It never fails to shock me how a tip is demanded in the US. People simply refuse to listen to reason when we (yes, there are others!) tell them that leaving a tip isn’t necessary. Well, I’m hoping for too much here, but if you’re a waiter, here are 5 reasons why I will try my best not to give any money to you and why the reasons for tipping are crappy.
1. You act as if you’re my best friend
Just leave me alone ok? I don’t want to bloody chit chat with you. I want food. FOOD! Get it? It’s a restaurant. I go there to eat. I go because I want either Italian food, Chinese Food or something else which I can’t get in a McDonald’s. So I come to a restaurant to fulfill my cravings for it. I will pay for what I value – food. Not you.
Christ, you offend me – kneeling down next to my table, pretending to like me and chatting as if you’re my best friend when it’s obvious that all you’re after is the tip! I’m not a bloody money bag you know. I will pay the bill which includes the cost of the food, the environment and the salaries of the people involved – nothing more.
The only way to get money out of me that I don’t have to legally pay is by prying it out of my cold dead hands…
Bottom line: I don’t want to know your name, or interact with you for any longer than I have to in order to place my order. As far as I’m concerned, you’re the equivalent of a conveyor belt that brings me my food and a computer into which I input my order. Of course, I won’t be rude. But don’t expect me to interact with you any more than I would with some stranger.
Image Credit: cafemama
2. You don’t get paid enough
And this is my problem how exactly? It’s astonishing that customers are expected to make up for your employer’s cheapness in not paying you a decent wage. Please include the full cost in everyone’s bill thank you very much. I’ll pay it because I have to and the charge is there for me to see.
What’s really funny here is that no one seems to criticize the employers! All criticism is reserved for non tipping customers instead of the owners of the restaurant for not paying a decent wage. Wtf! Could it possibly be because you guys know you can make much more by tips and under report your income to the IRS?
3. You’ll spit in my food if I don’t tip you?
And I’ll shoot your kid if you don’t give me a million dollars. Seriously, am I even hearing this right? You’re actually using the threat of blackmail to make me pay you? Well as long as you’re openly claiming to be a criminal it’s all right I guess.
Fortunately that’s why I prefer buffets. Listen apart from it being illegal, this shows your poor integrity. But if you spit in someone’s food because they didn’t give you money you didn’t earn, then you’re a loser and deserve to be a waiter for the rest of your life.
4. Bringing me my food isn’t worthy of being paid extra
Did you cook it? Did you invent it? No. You picked it up and brought it to me. While it might not be easy, there are plenty of jobs which are much worse – shop floor workers for example. And I’ve been a shop floor manager, so I know. Face it – compared to other jobs, being a waiter is unskilled. You get paid what the market will think your services are worth. You don’t deserve more for your work over and above what your employer should pay you.
5. Money doesn’t grow on trees
I expect you to be grateful and pray for me at night if I tip you 10%. Be happy I gave you anything at all. I worked for the money in my wallet and by giving you some I didn’t have to, I’m doing you a favor. Learn to remember that when people give you something they don’t need to, it’s a favor. You don’t complain that they didn’t give you more!
By the way, the same thing above applies to all professions that demand tips including those on cruise liners.
So now that you understand why I won’t give you money you don’t deserve, stop with the “oh how could you?” attitude. I can. And I will.
Update: Here’s a rebuttal of the many silly justifications for tipping that people have given in the comments section.
This sounds like it’s been written by someone who has never worked in the service industry and has no idea what they are talking about :)
Do my job for one night asshat. I dare you. And if you actually follow up on this challenge, I can’t wait to read your article on how this one was one big mistake and you have more empathy for the hardworking people of the food industry.
In reply to Jane
Jane you are the reason why people think servers are so stupid. We make $2.13 in our base pay. If that plus tips does not equal federal minimum wage the employer has to make up the difference. If state minimum wage is more money they have to pay that wage instead.
Being a waiter was the easiest job I’ve ever had. I worked as a lifeguard last year at a state park. It was hard work. We were treated like military recruits to keep us in top physical shape.
