In the US the job is considered as something one is forced into doing because of a lack of other (better) opportunities. In NYC and LA lots of young people trying to get into acting or writing take on jobs as waiters. To show what low regard the work has the federal hourly pay rate is $2.13 per hour compared with $5.15 for jobs where tips are not expected.
My (limited) experience has been that those who work where the job is considered respectable treat their customers better than those who are only doing it for the money.
There is also a new trend in the US. Lots of seasonal resort areas are now importing young people to work in the restaurants during the summer. I've met quite a few from various parts of Eastern Europe working in upstate New York and New England. They all speak English reasonably well (certainly better than I speak Bulgarian!), are polite and efficient - perhaps part of the European expectations for waiters.
Just my 2 cents... Policies not Politics ---- Daily Landscape
