Soldato
- Joined
- 27 Apr 2013
- Posts
- 4,095
I'd never dream of tipping 20% here in the UK.
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Tips at restaurants
- Thread starter Monkeymatt
- Start date
Geography??
I used to work as a waiter at a national US chain restaurant a while back and was only paid $2 an hour.
I had a lot of incentive to give my best to every table in order to earn tips. At the end of the shift I would be required to input how much my cash tips were into the computer. It would divide them up by the number of hours I'd worked and add that to the $2 base rate. Then that would be topped up in my paycheck if I hadn't hit the minimum wage.
Good service can help make or break a dining experience. Attentiveness to pick up on when you need something, being available when required, but at a distance when not.
How they deal with problems is also very important.
Most people don't like making a fuss in a restaurant or to complain, however great service should allow you to feel comfortable enough to bring up an issue and if when you do, ensure you don't feel like your causing a conflict, keep you at ease and rectify the problem without you feeling like you're making a fuss.
I had some great shifts and some awful shifts. It was lovely to receive a $50 tip from a massive table at the end of the night (quite unusual for the type of restaurant I was at). Even though it was America, and they have a 'Tipping Culture', more often than not though you'd still get stingy customers who leave coinage (25 cents is the highest denomination coin), a couple of bucks on a large bill or if they've been there for hours, or the worst was some kind of bloody religious leaflet and no money.
In the UK this trend of included service charges by the restaurant ****es me off. They make it sound like it definitely goes direct to the server, after all it's a 'Service charge', but it doesn't.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8281191.stm
I always cross it out. In my opinion if I decide to leave a tip for good service it should go direct to the servers and it should be in cash.
For me it doesn't matter if I'm in the US or the UK, I'll only tip if I feel I've received service above average. If you're good at your job and you added value to the dining experience, you'll get a tip as a thank you.
I had a lot of incentive to give my best to every table in order to earn tips. At the end of the shift I would be required to input how much my cash tips were into the computer. It would divide them up by the number of hours I'd worked and add that to the $2 base rate. Then that would be topped up in my paycheck if I hadn't hit the minimum wage.
Good service can help make or break a dining experience. Attentiveness to pick up on when you need something, being available when required, but at a distance when not.
How they deal with problems is also very important.
Most people don't like making a fuss in a restaurant or to complain, however great service should allow you to feel comfortable enough to bring up an issue and if when you do, ensure you don't feel like your causing a conflict, keep you at ease and rectify the problem without you feeling like you're making a fuss.
I had some great shifts and some awful shifts. It was lovely to receive a $50 tip from a massive table at the end of the night (quite unusual for the type of restaurant I was at). Even though it was America, and they have a 'Tipping Culture', more often than not though you'd still get stingy customers who leave coinage (25 cents is the highest denomination coin), a couple of bucks on a large bill or if they've been there for hours, or the worst was some kind of bloody religious leaflet and no money.
In the UK this trend of included service charges by the restaurant ****es me off. They make it sound like it definitely goes direct to the server, after all it's a 'Service charge', but it doesn't.
BBC said:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8281191.stm
I always cross it out. In my opinion if I decide to leave a tip for good service it should go direct to the servers and it should be in cash.
For me it doesn't matter if I'm in the US or the UK, I'll only tip if I feel I've received service above average. If you're good at your job and you added value to the dining experience, you'll get a tip as a thank you.
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I'm sure there are people far more educated than me working a bar job and I'm not judging them for working a crap job.
I'm judging them for expecting tips like it's mandatory in order to be served it's a parasitic attitude
as I said my step son has worked in a bar for about 5 years while furthering his education.