You are a lazy bitch
I am just a 16-year-old. This kind of job is only made for teens and people just looking for a little extra cash. If you do this shit for a living you are such a loser.
In reply to 16 yr old server
If you are 16 you obviously haven’t been a server at a legitimate place and not for long. It was at what? Denny’s for 2 mos? Can’t compare – nice try!
In reply to Bethany
I am a waiter at Ruth Chris Steak House. This is the easiest job I ever had in my life. As an adult you should be ashamed of yourself.
In reply to 16 yr old server
There is a special spot in hell reserved for ignorant teenagers like you. It’s called the throne.
Why don’t you give us a little something about yourself?
Age?
Male, obviously
Ethnicity?
In reply to Samantha
Also, I’m kind of guessing you still live at home with your parents since your 16? Well these people don’t, and need the money. Correct me if I’m wrong, but you sir are a grade A CUNT!
In reply to Samantha
Wow! Stupid, sexist AND racist? Their name is literally “16 yr old server,” so why the hell are you asking their age?
And you’re pissed because they’re pointing out that the job isn’t hard just because you think it is? Several of us have done waiting and don’t think it’s hard. If you do, you’re going to have a hell of a time doing anything else in your life.
In reply to What a joke
I’m sure your career as a carousel supervisor is everything you’d hoped it would be, fucker.
In reply to Fuck You
What the fuck are you talking about?
In reply to 16 yr old server
Ruth’s Chris has you pay everyone to do your job for you. You get 10% to blow out your ass. You’re not a server at R.C. Because they’d never hire a 16 yo to sell their steak. You’re a fucking backwaiter.
In reply to 16 yr old server
Nice try Junior, but you have to be 18 to serve alcohol, and Ruth’s Chris definitely does. I call bullshit. You’re either over 18 and lying about your background to try and reinforce your nonexistent point, or you’re legit 16 years old and talking out your arse.
In reply to Aviva
Fun fact: Just because the restaurant serves alcohol does not mean the servers have to. I have been to MANY restaurants where in cases the server is under the age to serve alcohol, the bartender brings the alcoholic beverages out.
This is especially true in places where the age to serve alcohol is 21 (since it varies by state).
In reply to Aviva
I am an actual waiter at Ruth Chris. You are jealous because I am in high school and you’re an adult who can’t find a better job. You probably never went to college and dropped out of high school. So you are stuck with this loser job and you’re very angry.
It is true that I am not allowed to serve alcohol. So I put the drink order in at the bar and they take it from there. I feel sorry for you you’re such a loser.
In reply to 16 yr old server
Aw blowing a whistle must’ve been hard work.
In reply to Fuck You
Blowing a whistle as a lifeguard was a lot more work than any day I ever had waiting tables. Seriously you should be ashamed of yourself doing this crap is an adult. Must be really hard to impress the ladies with your waiter job. When you walk away I’m sure The women laugh at you.
Bhagwad Jal Park you are fuck*n stupid, and retarded.
In reply to Jason
That was so clever did your mom help you write it? You sound fucking stupid and retarded to me.
When you go to a restaurant you dont only pay for your food, but for the service. If you can’t afford to tip go to fast food restaurants or cook your own food at home. God bless you and have a great day.
In reply to Hostess
Tipping is a gratuity. It’s optional by definition.
Servers do no more work than fast food workers (and fast food workers have to work at a faster pace, plus do prep work on certain food items), no matter how much they want to believe they do. We’ve had several people who have worked both jobs confirm that fact. Fast food workers do not get tips.
And, most importantly, servers are the employee of the restaurant. Patrons of the restaurant pay the restaurant directly for their meals, which includes the overhead of costs. It is the restaurant’s responsibility to pay their employee, not the customer, and they do.
In reply to What a joke
I’ve worked fast food and been a server bartender manager etc. severs work way harder then fast food employees and then have to tip out up to 5% of their sales to people helping them. So you don’t tip? Then that server is essentially paying for you to eat. Big you can’t afford to eat don’t go out to eat.
