Are Tips illegal???

pickledpink

Anihilator wrote: »

I don't see how its exploitation. They are being paid NMW and there are far more responsible and important jobs who only receive NMW. I fail to see why waiting staff deserve more than NMW. Its not exactly a majorly difficult or important job.

Anilator,

The reason why it's exploitation is that restaurants are 'misleading' customers into leaving 'tips' for the waiter under the guise of a service charge. We now know that the 'tips' we leave for waiters do not go into the waiters pockets - the restaurants keep it and put it into theirs! THAT is exploitation!

As for you saying there are far more responsible and important jobs where employees only earn the MNW too; well, if that's the case why are they on NMW? Besides that, IF they were left a gratuity by a happy customer/client for the effort they put into their job, I'm sure they'd feel angry if their employer took it off them and stuck it in their own wallet!

The fact remains that ALL people on NMW are on the bare minimum(although YOU state it's a very good wage - so obviously you're used to compromising and living a very frugal lifestyle) but most people can't live like that.

I don't know why you feel so resentful about waiters. Maybe you feel intimidated by them because of their knowledge of food and wines? I know some people who seldom venture into restaurants feel nervous about embarrassing themselves; maybe you're one of them?

As for you implying that one shouldn't leave a tip for a waiter because it isn't an important job; would you leave a tip for your psychiatrist if you had one?;) And what sort of tip would you leave? Would you only leave tips to high earners, say, bank managers?

Waiting may not be an important or difficult job in your mind, but waiters are crucial in making a diner's experience enjoyable. Some people (possibly yourself) only dine out on very special occasions. Those people want a night to remember; and although the food and wine is crucial to that, so is the treatment they receive from their waiter. A good waiter can make a fairly mediocre meal a memorable one.

And at the end of the day - it's up to the cutomer if they want to leave a tip or not. And most do! Unfortunately, it isn't going to the person it was intended for. The restaurants are cheating the waiting staff - and they're also cheating the customers!

And you think that's acceptable?:rolleyes: