Gratuities and Tipping !

[Quiksilvr]

I do pay my servers minimum wage plus tips.........for full time personnel, we are even looking at profit sharing options. If I do not treat my workers right (no matter what their role), how can I expect them to give me everything if I am not willing to share the success they help me achieve!!!!!!

I like the way you think. I applaud anyone who tries to make a system better. Profit sharing in a restaurant setting would be an interesting system to create, but I bet it would act as a pretty good incentive beyond tips (so long as there were profits to share, obviously).

 

[Brian Noble]

Coming from the UK, I have a problem with tipping.

For better or worse, one is expected to follow the customs of the country one is visiting, in the matter of gratuities as everything else.

(And, for those of you wondering about the issue of buffet service---Miss Manners, who is my preferred authority on all things etiquette, writes that one's customary tip percentage should not be lowered for buffet service.)

 

[apostolic4life]

They've got other things to worry about...like steroids in baseball.

 

[apostolic4life]

I like the way you think. I applaud anyone who tries to make a system better. Profit sharing in a restaurant setting would be an interesting system to create, but I bet it would act as a pretty good incentive beyond tips (so long as there were profits to share, obviously).

Yes, the profit pool will be small, but in the future, as the company we are building diversifies its holdings, we hope to increase the profit pool. The restaurant business is not the mecca of profit some seem to think, but a portion of that small profit can be used to build employee loyalty and give them a better life too!!

 

[Quiksilvr]

I'll just say that those of us who work in DC on problems that actually affect the constituency of the Congresspeople are in a continual head-scratching mode about the steroids thing. I don't understand how that's more important than retirement or Social Security. Personally, I just think Waxman likes the airtime (let's face it, it's the only way he'd ever make Sportscenter).

 

[bicker]

Agreed. It's not like Congress is going to pass a law instituting mandatory service charges for waitstaff or outlawing gratuities.

Uh, why not? It has happened elsewhere in the world.

There just isn't any push for that sort of thing because it's not something that people are really up in arms about.

Because many people want things the way they are.

 

[TDC Nala]

I'll just say that those of us who work in DC on problems that actually affect the constituency of the Congresspeople are in a continual head-scratching mode about the steroids thing. I don't understand how that's more important than retirement or Social Security. Personally, I just think Waxman likes the airtime (let's face it, it's the only way he'd ever make Sportscenter).

heck, it's probably the only way he'll ever make C-SPAN.

 

[TiggerDad3]

hmmmm

When Disney had the gratuity included in the package ...
do you think they gave thier servers 18 to 20% of the ticket?
Does anyone know this answer?
I have a hard time believing myself that they did.

 

[mom2my3kids]

hmmmm

When Disney had the gratuity included in the package ...
do you think they gave thier servers 18 to 20% of the ticket?
Does anyone know this answer?
I have a hard time believing myself that they did.

Yep we have had Disney Servers come on here and tell us they do, also in Indiana its customary to leave 15-20 percent of the bill for good service.

 

[Quiksilvr]

Uh, why not? It has happened elsewhere in the world.

Because many people want things the way they are.

I believe that was what I said. As I recall, the gist of my comments was:

There is not a critical mass of people influencing Congress to change the system from tip-based to some other form of compensation. Because of this lack of interest (which definitely derives in some part from a segment of the population wanting things to remain the same) Congress does nothing. From my experience, I feel safe saying that people in Congress don't usually believe that something is broken until a large number of people (preferably people with money) start saying it is. That's just DC.

And actually, who is to say that this approach isn't right? If everyone in America has the right to an opinion, and since (theoretically, anyway) majority rules, then things will remain as they are until people really start complaining to those chosen to represent them. I assume that something like that occurred in the countries you cite who have changed their system legislatively.

 

[TiggerDad3]

Yep we have had Disney Servers come on here and tell us they do, also in Indiana its customary to leave 15-20 percent of the bill for good service.

as I asked already.. does anybody know what percentage disney gave thier servers who waited on tables that had the gratuity included in the dining plan?

 

[pigletto]

Apostolic, I think that offering your servers minimum wage plus profit sharing is more than fair. I think perhaps the situation I last experienced as a server (which subsequently made me realize it was time to move on and do something else in life) was the point I was arguing from. It was grossly unfair. I worked in other restaurants (golf courses, wineries) where I was treated extremely well and was very happy. Unfortunately all were seasonal positions due to where I live so staying on for winter was not an option.
I still stand by my position that it an antiquated system that needs an overhaul... but I do apologize if it came across as me attacking you personally.
Sometimes debate doesn't translate well on a message board

 

[mom2my3kids]

as I asked already.. does anybody know what percentage disney gave thier servers who waited on tables that had the gratuity included in the dining plan?

Like many people have STATED!!! its 18% of the bill that Disney PAYS their servers when it was added in the bill..

 

[KorieDWnut]

I agree Mefordis. Except I don't think tipping should be mandatory. I think servers should just make a fair wage that doesn't require a tip.
I don't go to my grocery store and refuse to pay the cashier because the bananas are expensive. And if my cashier is horrible and rude then I can make a complaint that will hopefully have someone deal with the problem.

I have been a server for 12 years. I know I would not continue to do this job if I were getting paid hourly. No way. Even with the people who occaisionally stiff me, or leave me something crappy..or..please for the love of God people do NOT leave me those religious pamphlets!!...but anyway,even with all that, I ALWAYS ALWAYS come out ahead. I take home more each week than I would at ANY by the hour job. Some weeks I make more than my DH who works 6 days a week, and I only work 3-4.

