PSA: Not all tipped positions get paid below minimum wage

[kaytieeldr]

LOL, obviously I disagree with the OP, b/c I think that the minimum wage should take a part in the decision to tip!

I respectfully disagree. It's not my business how much anybody makes unless their income provides my support. If a person works in a service position which I feel is traditionally a tipped position, I tip.

I'm going to Vegas in a couple of weeks and it never crossed my mind to see how much waiters get paid. I will tip as usual, even if I were to find out that they got paid minimum wage or more.

Las Vegas is a special case If you want to know about tipping in Las Vegas, head on over to the Las Vegas subforum on the Disneyland board, and start a thread.

I'd be interested to know if you tip your ....nurse, dentist, doctor.. - if not, why not - these people provide a much more 'personal' service than your restaurant server etc.

And as professionally-trained personnel, they're compensated at a MUCH higher (read: livable) rate than the typical restaurant server.

also curious to know why people feel the need to give money as a thank you for services rather a sincere 'thank you' or a commendation note to their employer.

I don't know about you, but my landlord won't accept a third party thank you note as part of my rent, and the bank won't accept one as my car pay,ment.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I will tip based on service.

However, I must pass along that there are many positions where you are service that are backbreaking--but not tipped.

So remember that the next time someone leaves a pile of clothes in the dressing room OR you expect your groceries to be packed correctly and what not.

I wish the serving industry would stop behaving like they are the most difficult job on the planet and that no other position is challenged.

I don't tip you b/c you bust your butt--I tip you b/c you serve well. If you don't and you are rude or any other problems, your tip will get adjusted accordingly.

If busting your butt were the sole litmus on tipping, there are many "non-tipped jobs" out there (where you either can't tip due to company policy or it is just not customary) that would walk circles around serving...take the UPS guy for example....

Probably an unpopular opinion--but I've had some tough jobs as well (tearing down a concert stage in the overnight hours--that was sure lots of fun at $4.65 an hour, let me tell you!)

 

[shellybaxter]

I respectfully disagree. It's not my business how much anybody makes unless their income provides my support. If a person works in a service position which I feel is traditionally a tipped position, I tip.

.

I agree with you to a point. America is a self governed country therefore we, as citizens have some responsibility in the laws of the land. The law of this land allows for a sub minimum wage expecting that people in those positions will be tipped to make up the difference. To me this means to act morally I must take this into consideration when choosing how to tip

 

[disneychrista]

The law of this land allows for a sub minimum wage expecting that people in those positions will be tipped to make up the difference.

Technically ALL employees are paid at least minimum wage, even in the food service industry were the waitstaff have a sub-minimum "base wage." If in any case that person does not make enough tips to reach at least minimum wage for the hours worked the employer must make up the deficit.

 

[happygirl]

Technically ALL employees are paid at least minimum wage, even in the food service industry were the waitstaff have a sub-minimum "base wage." If in any case that person does not make enough tips to reach at least minimum wage for the hours worked the employer must make up the deficit.

This is 100% right

 

[disykat]

I'm always surprised when former waitresses come on and say how little money they made waitressing. When I waitressed, I made minimum wage plus tips and made great money! It was a hard job, but it was easier than some jobs I've had.

 

[kaytieeldr]

But, disykat, you're in Washington - one of the sevenstates that requires restaurants to pay servers at least minimum wage.

 

[Piecey]

I didn't realize there were states that actually mandated that servers be paid the minimum wage. Learn something new on these boards every day!

I waitressed for a very short period of time and got paid $2.10/hour. I think, at the time, West Virginia min. wage for a tipped position was $1.85/hour. I worked for a country club, though.. so my tips were automatically a minimum of 18%, tied into their bill. Considering the food was crazy expensive I made pretty good money, especially because most members added extra tips. I loved being a party hostess because I got 18% of the entire cost of the party.

Anyway, because of that job (and how much I HATED it) we start at 20% and round up because I'm weird about numbers. Rarely do we go below that, unless our service was absolutely terrible... It's a tough job, imho.

 

[dbriggsq]

This isn't one of those cultures. In fact, in the state of Tennessee tips are counted as taxable wages. Meaning, that tipped positions make LESS than minimum wage (2.13/hr) and count on their tips to meet or surpass minimum wage. These tips are the same thing as a pay check. Your note isn't a paycheck. Its garbage.

What is standard in some cultures is not standard in others.

I agree all cultures are different but who is to say which system is better. I found this interesting quote from the Wall Street Journal

We Americans see ourselves as generous -- we each want to tip a bit more than the average guy. Thus the actual average creeps ever higher. Not long ago, an 18% restaurant tip was a tad better than the 15% that was expected. Now I don't know anyone who tips less than 20%. Soon we'll feel the need to show our generosity by leaving 25% of the tab. Generous? No. But economically sound. It's not that we tip waiters because they are paid so little; they are paid so little because they can expect to make up the difference in tips.

People say 'tip or don't tip' according to the service you receive but in a restaurant knowing that servers receive less than minimum wage how could anyone not leave a tip - so the tip is not based on service received - it is out of a sense of duty towards the server.

Where will it stop - some people already say that people should tip their housekeeper in a hotel - even though this is not a 'tipped position'.

I think that employers who see that the public are eager to add to the remuneration of their staff will use that fact to hold their employees wages at a lower level - or indeed decrease them - after all there would be no incentive to increase them.

I don't think a commendation note to management is 'garbage' - it could be a factor in earning promotion for that employee.

