Tipping suggestion on receipt

[skyblue17]

I've had it added to my bill at a airport restaurant in SF. I don't think it should be an add on. The restaurant should just raise the menu prices by the 2% or whatever.

But what's the difference? This to me reads like "it really bothers me to know that any of my money is going to the well-being of the service staff." Which I think is probably WHY they mention it! May as well out the people who feel that way, can you imagine actually going up to a manager and saying "since this is optional, please take the $1.68 off my bill, also, I will have another $10 glass of wine, thanks!" I approve of making people own up to it, at least!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

There's currently a story going around about a well-known social media presence gripping that health insurance for employees was included as part of his bill (he spent $85 on food, is not pleased by the $1.68 noted going toward that). A few of you might want to Google that place to make sure you don't go there, lol.



And if a server isn't happy with the tips they get from you and you show up again next week, they'll probably remember! So if you make a habit of being proudly anti-tip, you probably better spread your business around.

What's your point in your wording that I've bolded? Is it in an attempt to shame people on the thread? All rhetorical questions.

Ok we got it. We've been duly shamed, we're not worthy, etc etc.

FWIW what you're talking about is not the same as one's tipping behavior. You could be the best tipper in the entire world and yet not agree with the practice of adding employee health insurance costs to the bill. You could be the best tipper in the world and adjust your tip/bill/request it to be removed. You could be the worst tipper in the world and do this too. You could be the best tipper in the world and not do anything with the health insurance cost added and you could be the worst tipper in the world and not do anything either.

 

[skyblue17]

What's your point in your wording that I've bolded? Is it in an attempt to shame people on the thread? All rhetorical questions.

Ok we got it. We've been duly shamed, we're not worthy, etc etc.

FWIW what you're talking about is not the same as one's tipping behavior. You could be the best tipper in the entire world and yet not agree with the practice of adding employee health insurance costs to the bill. You could be the best tipper in the world and adjust your tip/bill/request it to be removed. You could be the worst tipper in the world and do this too. You could be the best tipper in the world and not do anything with the health insurance cost added and you could be the worst tipper in the world and not do anything either.

The point of the first is to make sure people are aware that there are restaurants that do this. People in this thread have made a point of saying that it is not their responsibility to partake in funding for their servers, so the explicitness of actually having to acknowledge that money from their pockets is going directly to health insurance might not be something they want to do.

And no, it's not the same. But explain to me how paying $2 extra for a burger is fine but as soon as it's stated what that $2 is for, it's a problem?

I'm not trying to shame anyone. Not everyone is going to agree that we have societal obligations to help each other out where we can, and that's fine.

 

[Moliphino]

I've had it added to my bill at a airport restaurant in SF. I don't think it should be an add on. The restaurant should just raise the menu prices by the 2% or whatever.

I don't understand having it on the bill. It's part of the restaurants operational costs, they don't tell you how much goes to keep the electricity on why should I see how much goes to health insurance?

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm not trying to shame anyone. Not everyone is going to agree that we have societal obligations to help each other out where we can, and that's fine.

It did come off to me like shaming, pairing with other comments so I appreciate your explanation.

And no, it's not the same. But explain to me how paying $2 extra for a burger is fine but as soon as it's stated what that $2 is for, it's a problem?

We all have our 'buck stops here' things don't we?

Just providing a personal viewpoint the restaurant would actually get more money from me personally. If they raised the price of the burger $2 I would be tipping off of that amount since that's included in the subtotal. If you added a $2 surcharge my tip isn't being calculated with that in mind because I tip off subtotal (and no I'm not wanting to get into a debate over that aspect lol).

Personally speaking if I truly didn't agree with it, which I'm not saying I'm for nor against it (I know we've had threads in the past), I would opt to not frequent that establishment in the future. That, to me, is like my comments regarding the MO Applebee's and their racial discrimination issues. I would have been unlikely to frequent that location knowing what I know. To some me not frequenting an establishment because they add health insurance costs to the bill would be a but me not frequenting an establishment because they were commiting habitual racial discrimination would be despite the fact that both would be because I didn't agree with X practice.

The point of the first is to make sure people are aware that there are restaurants that do this. People in this thread have made a point of saying that it is not their responsibility to partake in funding for their servers, so the explicitness of actually having to acknowledge that money from their pockets is going directly to health insurance might not be something they want to do.

Ok I gotcha though I think we've had other threads that go on about employer-based costs being added to the bill. It more or less seemed a way to give a shot to people but you've further explained you didn't mean to shame people

 

[disneychrista]

But what's the difference? This to me reads like "it really bothers me to know that any of my money is going to the well-being of the service staff." Which I think is probably WHY they mention it! May as well out the people who feel that way, can you imagine actually going up to a manager and saying "since this is optional, please take the $1.68 off my bill, also, I will have another $10 glass of wine, thanks!" I approve of making people own up to it, at least!

