tips in restaurants - moral question

nonnatus

I tip well and am neither ashamed or proud of it. Ive worked in a lot of different industries and generally the ones that we Tip are those where the Wage-Payers KNOW that Tips are given and adjust wages downwards to reflect that!

I also agree with previous posters who say that good tippers are recognised by staff and treated differently. I get terrific service - tables become miraculously available in busy restaurants (like being famous!!). When i call to book my haircut I get whatever slot I'm after (maybe someone else - a non-tipper - is being rubbed out of the appointment book to make way for me? Maybe not? maybe I'm always just super lucky?). My son (strapping great 17yr old) is only ever charged kids (under 10) price for his haircuts with a wink.

Other examples available if you like, but I don't think this is all down to the Lucky Life Path I walk. I think you are treated as you treat others.
I tip because it's a NICE thing to do. To not tip shows a meanness of soul and will be reflected back at you. It's no good shouting "well why don't you tip everybody, why just a select few?" but it's about where it's appropriate, isn't it?
In an independent Pub, the round comes to £8, I'd tell the bar man to keep the change. If the Burgers in a Burger Chain came to £8 I'd keep the change with thanks, as I'd prefer the £2 to go to the Big Issue seller or something else.

Gosh! An Essay - sorry Hope SOME of you understand?

C_Mababejive

I have no issues with leaving a tip on the table after paying the bill so that the server can have it if the food and service has been good.

I certainly do not think serving staff are a lower form of life. I think they are a vital part of any operation and i respect them as i would any other person.

I will not tolerate service charges being automatically added to a bill.

Faith177

JReacher1 wrote: »

I've never sure about this argument. Nobody forces them to be waiting staff. They get at least minimum wage (like many other people) so I don't see why they should get extra cash.

It's a bit harsh but if they want a better job they should have got a better level of education. There's no point whinging about tips. Many people survive on minimum wage but one section of society believes they are better and deserve tips. It's ridiculous.

I worked in a resturant/bar to get extra money for my wedding on top of working a full time job I ended up doing 75+ a week I didn't want to do it but it helped it had nothing to do with my low level of education. I have GCSE's, A-Levels and a CII qualification. My husband has also done bar work when needed and he has a degree in History.

I am now again doing bar work again to support my mum while she gets treatment for cancer. I have to support her as she has no-one else to rely on as she is a widow but due to her age cannot claim any widows pension. It was the only job avaliable that didn't impact too much on my main job and I was guarenteed hours.

Often people working in bars have degrees and alsorts they just do pub work ect as there is sometimes nothing else avaliable at the time and they don't want to sit on there bums taking tax payers money. Or would you rather they did that?

This is the attitude that we have to put up with sometimes and it annoys the hell out of me. You know nothing about the person serving you so dont make judgement on them and their level of education.

Sorry for the rant but that kind of comment really sets me off :mad:

Faith177

PenguinJim wrote: »

How much do you tip the petrol station attendant? If you can afford to run a car, you can afford to leave a small tip.

How much do you tip your mechanic? If you can afford to have your car serviced and repaired, you can afford to leave a small tip.

I round up whatever they ask for so for example if they say £45 i give £50 plus because mine comes to my home he gets endless cups of tea

How much do you tip your life assurance broker? If you can afford life assurance, you can afford to leave a small tip.

Don't have one but I can guess that they are probably on more then NMW

How much do you tip the serving staff when buying a coffee? If you can afford to buy a coffee rather than make it yourself, you can afford to leave a small tip.

I normally dump my change in their pot

How much do you tip your hairdresser? If you can afford to have your hair cut by a professional, you can afford to leave a small tip.

Always leave my hairdress a couple of quid for a quick cut a £5 if something more complex like a colour ect

How much do you tip your bin men? If you can afford your council tax, you can afford to leave a small tip.

Give my bin men a tenner at Christmas

How much do you tip restaurant staff? If you can afford to eat in a restaurant, you can afford to leave a small tip.

Normally a couple of quid if good service and anything up to £10 if great service

How much do you tip your supermarket staff? If you can afford to buy your groceries using your own money rather than food stamps, you can afford to leave a small tip.

I just don't understand why it's "traditional" to be incredibly unfair and only tip two or three professions out of hundreds, seemingly chosen at random. If the tradition did not exist, and you tried starting this tradition, you'd be laughed at - unless you tipped everyone, perhaps.

Here's a paricularly crazy one: tipping a self-employed black cab driver, but not a bus driver. o_O Well, it's about time those rich bus drivers learned to work harder for their money..?

Just added my comments on this one

Gavin83

nonnatus wrote: »

In an independent Pub, the round comes to £8, I'd tell the bar man to keep the change. If the Burgers in a Burger Chain came to £8 I'd keep the change with thanks, as I'd prefer the £2 to go to the Big Issue seller or something else.

Regardless of your views on tipping I'm curious as to why you see one party as more deserving than another of a tip, assuming both deliver a similar service.

I really fail to see what difference the ownership of a company makes to the minimum wage front line employee receiving the tip.

JReacher1

Faith177 wrote: »

I worked in a resturant/bar to get extra money for my wedding on top of working a full time job I ended up doing 75+ a week I didn't want to do it but it helped it had nothing to do with my low level of education. I have GCSE's, A-Levels and a CII qualification. My husband has also done bar work when needed and he has a degree in History.

I am now again doing bar work again to support my mum while she gets treatment for cancer. I have to support her as she has no-one else to rely on as she is a widow but due to her age cannot claim any widows pension. It was the only job avaliable that didn't impact too much on my main job and I was guarenteed hours.

Often people working in bars have degrees and alsorts they just do pub work ect as there is sometimes nothing else avaliable at the time and they don't want to sit on there bums taking tax payers money. Or would you rather they did that?

This is the attitude that we have to put up with sometimes and it annoys the hell out of me. You know nothing about the person serving you so dont make judgement on them and their level of education.

Sorry for the rant but that kind of comment really sets me off :mad:

When I was at uni there used to be a joke that went around.

"What do you say to a history graduate?"

"Large Big Mac meal please"

wiogs

C_Mababejive wrote: »

I have no issues with leaving a tip on the table after paying the bill so that the server can have it if the food and service has been good.

I certainly do not think serving staff are a lower form of life. I think they are a vital part of any operation and i respect them as i would any other person.

I will not tolerate service charges being automatically added to a bill.

With you on that one. I ask for it to be removed every time.

wiogs

monkeybrand wrote: »

Personally I think if you can afford to eat in a restaurant, you can afford to leave a small tip.
Its not relevant as to whether or not you are going back - waiting staff work hard for often minimum wage, and it really doesnt hurt to leave a couple of quid to show your appreciation.
We usually go for 10% of the bill - and always in cash, so that the money goes to the waitress, not the company, and they dont get taxed on it

A bit naive if you think that this may always be the case.

Interesting to know you believe in people avoiding paying tax.

Money-Saving-King

nonnatus wrote: »

If the Burgers in a Burger Chain came to £8 I'd keep the change with thanks

I can pretty much guarantee in almost all retail/fast food catering chains when you say keep the change to staff if they actually do take the money from the till (even if you said so) it will be classed as misconduct or gross misconduct. Every company I've worked for all have had those policies.

nellytheelephant

It's quite ridiculous to pay a tip for someone doing their job. I'm happy to let the people that want to leave a tip to do it. Waitresses etc that I know see them as fools who have more money than sense.

At the end of the day, a lot of people work hard for a little money. Tip them all or tip none is my motto.