Take the time to learn to carry plates right. It'll save you time in the long run, and you won't ever need to be anxious about dropping plates at work.

Thumb and pinky are spread wide and hook over the edges. Then my middle three fingers are spread out underneath which hold the weight along with my palm. If I pinch the edge of the plate, my wrist will be carrying all the weight, and it'll get heavy real quick. Restaurant plates are typically much heavier than what you have at home.

Then my second plate rests on my thumb, pinky and forearm. Without my little pinky sitting on top of the plate, the bottom of the second plate will rest on the top of the first. This is a health code violation.

Of greater concern (to me at least) is that it's not a stable carry. The plate can slide off too easily. Dropping a big plate of food during a busy shift is kind of an ordeal. In the grand scheme of things, it does not matter. But it will then. :)