I'm curious what the policy is in the majority of American restaurants these days. Is it more common for waiters & waitresses to "pool" all their tips so that all the staff can share in the amount equally? Or is it more common for the waitstaff to be allowed to personally keep whatever tips they earn?
I think the most fair & equitable method is allowing everyone to keep the tips they earn. There are no hard feelings that way, and everyone gets to earn the tips they DESERVE -- iif you give great service with a great attitude, you get more tips! If not, you don't. Simple as that! :)
I've even heard that there's a higher turnover rate in restaurants where waitstaff are forced to share their tips with each other, because too many hard feelings & conflicts happen, due to the slackers in the staff "sponging" off the hard workers and sharing in undeserved tip money. That would definitely suck. :(
I'd love to hear from anyone who works (or has worked) in the restaurant industry. Thanks!!
2007-09-06 08:08:33 · 7 answers · asked by scary shari 5 in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment ➔ Food Service
It can work either way, but I'd agree that people should be able to keep their own tips rather than pooling them. As a customer, if I tip high because someone has given me extra-good service, I want THAT person to benefit.
It's pretty common though for tipped employees to "tip out" the non-tipped employees in the restaurant.
2007-09-06 08:17:58 · answer #1 · answered by Judy 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
There is no 'set policy'. It is up to the restaurant and wait staff as to how tips are treated.
I worked at an Italian restaurant that only served dinner, so the one wait staff worked the entire night. Tips were shared (2-3 waiters for 24 tables) by all. Sharing works well in a small restaurant where the wait staff help each other out with serving, busing, etc.
2007-09-06 09:25:19 · answer #2 · answered by NHMike 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the establishment. Different employers have different policies. There are positive and negative points about both, very different, ideologies.
I had a very close-minded view, until many waiters and waitresses enlightened me.
I thought they should be able to keep all of their own tips.
Keep in mind that most people do not take the time to go tip the bartender. The waitress that tips the bartender, often gets better service for her customers. Satisfied customers tip better.
Think of the whole picture, not just a narrow view. You may learn a few lessons that apply to other life situations in your future.
2007-09-07 02:21:59 · answer #3 · answered by terry p 2 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is most common for waitstaff to keep their own tips. Tips are money given in consideration of good service. Making people pool their tips is no different than stealing their money. Sounds like something Hillary Clinton would come up with.
2007-09-06 08:16:10 · answer #4 · answered by stever002 3 · 3⤊ 2⤋
We do both where I work. When I work on regular days, I keep my tips but tip-out the cook. It is up to me how much I share with him though.
When we have banquets or weddings where the tip is included in the package price we all share it based on how many hours each person worked.
2007-09-06 08:44:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Fair doesn't enter into it, it all depends on the house.
Pooling sux plain and simple and working in a house that does it is always more stressful.
2007-09-07 10:48:15 · answer #6 · answered by fairbetsy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what the company does. Some you share and others you don't.
2007-09-06 08:17:03 · answer #7 · answered by Tasha 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