Tips at restaurants

Monkeymatt · 14 Mar 2015 at 11:46

Am I the only one who doesn't understand why tips are seen as mandatory in restaurants? Being fairly young I know lots of people who work as servers and whenever they share any sort of article about the "struggles of being a server" on social media one of the complaints is always "bad tips".

People talk about the "10% rule" when it comes to tips but surely they should be grateful for any tips they receive? They get paid by their employer and then surely anything that someone chooses to give should be seen as a nice bonus, not judged because they didn't give as much as the server wanted?

malachi · 14 Mar 2015 at 11:49

I don't bother, I pay for my food then leave.

Jokester · 14 Mar 2015 at 11:52

malachi said:
I don't bother, I pay for my food then leave.

Same here, in the UK. I don't tip in the UK at all.

semi-pro waster · 14 Mar 2015 at 11:55

I think that partly it's due to American attitudes to tipping whereby the tips are often used to supplement a poor wage, in the UK the minimum wage should guarantee a certain level of income for a given number of hours worked.

However it's entirely up to you whether you want to tip or not - I find it a bit presumptuous when there's a "discretionary" service charge added to the bill already. I do tend to tip in restaurants (or often for takeaways as well) where the service is at least decent because despite the minimum wage it still tends to be a low paid occupation. I know the arguments about tipping in any and all service industries but it's also a cultural thing to tip in restaurants and I am happy enough to go along with it.

jamiehavok · 14 Mar 2015 at 11:56

I think its come over from the US where ther.s a massive tipping culture as wages are much smaller for service jobs so people rely on getting tips to survive, here not so much.

Ghosteh · 14 Mar 2015 at 11:56

I worked in bars and restaurants for several years. I never expected a tip, but it was always a nice addition after I put a good amount of effort in to make sure the meal and experience was okay.

Because I know how I worked, I will base how I tip on that. I will tip often when I go out for a meal, but not always. I will always give cash tips too, and never on card, because I don't trust employers to pass these tips down fully to those who served me.

I also don't feel guilty for leaving without giving a tip.

Belly · 14 Mar 2015 at 11:57

I believe that you pay for the food and you tip for the service.

If the food is good or not to your liking there isn't much you can do about it but pay.

If the service was good - tip them, if it was bad don't bother! If the waiter asks why tell him/her.

The best tip you can give anyone: "Don't eat yellow snow".

ArchAnGeL · 14 Mar 2015 at 12:00

I do in the states as it is expected and you generally get excellent service anyway. In the UK I do in restaurants if I feel like I had a good experience and generally always leave at least something. Private hire taxis get an extra quid.

Columbo · 14 Mar 2015 at 12:17

Never tip and have never understood the culture of it in this country as everyone is paid the NMW at the very least.

Tunney · 14 Mar 2015 at 12:25

dacads · 14 Mar 2015 at 12:26

Doesn't it depend on the state in the States, some have lower minimum wages than others.

thep02 · 14 Mar 2015 at 12:27

I always leave a tip after a satisfactory meal or taxi journey usually just the change never 10% especially in a restaurant but I never tip at the bar in a pub.

NexusK · 14 Mar 2015 at 12:28

LOL at NMW being used to say people don't need more money. The NMW is only enough in some parts of the country, in others it puts you in poverty.

tres · 14 Mar 2015 at 12:28

I tip if the service went beyond 'as expected'.
The NMW is terrible. It makes a huge difference to get a tip.

Sliver · 14 Mar 2015 at 12:33

I tip my hairdresser, my hooker and my masseuse. Everyone else can cry more.

mattyg · 14 Mar 2015 at 12:52

I tip IF the service is up to it.

We go out every monday with a few friends. Got to know the staff. We tip generously. A few weeks back the waitress told us they accept the Gourmet Card But they don't shout about it.

We paid £39 for the card and it paid for itself within 2 meals. Some of the money saved goes on her bigger Tip.

Yes she gets paid by her employer but she gets paid to bring us food and take away the dirty plates. We give her a tip because she gives us more than just those bare essentials.
She should get paid more by her employer. If we have a good experience we will go back. If she chucks our plates on the table and our glasses run dry then we wont be going back.

ADT · 14 Mar 2015 at 12:53

I only tip if I receive good service and I am constantly served by the same person (during that visit). I hate that stupid thing that comes on the card machine asking if I want to leave a tip. Always leave them in cash

NexusK · 14 Mar 2015 at 12:55

One way to think of it is that when you get excellent service it's because they are working extra hard so you'll tip them. If tips were removed completely from waiting jobs you'd end up with the same service in a posh restaurant as you would in McDonalds.

Jokester · 14 Mar 2015 at 13:09

That should be reflected in their pay.

Ghosteh · 14 Mar 2015 at 13:15

It's all well and good saying it should be reflected in their pay, but unfortunately it's not. In this type of job, they can afford to pay minimum wage because they will always be able to get people to work in that sort of job.

However there are workers out there who enjoy their job and go above what would usually be expected of them, and I like to reflect that by giving that person a tip.