kaytieeldr
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Jun 11, 2005
Acceptable is one thing. In FORTY states, it's the law (and yes, I know not everyone obeys every law; let's not go there ). Restaurant patrons who disagree with this legal wage should hound their respective state legislators to get the law changed.Agreed.
I think that it is beyond ridiculous that it is acceptable that waitstaff are paid in this manner - I think waitstaff should be paid at least the legal minimum wage and tips being a true gratuity for great service as opposed to being demanded by society. As a consumer I pay more for my meal in a table service establishment because someone will be waiting on me. I do not believe that I should be expected to tip for a server doing their minimum job requirement since I'm already paying for that basic service; that's what their employer should cover. As a person though, I felt bad for the servers.
Or I used to... the funny thing is? I have friends that wait tables and I've asked them why they don't consider a job that pays a consistent wage as opposed to worrying about being tips. The answer? "I like the flexible schedule and I make way more an hour waiting tables"
My take away from that? I've stopped worrying about the waitstaff hourly wage. They made their career choice, I tip what I feel is warranted - done.
What you pay for the food pays for the food. Any tip pays for the person kowtowing to you to whatever degree. Standard service - somebody takes your order, brings your items - deserves a standard tip. Better service earns a better tip.
Knowing what is expected/customary in this country, especially one's own state (or a simple online search for a state one is visiting), "I won't tip because _____" as a general policy is just an excuse. Restaurant patrons who don't want to tip can carry out: the convenience of not cooking combined with the restaurant's food.
Not every server makes "way more an hour than...". If every patron had the same opinion (my friends say) and tipped only what they felt, eventually there'd be no more servers.