Too rude for their food

Dumb waiters are a thing of the past but staff are still being treated badly by customers, according to a new survey.

Snifter is impressed to hear that 58% of workers in the hospitality trade hold academic qualifications, ranging from a Classics degree to a certificate in air traffic control.

But the findings, from recruitment website www.caterer.com, paint a bleak picture of the treatment Britain's brainy bar, kitchen and hotel workers have to cope with.

A depressing 91% of staff said they have experienced a condescending attitude from customers, and 10% said they face patronising behaviour on a daily basis. Rather than being asked politely, customers prefer to click their fingers to get attention, with some staff complaining of being 'whistled at like a dog. Throwing food is also popular.

One respondent said: 'A gentleman wouldn't let me have his credit card details as he thought I would go on a shopping spree with it.

Another worker who was serving a family celebrating a customer's A-Level results was told: 'That's more than you'll ever get.

But employees are fighting back. One in four male workers will make patronising customers wait longer for service. And one in ten female workers will rise above the insults by ignoring them.

'Unfortunately, too many customers fail to treat hospitality workers with the courtesy that they deserve, said Simon Taylorson, commercial director of Caterer.com. 'We would advise customers to show respect to the people who mix their drinks, serve their dinner and take their hotel bookings they're likely to be more multi-talented than you think.

Snifter (BA, BSc, MA, PhD) couldn't agree more.