Tipping in Restaurants

Nicki

I'm quite surprised reading all the responses at the number of people whose default position is not to tip. I don't think I have ever eaten out with anyone who doesn't share my ethos that you should tip, and I had rather naively assumed it was much more common to tip properly (by which I mean more than a couple of pounds or a handful of coppers) than not.

There are a few places we go to quite regularly, eg Pizza Express, with our kids and we are always recognised when we go there and greeted very nicely and the kids made a fuss of (not just brought the normal pencils and puzzle books, but chatted to, and things about them remembered such as favourite football team). I had thought this was just nice friendly service (and perhaps a sign we go there too often) but now realise we must stick in their minds as a complete oddity - a family who always tips and in proportion to the bill. We also when the kids are weaning and learning to manipulate cutlery tip extra if they make a mess greater than we are able to clear up ourselves before leaving

ThinkingOfLinking

jjblondie wrote: »

This is why I very rarely tip. No-one tips me in my two minimum wage jobs for performing services which are part of my job. I would feel odd not tipping everyone who earns a low wage if I were to tip.

Exactly. In fact, working in security, my reward for doing my job correctly can be verbal abuse and physical violence...alongside minimum wage.

Why pay someone extra for doing the job for which they are being paid a standard amount of pay?

djhops

I only tip if I've had a good meal and the service was good simple as that (and obviously if service not automatically charged to bill... I avoid those type establishments altogether quite frankly)!

djhops

P.S What are others opinions? I hate those hand-held card machines that ask you to leave a tip as surely this guarantees the tip money can be oh so easily be swallowed up by the likely already wealthy restaurant owner rather than the hard-working staff who I want my money to go to?

lanavdt

I almost always leave a tip of some sort. The exceptions being where the service has been poor. We went to a local pizza hut not long before closing time and received excellent service so the tip was almost 25% of the bill. A few nights after we went somewhere that the waiting staff seemed absolutely disinterested, got the order wrong and then I found some blue plastic in my meal. They got no tip.

gunsandbanjos

djhops wrote: »

P.S What are others opinions? I hate those hand-held card machines that ask you to leave a tip as surely this guarantees the tip money can be oh so easily be swallowed up by the likely already wealthy restaurant owner rather than the hard-working staff who I want my money to go to?

Ask the staff, where I work we do get our CC tips on our pay check. I do know some places don't though.

Empty_pockets

Mojisola wrote: »

I would rather the bill covered the cost of paying the waiting staff a decent wage and they did their job to a reasonable standard just because it's their job.

Completely agree. Always make a point of not tipping nowadays. It's like a re-enactment of the first scene in resevoir dogs every time we go out for a meal.

Tipping is supporting owners paying low wages to restaurant staff. A good restaurant will pay a good wage. It's not up to me to top up peoples wages, that agreement should be made between the staff and the management.

Empty_pockets

Not to mention the ethics of the transaction. The payment often not being visible to HMRC. Whether you're a fan of socialism or not it can't be right that this income isn't declared.

Yes restaurant staff are othern low pay but this is accounted for in the tax free allowance and lower rates of tax.

Person_one

gunsandbanjos wrote: »

If i spend 2/3/4 + hours running around after you catering to your every whim, making your you get everything you need and you have a great time then hell yeah I expect a tip.

Huh.

In my job I spend all day running around after my patients, catering to their every need which are often a lot more intimate and difficult than bringing them food. I don't really expect them to be having a great time but I do try to reduce the unpleasantness as much as possible.

I make minimum wage (as do waiters now since the law changed) but it would be pretty poor form for a HCA to 'expect' a tip.

Why are waiters so special?

chrissie57

Empty_pockets wrote: »

Not to mention the ethics of the transaction. The payment often not being visible to HMRC. Whether you're a fan of socialism or not it can't be right that this income isn't declared.

Yes restaurant staff are othern low pay but this is accounted for in the tax free allowance and lower rates of tax.

Actually they have to pay tax on them - sometimes whether they get them or not

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/Taxes/WorkingAndPayingTax/DG_10026509

But I don't suppose you care