My boss would have to pay me 20-25 dollars an hour to continue to waitress if tipping were done away with.

I have days where people leave me 10%, I have days where people leave me 30-50%. If someone leaves me nothing..or even a penny..I will not automatically assume I did something wrong. That doesn't prove a THING despite what people think. The only way to let a server know you were dissatisified is to let them or a manager know. Otherwise, the server will not get what you are trying to accomplish, trust me.

I don't expect tips..well I do..but I don't get huffy if it is not the amount I was expecting..I just move on to the next customer. If I didn't like what I was doing, I would get another job. I see my customers as walking dollar signs, sorry, but it is the truth. Since I LOVE dollar signs, I am not going to be rude to money. I have to be nice to money, to make money. It is like a game at this point. A little butt kissing gets me more money.

So..if you don't want to tip..then don't I guess. I am not going to tell anyone that they have to because I make crap per hour. Don't tip if it's not what you do, but kindly finish your meal in a VERY timely manner so that server can turn the table over and get someone in there who will.

 

[stellablue]

I believe that the only fair solution to any of this is moving to a system where servers are paid like everyone else.

I don't like supporting the current system, and believe we need to change it.
I could stay at home and not eat out - but that wouldn't in any way change anything. If enough people choose to eat out without giving in to the extreme pressure to treat tipping as some kind of moral obligation which insists that you are now responsible for this person and every member of their family, it will put pressure on servers who will in turn put pressure on their employers. As long as the current system works so well in the favor of both employers and servers noting will change.

I agree to what you said about giving servers a normal salary, but
Ouch, sounds like a pretty unethical experiment!!

 

[dcrouch]

I will just say this... I was a waitress for over 5 years in major chain restaurants. It is hard (back-breaking) work; especially if you want to get great tips and be considered for the best shifts. Many of nights, I would lie down and my feet would be burning from the long day on my feet carrying trays of food.

Having said that....I tip according to the performance... If the server doesn't keep drinks filled, plates cleaned off table, check on us...etc.... I don't tip as well... THAT's their job. I don't tip just to be tipping... A tip should be based on SERVICE.

I have been stiffed when my service was great. Unfortunately it is part of the job. I used to work in a city where we had a huge Quilt convention. We ALL dreaded that week because our tips would be terrible (lots of older folks) ... granted that was 15 years ago.... Unfortunately, that is just the reality. Probably because alot of the older generation just did not understand that servers do not make much per hour and they grew up in the depression era....

I think that nowadays most people understand tipping and what is expected. There is just no excuse to not tip these hard working servers. But, I think it is always easier to say that, when you've "been there done that"

LOL, I have my husband trained now...he used to be a tight tipper, now he always asks me if he is tipping enough

 

[Quiksilvr]

as I asked already.. does anybody know what percentage disney gave thier servers who waited on tables that had the gratuity included in the dining plan?

I'm not trying to be argumentative, just trying to get a handle on your question. The short answer is no, I don't know what percentage servers actually received from a DDP check. From your earlier post, it sounds like you are insinuating the Disney is capturing some of that service charge themselves and then using the money either as profit or to offset some other expense. Although I would not put it past a company to try to do this, if I was a server in that situation I would be referring it to the DOL and the IRS. I'm not entirely certain that such a system would be illegal, but I would definitely make sure that if it were legal, they were crossing all of their "t"s and dotting all of their "i"s.

Based on that type of reasoning, you could also say, "well, how do I know that the tip I write in on my credit card actually goes to the server?" Well, honestly, I have no idea whether that tip goes to the server. If it didn't, I'd expect that server to howl until it did.

It's also entirely possible that the included gratuity is split among the various service providers in the restaurant (in some of the restaurants I frequent, the person who fills my water glass is not the person who brings me my food. I would hate for this person to not receive some of the tip, regardless of whether they get paid a better hourly wage.).

 

[MommyBuzz909]

I think it just all depends on the service. If you waiter/ress is a total meanie or just doesn't care, than they're getting MAYBE 10%, but if they do a WONDERFUL, AMAZING job - 20%. If they're just average, than I'll do somewhere between 15-18%. That's how I do things now, and I'll extend that to my Disney trip.

 

[Quiksilvr]

I don't expect tips..well I do..but I don't get huffy if it is not the amount I was expecting..I just move on to the next customer. If I didn't like what I was doing, I would get another job. I see my customers as walking dollar signs, sorry, but it is the truth. Since I LOVE dollar signs, I am not going to be rude to money. I have to be nice to money, to make money. It is like a game at this point. A little butt kissing gets me more money.

So..if you don't want to tip..then don't I guess. I am not going to tell anyone that they have to because I make crap per hour. Don't tip if it's not what you do, but kindly finish your meal in a VERY timely manner so that server can turn the table over and get someone in there who will.

I think that this is the only context in which I could be viewed as a walking dollar sign. That said, I love how you bluntly stated the server-customer relationship.

 

[KorieDWnut]

I would love to know the answer to this question!! Why they don't just pay a regular salary to their servers, like in other countries.

Instead, for some reason they are given a pay of around $3.00/hour (which gets eaten up by taxes anyways) and say the rest can be made up in tips.

Anyone know why US restaurants decided to do it this way?

I have a feeling that if they only paid an hourly wage, you would not get the same type of people continue doing it. I for one most certainly would not still waitress for an hourly wage. Not at all. You would see a huge increase in high school age kids doing it, I bet.