I think you make a point to see the negative in everything that is posted that you don't agree with. I KNOW that restaurants pay for health insurance, give paid time off and most restaurants give their employees free meals (or at least discounted). These are OPERATIONAL costs. They should be included in the cost of the meal. It shouldn’t be a surprise when I get my bill that the $20 meal I just bought is really $20.40. What if I only had $25. Enough for food & tip. Maybe now the server is getting shorted on the tip because I didn’t know there would be that extra fee.

 

[skyblue17]

I think you make a point to see the negative in everything that is posted that you don't agree with. I KNOW that restaurants pay for health insurance, give paid time off and most restaurants give their employees free meals (or at least discounted). These are OPERATIONAL costs. They should be included in the cost of the meal. It shouldn’t be a surprise when I get my bill that the $20 meal I just bought is really $20.40. What if I only had $25. Enough for food & tip. Maybe now the server is getting shorted on the tip because I didn’t know there would be that extra fee.

I actually am curious how many servers at this restaurant see an effect in their tips, either because people take the money out of the tip or because people want to take a stand against the policy. I wonder if the wait staff had any say regarding this policy if it IS affecting their tips. I also hope, and assume, that the additional fee is listed on the menu so that you can at least consider it when ordering.

 

[disneychrista]

I actually am curious how many servers at this restaurant see an effect in their tips, either because people take the money out of the tip or because people want to take a stand against the policy. I wonder if the wait staff had any say regarding this policy if it IS affecting their tips. I also hope, and assume, that the additional fee is listed on the menu so that you can at least consider it when ordering.

Can't help you there. There were three of us dinning and none of us saw anything mentioned on the menu. It may have been there or it my not have been there but if it was it certainly wasn't in a prominent place.

 

[Searc]

I don't understand having it on the bill. It's part of the restaurants operational costs, they don't tell you how much goes to keep the electricity on why should I see how much goes to health insurance?

Because you are paying for it instead of the restaurant owners.

 

[LSUmiss]

But what's the difference? This to me reads like "it really bothers me to know that any of my money is going to the well-being of the service staff." Which I think is probably WHY they mention it! May as well out the people who feel that way, can you imagine actually going up to a manager and saying "since this is optional, please take the $1.68 off my bill, also, I will have another $10 glass of wine, thanks!" I approve of making people own up to it, at least!

Oh but what about all the ppl who will eat there with no health insurance? How will they feel paying for someone to have something they don’t?

 

[Hikergirl]

But what's the difference? This to me reads like "it really bothers me to know that any of my money is going to the well-being of the service staff." Which I think is probably WHY they mention it! May as well out the people who feel that way, can you imagine actually going up to a manager and saying "since this is optional, please take the $1.68 off my bill, also, I will have another $10 glass of wine, thanks!" I approve of making people own up to it, at least!

We all know that rolled into the prices on the menu are all the business expenses related to running the restaurant, including healthcare for their employees.
If the owner puts that on the bill, they aren't doing it out anyone but themselves and their own politics.
Personally that turns me off. I know what I am paying for and have no problem with that, I really don't need to see your passive aggressive gripe about it on my bill. Take the issue up with lawmakers not your customers.

 

[disneychrista]

Because you are paying for it instead of the restaurant owners.

We are paying for it either way. It is not like the premiums are dependent on the sales of the restaurant.

 

[Drasticq]

If you want tips, work in a high flying Las Vegas casinos on the casino floor - I've seen some ludicrous tips given to dealers in the past, literally to the tune of $100 if the player is being lucky.

 

[disney11fan]

You tip 20%

 

[Drasticq]

Tipping in restaurants is dicey but morally right IMO. Those guys are often on low wages so the bump is a welcome one. Thing is... add a tip on the bill, or cash? Cash ensures that the tip goes to the waiter/waitress as there are many unscrupulous bosses out there, but if you pay on a check using a card the cash could be even shared between the waiting staff, the cooks and the bus boys. Tough one.

 

[disneychrista]

Tipping in restaurants is dicey but morally right IMO. Those guys are often on low wages so the bump is a welcome one. Thing is... add a tip on the bill, or cash? Cash ensures that the tip goes to the waiter/waitress as there are many unscrupulous bosses out there, but if you pay on a check using a card the cash could be even shared between the waiting staff, the cooks and the bus boys. Tough one.

In a shared tipping scenario even the cash tips would be shared (unless the server pockets it/some of it).

Me if I am paying in cash, then the tip is in cash. If I am paying by credit card it goes on the credit card.

 

[RobDoc]

The attacks need to stop and so does this thread.

Thanks for playing.