Why Delivering Ubereats is Much Like Being a Waiter

 Since January of this year, I have been delivering for Ubereats. It is my first job since I left on disability back in 2017. The steroids have helped stabilize my hemoglobin at levels not seen since four years ago and I am happy about that. Not only have I more energy but I can now get out there and make some money. Obviously because of the pandemic we have been shattered because we happen to work in the service industry.

Thankfully without having to jeopardize my disability payments, as little as they are, I have not had to knock on doors to look for employment during this pandemic. After all with my immunocompromised condition, I would not want to work in a setting where I was put at risk just to make a few dollars.

A friend of mine mentioned that being a delivery driver would be a good idea. At first, I thought that would be boring. Just waiting around and waiting to deliver something seemed like not something I wanted to do. So I thought maybe to give Ubereats a look. I wanted something where the hours were flexible. If I wanted to take Saturday night off I could. As we are a one-car family that would also work.

Well, I never thought I would say this but this is probably the best decision I have made in finding employment right off disability. I am also the best person suited for it. Why you ask would I like doing Ubereats? Well, I will be blunt about it. I can handle the bullshit! The training I had being a waiter for 38 years has enabled me to understand that a lot of people do not know how to communicate properly.

For example, I am delivering this meal to this address and I find they are a bunch of townhouses. So what is the unit number? I got to call the people or text them to ask what number are they at. They answer back like oh 68. No sorry no nothing. I wonder if they will add the unit number? Probably not. 

People use excessively the service as well. Once I had to pick up this order. I quickly had to empty my bladder and when I walked out it was only an iced cappuccino! I had another delivery to pick up after that so that iced cappuccino sat in my car for a good 25 minutes. Then to top it off when I entered the lobby of the apartment building the door slammed on my back leg causing me to wipe out almost losing the drink and dropping my phone. I opened a wound on the back of my leg causing it to bleed all for an iced cappuccino. I was not impressed.

Then at night that is fun. Try finding a number when the occupant of the house has all the lights turned off. Or the laneway is full of snow and ice and you have to balance what you have in one hand and your phone in the other. 

Now with the pandemic and the occupancy rules of places like Starbucks you have to wait outside in the cold and wind gusts for your delivery order. 

Parking at some places where you deliver is tenuous at best. One row of townhouses I deliver to sometimes I can drive to the townhouse but I cannot turn the car around to drive out forward. Therefore I have to be careful and drive in reverse back to the main road and enter it backwards.

I mentioned earlier about heading to the washroom to empty my bladder. One time I had to piss so bad I stopped at this gas bar and the guy told me to wait outside. I mentioned I just needed the key to the outdoor bathroom. He said I had to wait outside as there were already two inside the gas bar. I shouted back listen if you do not give me the key I am going to piss outside. I walked out and someone came out and handed me the key. Just in time, I might add.

Of course, you have to read the instructions too. A lot of people say just leave it at the door. Do not knock or ring the doorbell please with an exclamation mark. I take a picture, send it, then press delivered. I will get in my car and get ready to drive on and their food will be sitting there in the cold. I am left thinking they are waiting for me to drive away before they open the door to fetch their rapidly cooling Chinese food or chicken dinner. I know I would be grabbing it quickly.

The fun part that I find is like when I was waiting on tables every day is different. You never know what is going to happen. Like working a la carte I may get a delivery then get another notification of another pick-up nearby. I get in the car, drive to that one and pick it up then while I am dropping off the last delivery I may get a notification to pick another right after I finish the drop. Just like getting sat a few tables all at once in a restaurant, I get the same buzz. I know when this happens I am making some money. Fridays are the best day when I usually make over $200.

I usually average 34 hours a week. Last week I delivered 93 meals. I take a couple of days off and the money is surprisingly good. So I am hooked. It is easy for me but I can see like being a waiter few would put up with it for very long. It may appear easy but there is the stuff that people would not put up with for very long. I am used to it though. So it is water off a duck's back. 

Soon, I want to add Instacart where you do groceries for people. Same idea and even more bullshit but I hear it pays well. This is the future and I  am doing it. Feel good about that and that I can do it.

If I Were a Waiter Looking for Work Right Now During a Pandemic and Afterwards

Right now being a waiter is not a coveted job to have. If you happen to be working you have to wear a mask to serve guests who are not required to wear one. The reason I say "if you happen to be working" is a lot have yet to be called back to work as indoor dining remains closed as bars.

Add in additional cleaning duties such as sanitizing the seats, serving areas, smaller sections, and perhaps even less hours due to guests feeling  kind of leery about heading back to indoor dining the waiter has to think now about where the best place to work be in a pandemic world when he or she does return.

Here are a few points below as to what kind of dining restaurant I would be looking to work in during these times.

1. I would choose to look for work in establishments that had a bunch of money still left once things open up again. These might be hard to find as many will not even reach first base. For the ones barely hanging on they may start to bend the safety rules a bit. Maybe even have waiters doing tasks they did not do before like deep cleaning after closing. The worst may even have you cleaning the men's and ladies restrooms. Then have you tipping out higher on your sales to cover cleaning products. I see that happening rather than have the people return only to see that added charge on their bill. So check to see how they are working as to safety equipment or PPEs. If they paid a lot of attention to these details they will probably be safe to work in.

2. Look for a bigger establishment such as a hotel where you already have a captive guest where each shift you can work without any fear of being cut in 2-3 hours and sent home or being called off a shift. I see where restauranteurs will rely more on reservations than walk ins to guarantee that everyone who comes to eat has a table waiting for them especially with the tables alternately being used for social distancing.

3. With an establishment that has multiple outlets such as a big banquet capacity you can make up for shortened hours in a restaurant and do a wedding or other function to make up for it. There might be no need to have to look for a second job if you can be flexible in this manner. Do not forget in a hotel setting you would still have in room dining if the indoor dining had to be locked down again.

4. Do not serve in restaurants where the guests come in are wearing a baseball cap or have holes in their jeans. These people probably have no money and never wore a mask. Working in places like this may be hazardous to your health. Unfortunately this probably eliminates 95% of the restaurants out there.

5. Look at where the rich eat or the 5%. They will not take a chance and eat in an unkept environment. They will only eat where all the staff wear a mask or shield. Why they will do that is because they do not want to catch the virus. They will follow science no matter how uncomfortable it is. They will tip well.

6. Try to find a place like I just mentioned who will hire you and you will get some guaranteed hours and is big enough for you to grow there. The days of job hopping are over and employers now have to find some dedicated service staff who know what they are doing and want to grow.

7. Last thing I would add is now more than ever be proud to work in such an amazing career. If you take this way seriously it can lead you places. Here is your chance to step in and work in a great place and get some great experience. More than ever if you want to separate yourself from everyone else you must  work at places that will make you grow and expand your knowledge. Take courses through your work. Learn.

This pandemic will end one day so sow the seeds now for an exciting future later because that is what awaits you.