I'm judging them for expecting tips like it's mandatory in order to be served it's a parasitic attitude
as I said my step son has worked in a bar for about 5 years while furthering his education.
well I stand by that comment.
if they are not happy with the wages they get then find a better job that affords the lifestyle you want instead of expecting people to subsidise your lifestyle with tips or live within your means.
so what if it's minimum wage? loads of people you encounter during your day are minimum wage but you don't tip them and they don't expect it.
maybe if they did expect it you would tip them.
can you imagine going to the petrol station or wherever and someone else gets served first because they tip and you don't ? you'd kick off and you know it.
let's say you work at a club and get tipped everytime you serve someone, probably a few quid a time.
know wonder these people with PHD's aren't getting jobs in the field they studied for because they are clearly raking it in.
how many people do you think they serve each night?
if they are not happy with the wages they get then find a better job that affords the lifestyle you want instead of expecting people to subsidise your lifestyle with tips or live within your means.
so what if it's minimum wage? loads of people you encounter during your day are minimum wage but you don't tip them and they don't expect it.
maybe if they did expect it you would tip them.
can you imagine going to the petrol station or wherever and someone else gets served first because they tip and you don't ? you'd kick off and you know it.
let's say you work at a club and get tipped everytime you serve someone, probably a few quid a time.
know wonder these people with PHD's aren't getting jobs in the field they studied for because they are clearly raking it in.
how many people do you think they serve each night?
Just to add, I'm cool with tipping anyone when they're providing a service where I might deal with them one on one and I feel the service is excellent. Whether that's a restaurant server, barman, hair dresser, etc.
If you go above an beyond or are consistently good at your job or if you see a person regularly then an unexpected tip can really help that person get through the day.
However I don't think it should be 'expected' in any industry. As a customer if your going out for a meal and it's a big deal for you because money is tight, you shouldn't have to worry about being shunned for not leaving a tip to the server.
If you go above an beyond or are consistently good at your job or if you see a person regularly then an unexpected tip can really help that person get through the day.
However I don't think it should be 'expected' in any industry. As a customer if your going out for a meal and it's a big deal for you because money is tight, you shouldn't have to worry about being shunned for not leaving a tip to the server.
staff at the corner shop then?
No benefits, no pension, no share scheme.
heck probably longer hours than most waiting staff more abuse, have to deal with shoplifters more often, more risk of violence and threats and robbery.
all in all more ****** than serving food in a fancy restaurant.
why doesn't he deserve a tip?
except the argument was nothing to do with the experience the argument was that the job is depressing and low paid and requires you to "suck up to people".
so that argument covers nearly every retail and food service sector.
So again wheres the line for you mattyg what level of misery or low pay do they have to endure for their job to be tip worthy.
the guy in the supermarket who you ask where X is and he stops stacking the shelf and graciously goes out of his way to show you to the products your looking for and alternatives?
He get a tip or does he not deserve it being the shop working peasant that he is?
You are ignoring people whom are working towards an education and working a minimum wage job to help finances while they do so.
Where are you plucking this 'subsidising lifestyles' based on tips from?
Different work spheres. Hospitality is a more personal experience.
I do not really understand how this is a similar comparison to the hospitality (waiting / bar tending) sphere to be honest.
I do not work on a club, but I often tip people that do.
Umm what?, it could be because they are doing further study and the contract hours that Universities offer aren't good enough, it could be because they are saving up short term to travel, it could be because they are unable to find anything in their specific field at that moment in time and have taken the job as a stop gap.
Associate
- Joined
- 25 Jun 2009
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- 440
- Location
- UK
I think some of the elitist comments here are crazy, just cos they are bar workers, waiters etc doesnt mean they are beneath you.
Doesn't mean they should expect tips either or you won't get decent service and may even be ignored which surely is more wrong than being against tipping
Associate
- Joined
- 25 Jun 2009
- Posts
- 440
- Location
- UK
No, tips should not be expected. But to belittle the general person who has this job is wrong.
That's less than a 30 second interaction with a person who I know is being paid a fixed wage to do a job and their pointing me to the correct isle.
I may spend 30 plus minutes with a barber and they may go the extra mile to ensure my hair is just how I like it or suggest something new. Then I may round up to a tenner as a thanks.