In reply to Maxwell
If you think working as a server was harder than working fast food, you’re delusional. We’ve had maaaany people say otherwise, and I personally know maaaany people who have done both and said the same.
You’re also lying about tipping out. A legal tip pool may only consist of people who qualify as tipped employees in the first place.
According to the Department of Labor:
“The requirement that an employee must retain all tips does not preclude a valid tip pooling or sharing arrangement among employees who customarily and regularly receive tips, such as waiters, waitresses, bellhops, counter personnel (who serve customers), bussers, and service bartenders. A valid tip pool may not include employees who do not customarily and regularly received tips, such as dishwashers, cooks, chefs, and janitors.”
http://www.dol.gov/whd/regs/compliance/whdfs15.pdf
The law says a tipped employee must legally be allowed to keep all their tips, with the exception of participation in a tip pool (which MAY be required by the restaurant). However, legally only those people who actually ****regularly**** receive tips are allowed to participate in a tip pool.
If your place of employment is violating the law in this regard, that is neither the customer’s problem or responsibility to do something about it. It is your responsibility to report and/or take legal action regarding it.
And this is beyond the fact that you are already being paid to do your job, and it’s not the customer’s responsibility, nor a requirement, to tip you in the first place.
In reply to What a joke
You have no idea what you are talking about. It is not a “tip pool” , as you call it. I’ve worked as a server/bartender for 20 yrs- I worked in fast food for 1 year before that (I know- my life is grand!) 90% of restaurants operate this way (that have servers, bartenders, hostesses, food runners, bussers, etc. the server takes a percentage of his/her tips at the end of the night and divvies them out to each person. Not bc the employees bullies them into it, but bc it is part of the pay for the busser/bartender, etc. busser usually gets paid $5-7 an hour (for example) so they get some tips for the evening , but not as many as the server, obviously. Foodrunner usually get paid a bit more than the busser. Depends on the establishment. This way the servers can ask for help for. These people all night and not feel bad- they’re going to tip them out later anyway. They’re my lifelines!
In reply to Bethany Fleischer
I posted the link to the Federal Laws on it, dumbass.
Federal law says first and foremost that all employees must receive at least Federal minimum wage with or without tips. All of them. Every single one. If a tipped employee does not receive enough in tips that, combined with their hourly wage, does not equal at least the minimum wage, the employer MUST pay the difference.
Again, this is FEDERAL LAW. It supersedes State law except where it is more favorable to the employee (like if the minimum wages are higher).
Second, Federal law states that a tipped employee must LEGALLY be allowed to keep all their tips with the ONLY exception being a tip pool in which a percentage or all tips are shared between employees. To be a legal and valid tip pool the employees participating must be employees who traditionally AND REGULARLY receive tips. In other words, they must qualify as a tipped employee from a legal standpoint, which means they must receive $30 or more in tips in a month.
This, again, is the LAW. If an employer is NOT following this, they are breaking the law. If they are breaking the law, it is up to the server to do something about it.
It is not the customer’s problem, nor their responsibility to make up for it.
In reply to Bethany Fleischer
What a joke posted the link for you regarding tipping pool laws. You have no idea what you’re talking about because your reading and comprehension skills are that of an elementary school child.
You are very simple and stupid. The law was posted in the link, there is nothing to argue about.
In reply to What a joke
Alllllllll restaurants make you tip out bussers and bartenders if you have them because they are both also paid less than minimum wage and considered tipped employees. The fact that you don’t know that means you haven’t worked in a restaurant. So maybe you should keep your mouth shut.
In reply to Served at 4 different restaurants
For crying out loud, you ignorant piece of shit, I have repeatedly pointed out in this thread alone that it is AGAINST THE LAW and if they do it that is YOUR PROBLEM NOT OURS to deal with. YOU have to file a complaint with the Department of Labor and YOU have to sue for unpaid wages.
