Restaurants - please ask who gets the tips

Georgiegirl256

JReacher1 wrote: »

It's harder work being waiting staff and is a more skilled job than someone who works in a shop.

You have to remember the tips also go to people in the kitchen as well e.g trained cooks etc.

That's debate able. For the main I'd agree with you, such as in a shop where your job is to just scan things through a till. But other shops where you actually spend time with the customer, advising them, giving technical advice and helping them with their purchase, then I'd say that's a lot more skilled than waiting on tables.

Kim_kim

JReacher1 wrote: »

It's harder work being waiting staff and is a more skilled job than someone who works in a shop.

You have to remember the tips also go to people in the kitchen as well e.g trained cooks etc.

I'm sure you said it was a demeaning servitile job a few posts ago?

Which is it?

Valli

It doesn't just happen in chain restaurants, either. I know of a Michelin-starred restaurant, owned and run by a published chef, where all tips are to be passed to the owner; waiting staff have been sacked if they are found to have kept tips.

jamiehelsinki

I occasionally tip if the service is good but don't see the need to. The majority of people earn average wages and have little spare, why should they give it away to a waiter who is doing what they are paid to do.

In the US tipping is an established principle and waiting staff are taxed on a percentage of their till receipts as it's expected that the customer tips them a certain percentage.

csgohan4

Jamiehelsinki wrote: »

I occasionally tip if the service is good but don't see the need to. The majority of people earn average wages and have little spare, why should they give it away to a waiter who is doing what they are paid to do.

In the US tipping is an established principle and waiting staff are taxed on a percentage of their till receipts as it's expected that the customer tips them a certain percentage.

Unfortunately a lot of restaurants include a 10% service tax, hence I don't tip if that happens.


Some restaurants also use the tips to form part of their salary rather than extra.


I note you mentioned the U.S. I was taken by surprise when I didn't tip. They expected a tip. Well I would if the food and service was any good, unfortunately they were neither.


Tips are earned not expected in my books.

JReacher1

csgohan4 wrote: »

Unfortunately a lot of restaurants include a 10% service tax, hence I don't tip if that happens.


Some restaurants also use the tips to form part of their salary rather than extra.


I note you mentioned the U.S. I was taken by surprised when I didn't tip that they expected a tip. Well I would if the food and service was any good, unfortunately they were neither.


Tips are earned not expected in my books.

Not tipping in the USA is inexcusable. It's a completely different culture to the UK and if you went anywhere and didn't tip then you're lucky you weren't verbally abused.

When you travel abroad you should adopt the customs of the country you are visiting and not follow your own countries customs.

It's the height of bad manners and what gives uk people a bad name when they travel.

Kaye1

Detroit wrote: »

Service staff should be treated as professional people performing a role for which customers pay through the official channels.
Can you imagine slipping your GP a fiver to thank him for an excellent consultation?

No, I wouldn't slip him a fiver- but in the past, I have taken mine a small thank you gift. Because he has gone massively beyond the remits of his normal job to help when my daughter was born early. Special phone calls to hospitals to ask specialists, speaking to different doctors, calling pharmacies, feeding back to me etc. When she had an allergic reaction, I brought her in even though the surgery was closing. There were times when he would ring me at 8pm at night and he was still in the surgery.

So- to follow this- if I had a waitress who was being massively helpful, who went out of her/his way to ensure we had an excellent experience, I would be happy to tip. Bog standard service- no. But if someone has obviously made a massive effort, then yes.


Obviously, everyone in hospitality should make every effort at all times to ensure we have a positive experience- but in the real world this doesn't happen.

Kaye1

Not all places do it.

Last place my OH worked, staff got it all, divided up.

Place before that, they had 13% deducted from head office for 'processing costs' and the staff shared the rest.

Place before that (!) the staff got it but if they broke something, the manager would take it out of tips to cover it.

csgohan4

JReacher1 wrote: »

Not tipping in the USA is inexcusable. It's a completely different culture to the UK and if you went anywhere and didn't tip then you're lucky you weren't verbally abused.

When you travel abroad you should adopt the customs of the country you are visiting and not follow your own countries customs.

It's the height of bad manners and what gives uk people a bad name when they travel.

Oh I was, but I have a thick skin and it's my money. I paid for the service as stated on the menu with prices. Nothing about mandatory tipping. In fact the service and food was lacking.


Surely it's bad manners for bad service and food also?


That's the problem over in the U.S it's become cultural because their use to it. Just because it is, doesn't mean it has to be unless it's law of course.

JReacher1

csgohan4 wrote: »

Oh I was, but I have a thick skin and it's my money. I paid for the service as stated on the menu with prices. Nothing about mandatory tipping. In fact the service and food was lacking.


That's the problem over in the U.S it's become cultural because their use to it. Just because it is, doesn't mean it has to be unless it's law of course.

You were rightly abused as you behaved disgracefully. Service staff in America earn an absolute pittance and rely on customers tips to survive.

Next time you go abroad I suggest you read up on that countries customs before hand to stop you looking like an ignorant foreigner!