Waiting staff, wait staff, waitstaff or serving staff are those who work at a restaurant or a bar, and sometimes in private homes, attending customers—supplying them with food and drink as requested. An individual waiting tables is commonly called a server, waitperson, waitress (females only), waiter (referring to males or either gender), or less commonly the 1980s American neologism waitron. Archaic terms such as serving girl, serving wench, or serving lad are generally used only within their historical context.Waiting on tables is (along with nursing and teaching) part of the service sector, and among the most common occupations in the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that, as of May 2008, there were over 2.2 million persons employed as servers in the U.S.Many businesses choose for the people waiting to all wear a uniform, a tradition that has been around in the waiting industry for centuries.Waitstaff may receive tips as a minor or major part of their earnings, with customs varying widely from country to country.