How the restaurant chains pocket your tips...

uktim29

Dany!l_II wrote: »

When I went to New York last year I went to the TGI Fridays there (the biggest TGI in the World). Each waiter/waitress had at least 10/15 tables to tend to, and I guess they must have been on about £3,00 per hour and absolutely raking it in in tips. Average American diner gives 10-20% tip.

The minimum wage in the states can be as low as $2 an hour, thats £1 an hour. Thats why people tip in the state because their wages really are low.

Danyúl_II

uktim29 wrote: »

The minimum wage in the states can be as low as $2 an hour, thats £1 an hour. Thats why people tip in the state because their wages really are low.

I know.

Altarf

robpw2 wrote: »

Altarf wrote: »

Employers are not allowed to count cash tips as part of the payment towards the minimum wage, but they are allowed to count money collected as part of a 'service charge' added to the bill.

that is wrong my restraunt NEVER CHARGED SERVICE CHARGES
all cash tips were used as part payment towards minimum wage and on a week when tips were bad the staff got less than 18p per hour added to there wages remebering you were 20p down

Employers where tips are involved seem to have a free reign
some weeks they didnt pay tips to us at all but the managers get salaried wages and get a percentage of the tips as well

http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/2008/06/16/46336/tips-dont-count-towards-minimum-wage-court-rules.html

The High Court today (16/6/2008) ruled to support National Minimum Wage legislation on tips, siding with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) against Annabel's club/restaurant.
The ruling means employers are required to pay staff at least the minimum wage regardless of any tips, gratuities, service or cover charges, as long as tips are not paid through the employer's payroll.

robpw2

the tips get collected together theb put trhough the payroll then split between everyone based on percentages etc si the company do not pay minimum wage the tips do

BillTrac

we went to the local slug and lettuce on Saturday. As soon as we sat down the waiter wanted to know whether we were ready to order!!

We ordered a sharer starter and then our mains. They brought everything out together(ecept our drinks of course). Warm starters and warm mains, which to eat first? When I pointed out their mistake I got a shrug of the shoulders and a whatever. No solution.

Then the minute I put the first bit of food in my mouth.............is everything ok sir?

When I reiterated my initial complaint the waiter was almost shocked that I hadnt just said..everything is great thanks for asking, no he looked as if my comments did not compute. Probably threw him a bit of a googly there!

Anyway didn't tip although I usually would, and I won't be eating there again

Bill

gunsandbanjos

BillTrac wrote: »

we went to the local slug and lettuce on Saturday. As soon as we sat down the waiter wanted to know whether we were ready to order!!

We ordered a sharer starter and then our mains. They brought everything out together(ecept our drinks of course). Warm starters and warm mains, which to eat first? When I pointed out their mistake I got a shrug of the shoulders and a whatever. No solution.

Then the minute I put the first bit of food in my mouth.............is everything ok sir?

When I reiterated my initial complaint the waiter was almost shocked that I hadnt just said..everything is great thanks for asking, no he looked as if my comments did not compute. Probably threw him a bit of a googly there!

Anyway didn't tip although I usually would, and I won't be eating there again

Bill

I've eaten at the Slug and Lettuce once and that was enough! Not somewhere i would choose to go again.

bylromarha

I was eating alone, mystery shopping, and got extremely grumpy when a 10% service charge was added onto my bill automatically.

Very strong feedback went to the company about this-particularly because it meant the meal went over my reimbursement limit which I'd very carefully calculated.

Won't be going back there as a paying customer.

I also refuse to tip unless the service is exceptional or it's an independent restaurant.

skintchick

bylromarha wrote: »

I was eating alone, mystery shopping, and got extremely grumpy when a 10% service charge was added onto my bill automatically.

Very strong feedback went to the company about this-particularly because it meant the meal went over my reimbursement limit which I'd very carefully calculated.

Won't be going back there as a paying customer.

I also refuse to tip unless the service is exceptional or it's an independent restaurant.

Service charges are optional by law as I understand it - you should have removed it and said you didn;t want to pay it.

bylromarha

skintchick wrote: »

Service charges are optional by law as I understand it - you should have removed it and said you didn;t want to pay it.

True, but would have drawn unwanted attention to me. Your average customer wouldn't do that or bother complaining...most of us would just grumble about what a liberty it was and pay it.

IvanOpinion

bylromarha wrote: »

True, but would have drawn unwanted attention to me. Your average customer wouldn't do that or bother complaining...most of us would just grumble about what a liberty it was and pay it.

I would usually ask for service charges to be removed from the bill and then leave the equivalent as a cash tip. I have never felt awkward about doing so .. but then I am not 'average'

Ivan