Servers dealing with ‘win-win’ mask relationships

Servers have had something new on their plates since heading back to work after the COVID-19 lockdown.

Since restaurants have been able to reopen, most require servers to wear face masks while interacting with other staff and customers.

Taneshia Wild has been a server at Rosie’s On River Street in Moose Jaw for nearly three years.

“I love it here,” she said. “The social aspect is really why I do it, but it’s just a really fun, fast-paced environment to work in.”

Wild was thrilled to come back to work after restaurants were forced to close, but she acknowledged that things have changed in the restaurant world.

“Some things make your job a little bit harder but overall, it’s not honestly too bad. There’s a lot more cleaning in between and the masks obviously make it a little bit harder, but nothing terrible,” she said.

However, she has noticed a difference since starting to regularly wear a mask at work.

“You definitely sweat a lot under your masks and you definitely get the red marks and the red face all the time and can’t really get rid of that,” she said with a chuckle.

“You wash your face a lot more.”

Zach Schutte, a part-owner of Rosie’s who also waits tables, has had similar issues.

“It’s a bit annoying but you just have to take good skin care of yourself,” he said.

Neither server minds this small inconvenience if it means heading back to the job they love, but they do laugh about it.

“I always like to joke with the customers that I obviously break out with the mask because it’s concentrated sweat on your face, but the mask also helps cover the breakout,” Schutte laughed. “It’s kind of a win-win.”

Wild said the problem really isn’t all that bad.

“There are some breakouts but again, it’s just something we have to adapt to,” she said.

Schutte and Wild both said they’re just happy to be back with co-workers and customers at Rosie’s.

“(I) love being back at work. I love my job and I love what I do so it almost doesn’t feel like work to me, so I’m blessed in that way. (I’m) definitely excited to be back,” said Schutte.

“I’d much rather be working with a mask than not working at all,” Wild added.