And NOT ONE OF YOU makes less than minimum wage. By law.
Above all else it’s YOUR choice to work there under those conditions, either way. Don’t play the victim card or whine about it.
In reply to Served at 4 different restaurants
I mean honestly, if they raped you up the arse every bloody night would you just come here and whine about it while going back to it every bloody day and not file a single complaint as well?
The amount of stupidity here with people who can’t even be arsed to read official documents from the Department of Labor that tell them their rights and would rather sit and cry and play “poor me” all flipping day is unbelievable. They should literally pay you nothing and beat you with a rod when you screw up simply out of the fact they could clearly get away with it and you wouldn’t do a damn thing about it.
In reply to What a joke
I knew that sooner or later all the stupidity found here would put an end to your patients. I am surprised you were able to last this long.
In reply to $Bill
It’s the political season on top of this. People constantly spouting off about stuff they clearly don’t understand. I mean, people can’t seem to understand the political process alone!
Then these idiots who have actually been reading the thread with links from the Department of Labor explaining what the freaking laws are and keep repeating the same bloody stupidity. It’s one thing when they’re randomly commenting because they haven’t bothered to read the comments, but when they’re replying TO PROOF with, “Durr, but they don’t do that…” it’s so frustrating.
Oh well, at least we can drive up visits to pay for Bhagwad to eat out and not tip XD
In reply to Served at 4 different restaurants
I will make one addendum to my statement – IF an employer enforces a mandatory tip pool (tipping out) in which emoyees who do not earn tips participate, they may NOT claim the tip credit from any employee who participates in that pool.
In other words – if they make you tip out to anyone who doesn’t earn tips, they have to pay you the full minimum wage plus you get to keep any of the tips you make otherwise.
My statement still stands in terms of the legality of the repeatedly described and refuted scenario, as the situation specifically described is still illegal (tipping out to employees who do not receive tips while being paid a tipped wage). I just wanted to clarify this particular caveat.
In reply to What a joke
Well said. A bartender is a tipped employee, but a busser surely is not. If a server is forced to tip a busser…their employer is breaking the law. Same would go for a cook, hostess, manager, the dishwasher, etc.
In reply to What a joke
And this is why ignorance is a bliss and people actually think that fast food workers deserve $15.00/hr. First of all, I’m guessing a few of the serving nay sayers have also been sleeping during Economics 101 or just skipped it. Rate of pay, along with cost of goods and the sales of products, a profit margin, and other factors all go into running any business especially a Restaurant or Bar. To fast forward to my point specifically, this is why Tip Percentage’s in a Restaurant (what is customary in the U.S.A to tip) are based on the the total amount of a patrons food and beverage bill. Generally speaking, the higher cost of a restaurant’s products or menu items should mean a higher quality of goods AND SERVICES be given to a guest. For instance, I now work at a Cheesecake Factory as a server and a lot more is required of me then when I use to work at Applebee’s, and even though I still made the same hourly ($2.63/hr), I actually ended up making a substantial amount of more money hourly at the Cheesecake Factory. Last but certainly not least, I must say that although a Fast Food workers job may be more labor intensive, the skill set one must have to do this job is much lower compared to many different restaurants. If working as a cashier at McDonald’s was harder than my job at Cheesecake Factory as a server, I wouldn’t be making three or four times the amount of money hourly than those working at McDonald’s….. it’s kind of how a Free Market and Capitalism works. I do agree that serving isn’t the hardest job and a lot of servers do milk some self pity within the industry, but serving in itself is a unique job and can definitely build a strong foundation of work ethic, people skills, and many other qualities a person would want to have later in life just as a person surviving this world or a person looking to eventually further their career. I know that my 10 year career as a server and a bartender have given me people skills and my ability to read and understand people in ways only time and experience could give me and definitely not learned in any classroom, specifically any time spent earning my Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Ok, my last argument I promise. Tipping is optional, but it is also so essential!! If servers made minimum wage or a higher wage per hour and Tipping wasn’t important, than service at all restaurants would fall close to the lazy fast food workers I have to deal with that never manage to get (let’s be generous) 5 orders right in a row or all those lame lifeguards my tax dollars go to pay that are only there to get a tan, assist anyone who needs CPR, nevermind the fact that it is now the norm for everyone to be CPR Certified, especially athletes from all shapes and sizes. You should always be prepared to leave a tip of 20% or more and then if the circumstances of your dining experience start to down grade so should your tip percentage. But if you are a cheap bastard and have no etiquette and was raised in a barn and just absolutely don’t like Tipping then by all means order out ya know order food from your favorite place to go instead and take it home. This is not Rocket Science. I also know for a fact that good tipping habits leads to good karma.
