Tips at restaurants

beachBOYken · 15 Mar 2015 at 12:30

This tipping just made me think about tipping in the US where it's the norm, slightly off topic but why doesn't the UK adopt the water at every restaurant table like they do in the US in almost every place and continuly refill your glass.

chroniclard · 15 Mar 2015 at 12:40

I like to tip in restaurants if I get good service. Just annoying when they automatically include a service charge, like the Italian last night automatically included 10% on the bill. Meal was nice and the service was good so I couldn't be bothered arguing about it so just paid and left but not really the point.

Mynight · 15 Mar 2015 at 12:46

Tunney said:
I'll tip taxi drivers who don't have talk radio on and don't say anything racist.

Lol I have noticed that. I can't think of a single taxi driver I've had that hasn't berated a race or religion whilst I've been in their car.

Freefaller · 15 Mar 2015 at 13:32

Exemplary service? If so I tip. If not I don't.

Simples.

Like bonuses at work - you achieve a high rating on your objectives you get a bonus. If you do the bare minimum you get nothing.

Tefal · 15 Mar 2015 at 13:55

mattyg said:
In that case no.

in any case though isn't it.

Tell me how your tip will improve your meal or service.

unless you tell them "be good and ill give you a big tip at the end" they generally will just work exactly as they always do which for some will be good for others will be crap.

can you think of any other job where you demand a bribe to not be bad at your job?

Tefal · 15 Mar 2015 at 13:57

placeholder said:
I have far more issues with the Tipping Taxi Drivers concept than i have about waiters.

ill tip a taxi driver if i say i'm in a hurry and he drive like a nutter on speed.

and we don't die of course.

XeNoN89 · 15 Mar 2015 at 14:05

I'll tip 10% if the service is good. Bad service =no tip

dowie · 15 Mar 2015 at 14:12

nitram100 said:
I always tip, cab drivers, waiters everyone. I'm just generous like that but don't judge other people for not tipping.

I'm even more generous than you, I tip people who wouldn't even ordinarily expect a tip. "That was a really great clean and polish Mr Dentist, have an extra tenner"

Mynight · 15 Mar 2015 at 14:15

I gave the guy doing my MOT £20 because I turned up late and he squeezed it in (also let me off a duff bulb. Definitly worked before I left).

When I was working in clubs I used to serve the people that tipped first

. I'm great with faces but crap with names.

Tefal · 15 Mar 2015 at 14:18

Mynight said:
When I was working in clubs I used to serve the people that tipped first . I'm great with faces but crap with names.

see that's when tipping makes sense when you're a regular or at a busy bar where your basically bribing them for preferential service over other people.

Mynight · 15 Mar 2015 at 14:21

Indeed. I could easily double or even sometimes triple my wages through tips(wasn't even on minimum wage £8.95).

I rarely tip in restuarants unless I feel the service has been above average.

mattyg · 15 Mar 2015 at 14:24

Tefal said:
in any case though isn't it.

Tell me how your tip will improve your meal or service.

unless you tell them "be good and ill give you a big tip at the end" they generally will just work exactly as they always do which for some will be good for others will be crap.

can you think of any other job where you demand a bribe to not be bad at your job?

Thats such a narrow minded argument. I'll tell you what how about I don't pay my taxes this year. How will effect you if I don't.

Look at the bigger picture.

If everyone gave a tip when they got good service then the quality of the service everyone gets would increase.

can you think of any other job where you demand a bribe to not be bad at your job?

What?? Have you EVER been told by waiting on staff that unless you tip them later they'llbe crap.

But to answer your question many many many employees do just the bare minimum to get by. Just look at the "do you stay late at work" thread.
What actually happens in the real world is when you do more than the bare minimum then you'll generally get a pay rise the next year. This won't really happen in for waiting on staff

Tefal · 15 Mar 2015 at 14:28

mattyg said:
Thats such a narrow minded argument. I'll tell you what how about I don't pay my taxes this year. How will effect you if I don't.

hows is that even a sane argument?

thats like refusing to pay the bill, not the tip. a tipping argument would be like why don't you give an extra 10% of your tax bill to the tax man this year after all if you tip them the government might do a better job eh?

Look at the bigger picture.

If everyone gave a tip when they got good service then the quality of the service everyone gets would increase.

except it doesn't, because then it would just be expected.

much like a customer expecting staff to do the job they're paid for.

What?? Have you EVER been told by waiting on staff that unless you tip them later they'llbe crap.

Your argument is that they only do anything more than a bad job because of tips so thats your argument that they need bribing to not be bad at their job.

But to answer your question many many many employees do just the bare minimum to get by. Just look at the "do you stay late at work" thread.

refusing to work for free is not doing the "bare minimum" is my employer doing the "bare minimum" because they don't pay me extra money for nothing at random?

What actually happens in the real world is when you do more than the bare minimum then you'll generally get a pay rise the next year. This won't really happen in for waiting on staff

not really, for the vast majority of employees in the country pay raises are negotiated on a group level by unions not an individual/personal level.

Tummy · 15 Mar 2015 at 14:30

Does Tefal answer questions or do you just ask them?

Have you ever worked (for any good length of time) in hospitality?

Tefal · 15 Mar 2015 at 14:34

Tummy said:
Does Tefal answer questions or do you just ask them?

didn't see a question mark...

Have you ever worked (for any good length of time) in hospitality?

nope, did work a 37.5 hour week for just over £4 an hour for a year though, so i could get a better job.

didn't expect to be tipped to make up my wage though.

Tummy · 15 Mar 2015 at 14:36

Tefal said:
nope

Thank you

.

arknor · 15 Mar 2015 at 15:13

Gangster said:
Tipping is the norm in the US, however what I've read is that at the end of their shift if they don't have a 'minimum' the employer makes up the difference. Its the companies responsibility to pay their staff, not mine.

Edit, here we go:

So they get $7.25 per hour minimum either way.

most states have their own higher minimum wage

Nexus · 15 Mar 2015 at 16:02

wnb said:
Why just tips waiters though? SO many people are on minimum wage why is it we just tip in the service industry? For example a home care worker wipes you backside gives you a wash, change your bed and makes a meal and yet she gets no tip.

That's a bit of a naive comment to be honest.

Most people who have a regular carer who they know by name will be probably give them gifts if they can, especially at the end of the year and occasions like Christmas. Yes, it might not be a cash gift, but it's still a reward for your hard work.

Malevolence said:
On a similar note, has anyone here ever asked for the 'optional service charge' to be removed from their bill? That goes down well.

Yes, if the service is so bad that it doesn't warrant it. I had a meal for 12 once where the service was a joke, they got orders wrong, forgot dishes, forgot cutlery, food came at different times, some items were cold etc. We all paid our split shares including the added charge. I then spotted the Manager and said we weren't happy about the service and wouldn't have paid the charge. He then got the full tip amount out of the till and gave it back to us.

You are well within your rights in the UK to do so, if its bad. At a tourist trap restaurant in Barcelona though where I had a similar issue, they were going to call the police if we didn't pay! :rolleyes:

Skillmister · 15 Mar 2015 at 16:57

Waiters/servers/bar staff should be giving good service as standard. They should be a representation of the business and so "tip worthy" service should be the norm, not something I should be expected to pay extra on top for.

ChrisJSY · 15 Mar 2015 at 17:02

There are places here that get paid exactly the same I do for the same hours so no, I won't tip, I don't get tipped so why should I? No amount of bending over will get me a tip, even if I go out of my own personal way and time to help someone.