AFTER A PARTY OF GUESTS LEAVES JULIANS RESTAURANT IN PROVIDENCE ,
bar manager and server Kendra Plumley clears dirty dishes and collects a billfold left at one of only five indoor tables the staff still seats . At the end of the shift , when Plumley opens the black plastic credit card sleeve , she finds a glaring handwritten message : the word “ Tip ” is capitalized and underlined and the words “ Stop making patrons wear masks at the table ” are scrawled in the space where guests would normally leave 18 to 20 percent gratuity . It ’ s just another night on the job in the restaurant industry .
“ As a restaurant , we want to provide an enjoyable experience , but it has to comply within these safety precautions . We are fortunate at Julians . The people we work with are taking it seriously , the owners are taking it seriously , and the majority of the guests are appreciative of the care and effort that ’ s being put into safety ,” Plumley says with a sigh . “ But unfortunately , I have had a few interactions with people just being rude . This particular party walked into the restaurant without a mask on . That ’ s unacceptable . I am just doing my job . I don ’ t want to have to babysit you . I just want to bring you your food .”
Loren Sloan was working with Plumley during that shift at Julians . As a server with borderline personality disorder who participates in therapy , Sloan says it ’ s stressful to have to remind guests to wear their masks — particularly as vaccines are available , indoor dining capacity rules are more relaxed and people are eager to return to pre-pandemic life . At press time , hospitality workers are not yet eligible to receive the vaccine unless they get lucky through a connection or live in an eligible zip code or meet certain health guidelines .
Putting masks back on when a server approaches a table is part of many restaurants ’ policies for safe dining , including at Julians , which is conveyed to guests before they sit down .
“ Some people get a little resentful . Sometimes you ’ ll interact with a table and it feels like you are a parent , having to nag them to make sure they have their masks on . I will be as polite as possible . I will be happy and charming about it ,” Sloan says . “ We want you to have an enjoyable experience , and we want to be able to do that while maintaining our safety standards . By doing so , we preserve that experience for everyone else .”
58 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l MAY 2021