In reply to SJPeacock
The fact that you state that the cost of a restaurant means increased level of service is an outright admission that we are PAYING FOR SERVICE AS PART OF OUR MEAL.
Also, there is no skillset required to be a server that is not necessary for any other job that doesn’t require taking off clothes. All of it is translatable into some form for other jobs or needed to get a job in the first place. There is nothing unique about it.
And, for the love of God, you earn minimum wage. By law. Just because your bkss is allowed to deduct tips from your pay does not mean you get less than minimum wage legally.
When you talk about lazy servers, you’re forgetting two facts: first, that the wage offered for a job is largely defined by whether they can find people willing to work for it; and, second, a server who does not perform to the standard of a restaurant will not keep their job, regardless of how much they are paid.
It’s funny you talk about being raised in a barn and having no etiquette, since being worldly lowers one’s opinion on tips. Most of Europe tips very little, if at all, and only for exceptional service. In Asia it’s considered rude to tip. This is beside the fact that the service is actually better in those places. This is beside the fact that just previously in your own comment you stated that tipping should never be expected.
If you know for a “fact” that tipping habits lead to good karma, then why is it the people who don’t tip aren’t losing all their money, and the people who accept tips are staying poor? Apparently karma says expecting money from people for a job you are already being paid to do is bad.
Oh, and just a note on the structure of your comment. It feels like you were trying to come across as reasoned and intelligent in your argument, as if writing an essay. However, you manages to contradict your reasoning at least twice, and provide no actual valid points as to why anyone should actually tip. In the end your argument falls apart into to the same crap every other server comes here to spew. It’s the old, “You should because we want to be tipped!” argument that is not justifiable.
In reply to What a joke
And this is why ignorance is a bliss and people actually think that fast food workers deserve $15.00/hr. First of all, I’m guessing a few of the serving nay sayers have also been sleeping during Economics 101 or just skipped it. Rate of pay, along with cost of goods and the sales of products, a profit margin, and other factors all go into running any business especially a Restaurant or Bar. To fast forward to my point specifically, this is why Tip Percentage’s in a Restaurant (what is customary in the U.S.A to tip) are based on the the total amount of a patrons food and beverage bill. Generally speaking, the higher cost of a restaurant’s products or menu items should mean a higher quality of goods AND SERVICES be given to a guest. For instance, I now work at a Cheesecake Factory as a server and a lot more is required of me then when I use to work at Applebee’s, and even though I still made the same hourly ($2.63/hr), I actually ended up making a substantial amount of more money hourly at the Cheesecake Factory. Last but certainly not least, I must say that although a Fast Food workers job may be more labor intensive, the skill set one must have to do this job is much lower compared to many different restaurants. If working as a cashier at McDonald’s was harder than my job at Cheesecake Factory as a server, I wouldn’t be making three or four times the amount of money hourly than those working at McDonald’s….. it’s kind of how a Free Market and Capitalism works. I do agree that serving isn’t the hardest job and a lot of servers do milk some self pity within the industry, but serving in itself is a unique job and can definitely build a strong foundation of work ethic, people skills, and many other qualities a person would want to have later in life just as a person surviving this world or a person looking to eventually further their career. I know that my 10 year career as a server and a bartender have given me people skills and my ability to read and understand people in ways only time and experience could give me and definitely not learned in any classroom, specifically any time spent earning my Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. Ok, my last argument I promise. Tipping is optional, but it is also so essential!! If servers made minimum wage or a higher wage per hour and Tipping wasn’t important, than service at all restaurants would fall close to the lazy fast food workers I have to deal with that never manage to get (let’s be generous) 5 orders right in a row or all those lame lifeguards my tax dollars go to pay that are only there to get a tan, assist anyone who needs CPR, nevermind the fact that it is now the norm for everyone to be CPR Certified, especially athletes from all shapes and sizes. You should always be prepared to leave a tip of 20% or more and then if the circumstances of your dining experience start to down grade so should your tip percentage. But if you are a cheap bastard and have no etiquette and was raised in a barn and just absolutely don’t like Tipping then by all means order out ya know order food from your favorite place to go instead and take it home. This is not Rocket Science. I also know for a fact that good tipping habits leads to good karma.