I may spend a number of hours with a waiter over the course of an evening and have numerous interactions with them which may create a lasting impact on the outcome of the evening.
At a busy bar over the course of an evening a good barman with a tab setup will always ensure prompt and swift service. They'll pour good drinks and not short change you (especially if you're ordering spirits).
I think tips are potentially suitable for all these situations. However I still don't think they should be expected. Like the shop assistant they should be paid a fixed wage and do the best job they can regardless. However if I feel I've flush enough to pop a few extra quid their way for good service then I will.
I never referred to anyone as a peasant. Nothing wrong with working for a supermaket. I've earned very little money averaged out the last few years, so it's not like I'm a big tipper anyway. But I've been on the receiving end of some tips after working various service industry jobs and I appreciate what a difference it can make to your day so I try to return the favour for exemplary service when I can. I wouldn't classify helping me to find something on the shelf as exemplary service, just part of the job.
I do recognise it is kind of odd how we generally recognise some professions as being deserving of tips more than others. Part of it might just be custom, but usually it's deserved in return for great service. It should be a thanks or form of appreciation for going above and beyond. If the shelf stacker does help you find some great new product you never new about and you're super stoked, then hell why not slip them a tip I suppose if you're that way inclined
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I think if someone is purposefully ignoring paying customers who have been waiting to be served longer than others, because they haven't bribed the bartender with a tip (which has been admitted to on this very thread). Is nothing to do with the status level of their job, or the salary they earn, but I would think they are beneath me and other people, and that's based purely on what I class as; scummy behaviour.
That's great, it's still not my problem.
You don't provide a reasonable service for the money you charge, your customers will go elsewhere and tips will be the last of your worries.
Charge what you want up front, and have the faith in the quality of your service or products to justify it.
And then have the decency to pay your staff decent wages for their work.
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No, I create the dish that gets delivered to your table, for the reason you decided to eat out in the first place, for something a bit special, presented well,to make you think Wow!. First impressions last as they say, and you will enjoy your meal more if it is presented well. Don't we all want that? If I have an incentive to go above and beyond my basic job requirements, then I will, just like a sales person will try their hardest to reach their target to get their weekly commission or bonus, or a banker to get their annual bonus. Aren't we all entitled to have something to work towards? Maybe it's just your profession then!
Don't get me wrong, I don't do my job for the tips, I earn quite a decent wage as it happens, but I won't say I don't appreciate the tips we get, it is our bonus after all, and it shows that our customers appreciate the hard work we do.
Don't get me wrong, I don't do my job for the tips, I earn quite a decent wage as it happens, but I won't say I don't appreciate the tips we get, it is our bonus after all, and it shows that our customers appreciate the hard work we do.
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It's funny, in other industries it's not common place, but sometimes if you have a really great experience with a company or person you may want to express your thanks with more than just a thank you.
It can be a bit odd if you don't deal with them face to face. What do you do? Just paypal them a few quid? That initially sounds like an odd thing to do. But what if it's framed in such a way that it's more like "Here's a beer on me as a show of appreciation", then it makes a bit more sense.
I was looking at this hosting companies website earlier today and came across such a page that does this.
If you've had a really good experience and fancy giving the team a 'tip' then you can do so. It can seem a bit weird at first, but after thinking about it, if a company/person really does go the extra mile and you want to show greater appreciation than just a thank you, it seems like a nice way to do that.
https://www.nimbushosting.co.uk/company/btb
It can be a bit odd if you don't deal with them face to face. What do you do? Just paypal them a few quid? That initially sounds like an odd thing to do. But what if it's framed in such a way that it's more like "Here's a beer on me as a show of appreciation", then it makes a bit more sense.
I was looking at this hosting companies website earlier today and came across such a page that does this.
If you've had a really good experience and fancy giving the team a 'tip' then you can do so. It can seem a bit weird at first, but after thinking about it, if a company/person really does go the extra mile and you want to show greater appreciation than just a thank you, it seems like a nice way to do that.
https://www.nimbushosting.co.uk/company/btb