Tipping in America

[sallyjane]

how much should you tip taxi drivers

I tip 20% of the fare. I think standard is 15-20%?

 

[cmwade77]

I would also like to mention that I get the DDP when at Disney World so our servers get at least 18%, which is about what I would tip most of them based on the level of service they provide, one time when I did not have the DDP I had one waiter who got a one penny tip, because I had to keep asking his manager for a refill and this was at a buffet, which the price did not include the tip, so it was 1/2 of his job, the other 1/2, which was clearing plates was not done either.

If you want a good tip, give me good service, I have been known to tip substantially higher than 20% before as well. A lot of the time if the server gives me something for free I will put about the price of the free item into their tip, in addition to what I would have given. Of course that depends on why the item was free.

I would consider 90% of the service I receive at WDW to be above average, which will generally get a 15-20% tip, also I will not tip at any sort of counter service location, inside Disney or not, this doesn't seem right, all they are doing is taking my order and I am picking it up. Also for Buffets the only buffets I tip at are ones that bring me drinks, otherwise why, they really aren't doing anything to provide me service, esp. if they never clear my plates while I am there.

Now most do get 15-20% tips, but really the average is about 15% from me even outside of Disney, I have been known to give a 30-40% tip before when the service is far above and beyond, so really you treat me well, I'll treat you well, but if you are just doing your job and don't do anything to show you care, don't expect a huge tip.

 

[raidermatt]

With regard to specific states, California does not allow tipped employees to be paid less than the state minimum wage, however, Florida does.

Florida’s minimum wage is $6.67 per hour effective January 1, 2007 for all hours worked in Florida....

...For “tipped employees” meeting eligibility requirements for the tip credit under the FLSA, employers may count tips actually received as wages under the FLSA, but the employer must pay “tipped employees” a direct wage in an amount equal to the minimum wage of $6.67 minus $3.02 (which, as required by Florida’s Constitution, is the 2003 tip credit existing under the FLSA), or a direct hourly wage of $3.65 as of January 1, 2007.

http://www.floridajobs.org/resources/fl_min_wage.html

 

[cmwade77]

Did you think the Disney servers were lying or did you think Disney was violating the federal law?

I wouldn't expect you'd see a non-California version of restaurant specific minimum wage in California.

I don't understand why you kept posted that the federal minimum wage law applies to servers, without a tip credit when several posters told you that you're mistaken.

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/laborstandards/workprot/minwage.shtm

Well, what do you know, I can be wrong, but really I thought it would be the same throughout the US, really I can't base my tips off of what each state's laws are as there is no way that you can possibly know every state's laws if the the Federal Government will allow such a thing, the reason I kept saying so is that I have read the laws, as posted at my employer, which posts what is required by California Law and the federal section notes nothing of an exemption for "tipped positions" I do suppose that part may be omitted considering that it doesn't apply in California. By next year our minimum wage will be in the double digits in California.

I never have understood the reasons behind tipping either, really why can't the restaurants just pay a decent wage and say no tipping? I know there are a few locations here like that and those are always nice.

 

[raidermatt]

Wonder why WDW itself in the literature it leaves in the rooms for guests does not say what the Official Guide does.

Good question. Most likely because Disney does not want you to feel as though the company is nickel and diming you anymore than they already are.

Since the official guide is not written by Disney, but is approved and published by Disney, they can address what the standard is with less concern over who will get blamed.

how much should you tip taxi drivers

The WDW Official Guide suggests 15% for good service.

 

[raidermatt]

I never have understood the reasons behind tipping either, really why can't the restaurants just pay a decent wage and say no tipping? I know there are a few locations here like that and those are always nice.

The idea is that its creates incentive for servers to provide the highest quality service, or at least to allow those that do to be properly rewarded for it.

Without tips it would be completely up to the employer to recognize good service and reward employees accordingly. With tips, the feedback is immediate and very tangible and you don't have to worry about union rules preventing employers from rewarding for performance.

Not that it really makes sense that it's done that way for food servers and not in most other professions, but that's just the way society has dictated it be. Until that changes, that's where we are.

I actually like having the ability to directly reward somebody for doing a good job. I don't have to write a letter and wonder whether it ever gets read or if the employee actually gets rewarded for it.

 

[cmwade77]

As I said, most service get the 15% tips for me, I am not as harsh of a judge as I may have made it sound about what is good service or not, I find most servers to be above average, but when I get one that is just average and doing the minimum to get his/her tip, I can't justify giving 15% in many cases. As I said at WDW I give the 18% as we are on the DDP, if I get really exceptional service I will add more, when not on the DDP it does depend on the level of tip depends heavily on the level of service and if it is a buffet and they are not doing 1/2 of their job (i.e. getting me refills in a timely manner, by timely manner i mean a refill when by drink is about 3/4 of the way gone, this is what I expect, of course this wouldn't apply if I was drinking it exceptionally fast, but I shouldn't have to wait 20 minutes for a refill either) they shouldn't expect a 15% tip for doing only a portion of their job.