I know it’s good karma because it reflects on a person’s etiquette and moral behavior and this is why I’m pretty sure you’re an asshole and probably a well known asshole. And, you’re a special kind of ignorant asshole.
Let me try to explain Economics 101 again…. the cost of your meal DOES NOT INCLUDE A GRATUITY. If I don’t make enough tips to cover minimum wage $2.63 an hour plus $4 an hour then I get fired because my guess is that if I’m making that shitty of tips then I’m not a good server. Every state differs in minimum wage. I also rarely get a paycheck because that small amount of money covers some of my taxes.
I also never said that serving was hard, but it is a unique job that can offer some skills sets that other jobs may not offer.
Next, service in European countries (except for fine dining) is a lot like the current trend in California is…. not good.
I don’t know why I’m even arguing with you, my guess is by the way you find it so charming to insult people and talk down to people with this level of disgusting arrogance and the fact that you go around eating out and not tipping but just “expecting” service for free means you have no real friends and that quality of people being decent human doesn’t work for you. Just so you know, I as most servers can smell you come in a Restaurant from a mile a way therefore already knowing what type of person you are actually gives us great pleasure in giving you shitty service.
P.S. Comparing Asian countries made up of countries ran by mostly religious fanatics, communism is not a good comparison to the United States.
In reply to SJPeacock
Okay, I’m going to break down your response and explain why you’re a moron. I’ll be skipping the part you copied and pasted from your original comment, as I’ve already pretty thoroughly covered that.
**”I know it’s good karma because it reflects on a person’s etiquette and moral behavior and this is why I’m pretty sure you’re an asshole and probably a well known asshole. And, you’re a special kind of ignorant asshole.”**
Actually, I’m pretty well liked. I volunteer with the homeless, since I’ve been in that position., and donate to scholarship funds. You see, I have pretty good morals. The fact that I believe people should not be paid extra for work they’re being paid to do is not immoral, nor does it make me an asshole. Look through the comments here from servers. Look through the threats of violence, look through the threats of poisoning. These are people attempting to extort others for personal gain. This is demanding money from people who are not their employers for work they’re being paid to do. That’s poor morals. That’s being an asshole.
**”Let me try to explain Economics 101 again…. the cost of your meal DOES NOT INCLUDE A GRATUITY. If I don’t make enough tips to cover minimum wage $2.63 an hour plus $4 an hour then I get fired because my guess is that if I’m making that shitty of tips then I’m not a good server. Every state differs in minimum wage. I also rarely get a paycheck because that small amount of money covers some of my taxes.”**
Gratuity is not required. It is, by its very essence, optional. Its very definition is:
1. a gift of money, over and above payment due for service, as to a waiter or bellhop; tip.
2. something given without claim or demand.
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/gratuity
I never said gratuity was included, I said YOUR PAY WAS INCLUDED. It is NOT the customer’s job to pay you. For any job. They’re not your employer, they are patrons of your employer. If they feel they want to leave a gratuity because of some extra service, then that’s up to them, but it should never be expected.
