Should a 15% tip be added on to bills to prevent servers from being ripped off by cheapos?

Question

Because I am sick to death of my good tippers being nothing more that something to make up for the bad tippers. I work my *** off for everyone that comes into my restaurant, and if someone wants to leave me 20 or 25% it shouldn't just be what's making up for those that don't tip, but as a bonus for the service that I have provided.

Answer 1

It is most restaurants policy to add a 15% or more gratuity to the tab if there is six or more at a table. Large tables are difficult to handle and this policy acknowledges this.

I have waited tables and tended bar. I found that karma is a huge thing in the service industry. I learned to always put out my best which meant loving my customers. I would practice smiling on the way to work. I would put my life on hold. I was there for the customers and I worked damn hard. Most of the time I got an average of 20% but it could be less at times. And if I honestly asked myself if I was "on my game" that day, I would answer, "no."

It takes a lot of energy to be a great server and it's not a job for just anyone. You need a good memory, kindness, courtesy, a strong back, know the menu inside and out, have a good sense of cleanliness, to be working in a decent place and for decent people and believe in the product you are selling. And to be able to accept that just because you need to pay bills, doesn't mean that you'll get that money on that day. I found putting my energy into service garnered me more money than worrying about people tipping me well.

A 25% tip is for when the service, food, and atmosphere exceed your expectations. Unless you're working in heaven I wouldn't expect to get that much too often.

I hope you're going to school so that you'll have a bright and shiny future.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Why do we have a tipping service? To say "thank you" Yet these people sometimes dont make more than $3.00 an hr You do the math. I think everyone in the service industry should be paid Bare minimum "minimum wage" or More! Why do we pay our entertainers Millions and those we blindly take for granted barely enough to pay the bills? I think this country needs to get their heads out of their asses and start to focus on the people who matter. The Backbone of America are the ones who put food on your plates (Agriculture) and clean up after us. They are the ones who make our cars, build our roads.... you get the idea. Yet, we are so ethnocentric that we don't even "think" about the day to day business that goes on.But to get back to this specific question, I don't think we should have to tip at all, I think the waitress/waiter should earn enough that they feel like they are compensated for their work by their salary. IF We were to tip it is as a "Thank You". However, I am a good tipper (20%min) because I have been in their shoes. If I were to have an off day and not give exceptional service I don't think I should earn less...... When you are cranky at work (office job) does your boss dock your pay? LOL
I'll get off my soapbox now......

Answer 3

I don't think a neccessary 15 % tip should be added on to bills, because despite the fact it's downright suffocating of a person's right to communicate in a financial way with their server, it's also rather unfair for both sides. Picture this, theres a restaurant and ther are two servers serving two different tables lets call them A and B. Throughout the evening server A behaves exceptionally to table A, politley helping them throughout the evening, remaining civil but still not too conservative, on time and remember their dishes perfectly. Listening to the husbands joke and laughing at just the right moment, basically a perfect night for both waiter and diners. Meanwhile at table B, server B arrives at the table late and rudely, having made the diners wait 20 minutes while he read a magazine in the kitchen (no guesses for what type...) he gets all their orders wrong, wonders off rudely during a chat with the wife and at the end of the night the diners are left simply wishing they hadn't gone.Yet, at the end of the night, they still get paid the same in tips! Therefore, how does it make sense to have this rule in place if it means it allows lazy waiters to earn just as much as hard-working ones?

Answer 4

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF FOOD SERVICE!!!! I have waited tables for 30 yrs and sometimes I agree with the idea of 15% gratuity added automatically and sometimes I don't. I DO agree that we should be paid the national minimum wage. The idea of a tip being included as part of my wages is bullshit! I don't like it but until there is something that can be done about it...I have no choice (other than changing occupations). I have always believed that the amount of tip is based on the type of service I give. When I have a day that I am really not "with it".......it shows in the money I bring home. I make $3.90 per hour and the min wage in this state is $6.50. Personally, I would like to see some of the government workers in Washington DC live off the earnings I make!!!!

Answer 5

Miss you have to understand that tipping depends on the individuals. Not all people that go out to a restaurant understand the 15-20% protocol. Sometimes you have to think to yourself that your actions were well worth a 20% tip, but the guest hasn't a clue or they are on a restricted budget. The best tips come from the acknowledgment that they appreciated your service despite the monetary gain. For some, they have just sacrificed money they may not have had to buy essentials just to have a night out. Don't take it to heart. You sound as if your a very considerate and professional person. Sometimes that's all you are left with. Just be yourself and you rewards often come form the most unlikely people.

Answer 6

In some "fine dining" establishments 15% IS added!

You sound like someone who's been in the rest. business too long! (lol )(teasin ya)

I'm sure it comes as no surprise to you that most people are more concerned with the "price of gas" than being a decent tipper. It is a shame.

Everyone who eats out on a regular basis should have to watch the movie ,"Waiting". This would quickly change there attitude about tipping. (And NO "tipping" is NOT a province in China!)

Answer 7

In most places in europe, it's customary to tip 5 or 10 percent, as food service staff is paid more. I agree with you wholeheartedly that gratuity should be added as part of the bill.

That way when europeans visit america, they won't end up chronically undertipping without realizing it, and when americans visit europe, they won't end up overtipping. It would just make things easier.

Also, food service staff get paid below minimum wage. They rely on their tips for an income. Gratuity should be added, wages should be increased, and tips should be 100% optional. But that's just wishful thinking because it means the restaurants would have to stop screwing over their workers at the expense of their bottom line (less people will eat there if the prices go up)

Answer 8

I might be in the minority but I only tip on service not on percentage. When I have a good waitress I tip very well, when it is a bad wait person then I don't tip very much, and I usually don't go back to the restaurant. I also pride myself on how nice of a customer I am. I am never rude to the waitperson and always say please and thanks. I know this is going to sound goofy and immature but I really like when a waitress calls me honey or sweety, and when I ask for something special like cook my fries allot and they say sure no problem and then ask me if everything is okay I really like that. I am sorry that some people don't tip you very well, but it is not fair to force someone to tip if the service is bad.

Answer 9

I would say ten percent, because while I am sure you work your *** off, as did I back in my day, there really are bad servers that I don't want to have to overtip. I would add that extra five or ten percent in cash as would most of the same people who are tipping you well now. I always tip cash if I can...we know how that works :) If it was added to the bill your taxes would go wayy up, offsetting a great deal of the money you would earn even if you are honest when you report tips, at least in my state.

Answer 10

Some waitresses don't deserve the tip and shouldn't get one automatically.

Some customers will avoid establishments that have a policy of charging the a percentage gratuity. I'm one of them.

Some waitresses will try to double dip on customers.

Your problem is that the law allows restaurants to underpay (i.e., to pay below minimum wage) compensation to waiters and waitresses. I don't know how that got started, but the effect of it is to transfer a part of employer's normal operating expense from himself to the customers while not letting his prices reflect that this has been done.

In other words, your problem has to do with bad law, not bad customers. Your employer should pay you fairly and up front for the work that you do, instead of making your compensation an iffy, maybe kind of deal.

If a customer just plain wanted to leave you a gift, that should remain just between you and him - the employer should not be concerned with this. His method of ensuring that you serve even the customers who don't give gifts is his ability to fire you for ignoring them.