 

[Katiebell]

And, just to clarify -- many states that allow an employer to deduct a "tip credit" from a tipped employee's wages are obligated to ensure that employee makes at least minimum wage. In other words, if the tipped employee does not make enough in tips to bring their pay up to minimum wage, then the employer must make up the difference. OTOH, if a tipped employee is regularly receiving less than the allowed "tip credit" in gratuities (which works out to about $3/hour in Florida), then it often means they are not doing an adequate job, and will be finding employment elsewhere.

 

[shellybaxter]

Well, what do you know, I can be wrong, but really I thought it would be the same throughout the US, really I can't base my tips off of what each state's laws are as there is no way that you can possibly know every state's laws if the the Federal Government will allow such a thing, the reason I kept saying so is that I have read the laws, as posted at my employer, which posts what is required by California Law and the federal section notes nothing of an exemption for "tipped positions" I do suppose that part may be omitted considering that it doesn't apply in California. By next year our minimum wage will be in the double digits in California.

Actually California's minimum wage will go to $8.00 per hour on January 1, 2008. No additional increases have been passed above the $8.00 per hour

 

[udsweetpea]

Again that low of a wage is illegal according to Federal Law, you can not make less than $7.75 per hour I believe is the current federal minimum wage law.

That's why servers report their tips. If after receiving tips the server is still making less than minimum wage for a particular state, the employer must make up for the difference.

BTW, many states still have $5.15 as their minimum wage, so the $7.75 you quoted is inaccurate.

 

[udsweetpea]

It would be nice if servers were paid a fair, living wage -- at least the state's minimum wage -- and tips were truly something optional, just a little something extra you could give if the service was exceptional.

Well, most servers at Disney are definitely making more than just a living wage. I only worked part-time (3 nights a week) and made close to $4000 a month.

 

[Katiebell]

Well, most servers at Disney are definitely making more than just a living wage. I only worked part-time (3 nights a week) and made close to $4000 a month.

Yeah, when I'm thinking of a living wage, I'm thinking more of servers trying to pay their bills working at Denny's or IHOP. At Disney, I would assume/hope that most guests would tip well -- they are on vacation, eating in wonderful - often expensive - restaurants, and I haven't been to WDW yet, but in all the times I've visited DL, I can't think of one time I've gotten bad service, and many, many times it was wonderful service. And now with the DDP, customers are ordering more food (3 courses per person), more expensive food (because price isn't a factor), and an automatic tip of 18% is included.

 

[diesel]

I've been told you don't tip for the alcohol on the bill. Is this true? Say you order a nice bottle of wine for $60 with dinner I've been told to not include this in determining tip. Is this correct?

 

[Mnchknbrat1982]

I always tip on alcohol also. I do a certain percentage of the entire bill.

 

[cmwade77]

Actually California's minimum wage will go to $8.00 per hour on January 1, 2008. No additional increases have been passed above the $8.00 per hour

Sorry, last I had heard it was a "sure thing" that it was going to be passed for higher, my fault for not double checking first.

I know parts of Los Angeles have their own minimum wages for certain industries, such as hotel workers near LAX must be paid at least $11.25 per hour and receive full medical benefits, that is a whole other story though.

As for the question on tipping on Alcohol, I do not know, as I don't drink.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Indiana minimum wage is 5.15 a hour and serving is 2.13 a hour.

 

[mjkacmom]

Yes, you do tip on alcohol - the waiters usually have to tip out to the bartender. This is why most waiters want to work in a restaurant with bar service, and in the evening. You don't tip on the tax.

 

[Morganw42]

Just to clear up the whole tipping on alcohol issue. (American custom)

1. When presented a bill as part of a meal tip 15% to 20% of the total bill (some tip on the pre-sales tax amount, which is ok) INCLUDING alcohol. Servers often have to pay bartenders a "tipout" based on either their alcohol sales or their total sales, so to forgo tipping on alcohol could result in the server actually having to pay for waiting on you...

2. The only time you do not include alcohol in the tip for a meal is if you've ordered a bottle of wine from a captain/sommolier, who delivers the bottle, opens and pours wine for your party. You tip this person around 10% of the price of the wine up until the $100 mark ($100 tip not price of the bottle). Tip the server as normal for all charges excluding the bottled wine. If the server delivers and serves the wine tip on the entire bill as normal.

3. Do not include alcohol sales transfered to your table from a bar tab. Instead tip the bartender before being seated. Good rule of thumb, if your tab includes more than beer or wine tip 15% to 20% as you would any other service (mixed cocktails, especially exotic martinis and frozen drinks require more work and time for bartenders). If your order only beer or glasses of wine, which don't require much time or effort to make, tip a dollar or two per round.

 

[The Sweetness]

As We're trying out the DDP for the first time next month, wont our tab for cocktails be brought to us seperate from our bill for our meals to be paid w DDP credits? And wont that alcohol/ extras charge already have the customary 18% inc?

 

[bluwater]

I tip a flat 20%, alcohol or not. The math is easy.

The only exception is if I get exceptionally poor service, then I tip 15%.

Any more thought into it isn't worth my time. Time is money!