If fewer and fewer people tip (or nobody), then your employer has no reason to fire you. However, the fact that you’re trying to blame the situation on the customer is bullshit. The customer isn’t making you work there, and the customer isn’t your cheap ass boss refusing to pay you. The law requires you make minimum wage – the FULL minimum wage – with or without tips. The default is the Federal minimum of $7.25, but specifically states that state laws that benefit the employee more (e.g. higher minimum wage), the state law applies.
**”I also never said that serving was hard, but it is a unique job that can offer some skills sets that other jobs may not offer.”**
And I distinctly pointed out that it’s not a unique job, and that there are no skills in the job that aren’t equivalent, or replicated at any other job.
**”Next, service in European countries (except for fine dining) is a lot like the current trend in California is…. not good.”**
Yeah, that’s not true at all. I travel a lot for work, and service in America is WAY worse than anywhere I’ve been. In America there’s this entitled attitude by service workers, where everywhere else they go out of their way to ensure the company they work for looks good and the customer is happy because happy customers mean more business – both from those customers, and from their friends and family who they recommend a place of business to. Strange you keep bringing up Economics 101, when the most basic understanding of econ is you can’t have a business with no customers.
**”I don’t know why I’m even arguing with you, my guess is by the way you find it so charming to insult people and talk down to people with this level of disgusting arrogance and the fact that you go around eating out and not tipping but just “expecting” service for free means you have no real friends and that quality of people being decent human doesn’t work for you. Just so you know, I as most servers can smell you come in a Restaurant from a mile a way therefore already knowing what type of person you are actually gives us great pleasure in giving you shitty service.”**
Again, service is part of dining out. It’s what you’re hired to do. You’re not hired to take gratuities from customers – that doesn’t benefit the restaurant in any way. You were hired to ensure the customers are happy, to take their orders, bring their food, possibly clean up, etc.. You were hired to make the restaurant look good to is patrons.
It isn’t a matter of arrogance – I worked my way from homeless to the position I have now. I believe you get what you EARN. The work you put in. I’m proof of it. Karma, which you have brought up twice, says the same thing – you get back what you put in.
As I pointed out, I’m pretty well liked. I have plenty of friends that have stuck around since I was broke and penniless. I wonder how many friends you could possibly have with the assumptive attitude you have here. Or the entitlement you exhibit by assuming that somehow doing your job means you should get paid extra from people who aren’t your employer.
**”P.S. Comparing Asian countries made up of countries ran by mostly religious fanatics, communism is not a good comparison to the United States.”**
Now we see how absolutely ignorant you are. China is socialist, and North Korea is totalitarian. South Korea is a constitutional republic, Japan is a constitutional monarchy (like the U.K.), and Singapore is a parliamentary republic.
North Korea is “officially” an atheist state. China, by vast majority, is non-religious folk tradition, Confuscianist, or Taoist (there’s that karma you brought up!). South Korea is more non-religious than any one specific religion, followed by Buddhism, Protestantism, and Catholicism. Japan is mostly Shinto or Buddhist. Singapore is mostly Buddhist, followed by Christianity by population, with a large portion of non-religious as well.
They’re most certainly not religious fanatics.
In reply to SJPeacock
First of all fast food workers do not deserve $15 an hour. Telling us that being a server requires skills is not only funny but delusional. The job by nature is unskilled and simple. You also get paid federal minimum-wage which is more than fair compensation for this joke of a job.
As an adult you should be ashamed of yourself for having such a ridiculous job. This job is meant for teenagers and adults looking for just a little extra cash temporarily. It is not meant to support you or be a job you do for a living. You are a pathetic individual that will be poor his entire life.
In reply to Maxwell
You are a lying piece of shit to even say that you have to tip out 5% if you don’t receive any tip. Then you lie some more by saying the server is paying for me to eat. You can’t tip out what you have not received because it is a tax law violation.
