Vacation

Entry 5 out of 5 from vacation in Florida......

It is almost midnight on Saturday and I have not had time to write a blog today. It has been a very busy day. I went to the Bonita Springs Art festival with my father, brother and cousin. Not really going to write a "cynical server worthy" entry today, just going to briefly talk about vacations and the food server.

Most restaurants will allow a server to take off brief periods of time here and there. With MOST food serving jobs, no work = no tips = no money. Some companies offer vacation after a year or two of loyal service. Usually they will pay you your hourly wage (which is considerably LOWER than minimum wages) based on the average hours you have been working for the year. In a best case scenario, this can pay for your benefits (if the restaurant you work at has insurance and benefits) or helps to pay the growing mountain of federal and state taxes that you will owe on April 15th.

Otherwise, when you return from vacation you will find yourself broke. In addition to having empty pockets, you will owe back wages for your benefits and taxes. That is always fun, being behind the eight ball.

BUT

We all need a little time off here and there. For a food server there is just a little bit higher of an opportunity cost. Just one of the perks for serving. Gotta work your ass off right up until the moment you to go on vacation. Then you go on vacation, which can be tiring as well. When you get back to civilization you have to work your ass off twice as hard to cover your daily expenses like rent, food and all of your bills.

Right before vacation I was losing it. One of the only things keeping me going was the light at the end of the tunnel---my vacation. Otherwise it is easy to lose your place with all the doubles and crazy holiday lunch shifts. Now I am almost done with my vacation, and I am starting to envision coming back to reality. Landing at the airport, taking a taxi home, picking up my two dogs and Amazon parrot and having to do all the doubles at work to "catch up" with my extravagant lifestyle. Ha! Have a great day!