World's First National Waiters Day - is it really coming?

A new campaign of waiters might bring World's First National Waiters Day in the UK. How hard is it for waiters? Is the World's First National Day worth it? 

Bristish Hospitality Association(BHA) has released the data , there are 254,200 waiters, 200,300 bar staff and 196,100 managers working in the hospitality industry in 2011, the majority under 30 years old and badly paid. According to the Office for National Statistics, bar staff and waiters were the lowest-paid occupations(pdf) in the UK economy that year, with an hourly pay of £6.25. 

But the BHA notes that wages vary widely and waiters say it's possible to earn £2,500 a month in top London establishments. One restaurateur tells me of experienced waiters earning £40-50,000 a year. Sirieix points out that people can rise swiftly, and restaurant managers earn from £30,000 to six-figure sums. 

Russell Norman, founder of London's Polpo, Spuntino and Mishkin's, points to the New York restaurant scene that inspired him. "Tipping is such a guaranteed source of income that being a bartender in a cool bar is a matter of pride and this translates as brilliant service – and a viable career. It also means only those who are supremely competent, articulate and charming – and fast – will do well." 

The focus on friendliness means staff here work only 35-40 hours a week, to ensure they are on top of their game. "Here you must be smiling and friendly all the time – there is nowhere to hide," says one of the waiters in UK "If you are tired, you won't give the best service. This is not a place you can stay in the background." 

There's no doubt that being a waiter is exhausting. It's not the physical side that poses the greatest challenge.They are required to have a forensic eye and an intuition to instantly gauge the mood of diners.