Server Shows How Boomers vs. Gen Z Leave Tables At Restaurants, Sparks Debate

There’s a bit of a generational feud going on between Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z’ers. The younger generations seem to think that all their problems are a result of decisions made by Boomers, while Boomers seem to think kids these days are lazy and entitled.

But Kaitlyn Brande, an 18-year-old server, is attempting to dispel that last stereotype. In a TikTok that has since gone viral, Brande shared the stark contrast between how a group of Boomers and Gen Z’ers left their tables.

Brande captioned the video: “‘They get paid to do that’ vs ‘we know restaurant life is hard, here, let us help you out.'”

As you can see, there’s a pretty stark difference.

“Here’s a table of five boomers,” Brande explained showing the first table. Despite her already taking some of the plates away, the table is a total mess.

Then, there’s the Zoomer table.

“This is a table of six Gen Zs,” the server explained. “They did that, just saying.”

Brande told Buzzfeed why she decided to post the video: “I posted it because I thought it was ironic since older people always expect respect. I’m not saying I expect people to ever stack their plates like that, because hey, I’m a person too. I want to go out and eat and not worry about the dishes or anything. All I’m saying is it was cool and helpful of the younger people, and I appreciated it.”

Unsurprisingly, Brande’s comparison has led to some mixed reactions. “It’s not about age,” one user wrote. “I’m boomer & always clean/stack the plates! I’ve always had 2 jobs, 1 in food service, still do! F/T restaurant Mgr while raising kids: 1 is now a chef & the other a brewer. Those w/background in food service always tip better & are more polite to servers.”

While another added: “Neither is a good example of your generation vs our. There shouldn’t have been plates on either table when these people left. What this is an example of, rather, is a waitress who doesn’t pay attention to her customers and/or bus her tables.”

One user wrote: “It doesn’t matter even if they do get paid for it, it helps the staff out especially if it is hella busy and they don’t get as much money as you think.”

Another user chimed in, explaining that many servers often don’t want your help stacking the plates. “I’ve gotten mixed opinions for service staff saying stacking doesn’t help sometimes,” they wrote. “Depends on the place.”

This seems to be a common theme, with another person writing: “I was told by a waitress that they don’t like when plates and what not are stacked like that. Just saying.”

A fellow server explained: “I always put the plates together when I’m eating out because it’s respectful and I also bus tables.”

A mother said that she stacks plates because her son is a server, writing: “My son is a server and I always stack my dishes and clean up the table because I know how hard servers work.”

Another user added: “I do try my best to clean up and get it kinda sorta organized.”

What do you make of the video? Is this a generational issue or just a matter of manners?