgusting food scraps (especially mayo) from plates with my fingers while clearing tables.
One-sided diet
I love the chefs, honestly, they can cook wonderfully. But in summer, when it’s very busy and they have to do a lot of mise en place during the day, the staff meal can sometimes be a bit… well, uninspired. Eating pasta three days a week and hamburgers four days a week in summer is something I won’t miss.
The worst job of all
Polishing. Polishing glasses and cutlery, the worst job in the hospitality industry. In summer there’s sometimes so much of it that you get cramps in your fingers. Wiping away nice lipstick marks. No, not a fan. Won’t miss it!
“I’m sick”
People who ask every day whether someone can cover their shift because their second cousin’s neighbor is having a birthday or because they’re sick. No, you’re not sick. Not last time either—yes, we all saw on Instagram that you were at that festival—and not now either. Get out of bed and stop making such a fuss.
“Can you top things up?”
Restocking when the weather is nice. Awful. The fridge is in the basement, the terrace is huge, so when the weather is good, supplies disappear quickly. It needs to be restocked at least three times a day and I’m always the one stuck doing it. And believe me, carrying five crates up the stairs three times a day really makes itself felt in your legs.
Table numbers
Every year, the terrace is arranged just slightly differently. Combined with new staff who have never worked the terrace before, this creates a lot of chaos in the table numbering. “Where did the coffee from table 112 go?” “Oh, it’s with the lady from table 90, who once again has the nachos belonging to that group at table 115!” Great.
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