 

[Andy B]

I respectfully disagree. It's not my business how much anybody makes unless their income provides my support. If a person works in a service position which I feel is traditionally a tipped position, I tip.

Las Vegas is a special case If you want to know about tipping in Las Vegas, head on over to the Las Vegas subforum on the Disneyland board, and start a thread.

And as professionally-trained personnel, they're compensated at a MUCH higher (read: livable) rate than the typical restaurant server.I don't know about you, but my landlord won't accept a third party thank you note as part of my rent, and the bank won't accept one as my car pay,ment.

You seemed to have argued against yourself here, in your first answe you say it is not your business how much someone makes but in your third say professionals are more highly paid even though their service may be much more personal.

 

[Andy B]

As far as other establishments I use my best judgment like at Dunkin Donuts if it comes to say $3.10 I'll give the girl $4.00 and say keep the change

Are Dunkin Donuts paid the same as a not food shop worker next door? if so why not tip the shoe salesman or the specialist cheese shop salesman?

 

[dbriggsq]

And as professionally-trained personnel, they're compensated at a MUCH higher (read: livable) rate than the typical restaurant server.I don't know about you, but my landlord won't accept a third party thank you note as part of my rent, and the bank won't accept one as my car pay,ment.

Is it because they are professionals that society doesn't feel the need to tip them - perhaps because it would seem insulting to tip a professional. This is how I feel about tipping anyone - I feel I'm saying in a way 'I earn more than you (even if I don't) and therefore I'm paying you to work for me and if you don't do it right then you won't get your reward' - probably too simplistic but that's why I feel uncomfortable about it.

A thank you note about an employee might make the employer think about promotion or pay rise for that person - a much better long term solution than a 'one-off' tip.

 

[metalis4ever]

Are Dunkin Donuts paid the same as a not food shop worker next door? if so why not tip the shoe salesman or the specialist cheese shop salesman?

Because I choose not to...that's right it's my money so I discriminate...Coffee girl yes, shoe guy no....nurse no unless she's working at a place that smells like jolly ranchers

But seriously it's my money if I want to tip whomever I want based on irrationality it's my prerogative...I don't have to be fair....I never said that others should do the same in my PP's all I said was that's how I personally go about it....

 

[kaytieeldr]

You seemed to have argued against yourself here, in your first answe you say it is not your business how much someone makes but in your third say professionals are more highly paid even though their service may be much more personal.

Excuse me. Qualifier: persons in customarily tipped service and service related positions.

I don't consider a trained medical professional in their chosen field to be a person in a customarily tipped service or service-related position.

However, if that person is moonlighting as a server or valet to supplement income, I (A) would absolutely tip and (B) would find a different medical practice for my own care.

 

[kaytieeldr]

A thank you note about an employee might make the employer think about promotion or pay rise for that person - a much better long term solution than a 'one-off' tip.

So, do both. The note might help in the long run - but the supermarket at which the server stops on the way home to pick up a gallon or milk isn't going to accept the note, or a copy of it, as legal tender in exchange for the milk.

 

[Heidict]

Las Vegas is a special case If you want to know about tipping in Las Vegas, head on over to the Las Vegas subforum on the Disneyland board, and start a thread.

I don't know about that. Something tells me that might be a scary prospect.

 

[kaytieeldr]

What? The Las Vegas forum? The Moderator would be hurt to think anybody felt that way Or the topic itself? Fair enough - but if you'd like, I can PM you some information.

 

[disykat]

But, disykat, you're in Washington - one of the sevenstates that requires restaurants to pay servers at least minimum wage.

Right, I mentioned that in my post. (and that is what this thread is about!) People here are saying that doesn't matter.

 

[TLHB70]

I have been also told this by carhops at Sonic.

I have never been told this about (or at) Sonic.
I have always tipped. I always pay cash, and the carhops have never offered to give change, though. It is like they are expecting the tip.

 

[Ember]

I will tip based on service.

However, I must pass along that there are many positions where you are service that are backbreaking--but not tipped.

So remember that the next time someone leaves a pile of clothes in the dressing room OR you expect your groceries to be packed correctly and what not.

I wish the serving industry would stop behaving like they are the most difficult job on the planet and that no other position is challenged.

I don't tip you b/c you bust your butt--I tip you b/c you serve well. If you don't and you are rude or any other problems, your tip will get adjusted accordingly.

If busting your butt were the sole litmus on tipping, there are many "non-tipped jobs" out there (where you either can't tip due to company policy or it is just not customary) that would walk circles around serving...take the UPS guy for example....

Probably an unpopular opinion--but I've had some tough jobs as well (tearing down a concert stage in the overnight hours--that was sure lots of fun at $4.65 an hour, let me tell you!)

I agree wholeheartedly with this! I worked retail for years. I made minimum wage. I would run help find sizes, run back and forth getting things, and then re-fold and put away everything that was tried on but not wanted. When I worked in a lingerie store I also did bra fittings. There were times I spent over an hour with a customer helping them, not including the work I did after they left, and I was handling multiple customers at a time. Please tell me how the work I did was less then that of someone waiting tables? However, retail is not a tipped position so I made due with my hourly salary.

We tip arbitrarily. It is not based on wages, it is not based on providing a service... It's like we threw positions into a hat and drew names for who gets extra money for doing their jobs. Wait staff, yes. Grocery worker to packs the bags and carries them to your car, no. Hair dressers, yes. Retail workers, no.

Anyway, I've said it before, I hate the practice of tipping. But I give into social pressure and do it.