In reply to $Bill
They are not lying. Where I work they take out at percentage of my sales to tip bartenders/barbacks food runners and bussers, weather I get tipped or not. On one bad 8 hour shift I lost money because it was based off sales, not tips
In reply to Logosrealm
If you can’t be bothered to file a report or sue, that’s your problem.
Legally speaking you can’t be made to share tips with any staff who do not earn tips and have your employer claim the tip credit, nor can you receive less than the full minimum wage between tips (AFTER tip sharing) and wages under ANY circumstance.
In reply to Logosrealm
So every day your employer steals money from you, and you allow it to continue and do nothing to make it stop. You do not report it to the Department of Labor yet report back to work the next day.
My question to you is:
Are you just fucking stupid, retarded, or just in this country illegally?
In reply to Hostess
Also, we can certainly afford a tip. There’s just no justifiable reason to leave one.
In reply to Hostess
The service you speak of, is the job your employer pays you to do. It is your job to bring my food and drink to the table.
I can easily afford to tip. I do not value what you do because it is unskilled and simple. If you want to make more money get a real job.
In reply to $Bill
If you think it is u skilled and simple try it on a busy rush on a Friday night at a hot spot. Just try it! I guarantee you couldn’t do it for 5 minutes. And I make more money doing this job than I have any other job which is why I continue ($40-50 an hour on the weekends) do you make that? At your REAL job ? Many people go to college and get REAL jobs and realize that they made more serving so they go back to that. It’s good money if you get in to the right place. I just worked a ties night (last night) . It was kinda busy/kinda slow…. Worked from 6-9 I made $150. Worked one party. So $50 an hour plus my hourly wage (which is crap). Boo hoo
In reply to Bethany
If you think you are skilled. Sorry- typing super fast
In reply to $Bill
Okay, but most college aged and teens can’t get any other kind of job. Serving is so stressful and most servers assemble the food by themselves. No, they do not get assistance when preparing these, but they still have a large amount of tables. You try getting drinks and salads for a table of 6 while also attempting to assemble and distribute food for up to 4 more tables. I am 100% positive that you know nothing about the service industry. The reason you should tip is that most servers barely break even some days. Calling people in the service industry “losers” just ahows how much of an ignorant jerk you are. I hope you get food poisoning every time you go to a restaurant, because Karma definitely forgot to punish you.
In reply to Head Hostess
Why is it that only ignorant people speak of Karma? So are you going to go pray to your retarded fish frog monkey god for tips? Maybe you should get up off your ass and do something about your life to improve it.
If you think the simple job of being a waitress is difficult. You will never make it in the real world. When I was a teen, I was a waiter at an exclusive restaurant. It was the easiest, simplest, mind-numbing job I ever had in my life.
So you are 100% wrong, making an ignorant statement that I know nothing about the service industry. There is very little you do need to know. That is the big reason why this job is unskilled and simple. For you this will be your career since you’re too dumb to do anything else.
In reply to Head Hostess
You also go on to say that the reason you should tip is because most servers barely break even on some days. Well every single day you make at least federal minimum-wage.
Simple math dictates you are a moron.
In reply to Head Hostess
**”Okay, but most college aged and teens can’t get any other kind of job.”**
And? What’s your point? That’s why this type of job even exists – so students can make a little extra money. It’s not meant for people to live off of.
**”Serving is so stressful and most servers assemble the food by themselves. No, they do not get assistance when preparing these, but they still have a large amount of tables.”**
This is actually two different statements. In terms of serving being stressful – it isn’t, compared to most jobs. It’s only as stressful as you make it. Take a look at this list of Most Stressful Jobs of 2016:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kathryndill/2016/01/11/the-10-most-stressful-jobs-in-2016/
Or how about this one:
http://www.salary.com/the-top-10-most-stressful-jobs/
Did you notice not one of them lists server? Every one of those jobs listed has one of these as a major stressor:
1. Screwing up will cost them their lives, or cost the lives of others.
2. Screwing up costs the company thousands, if not millions of dollars.
3. Getting fired for mistakes means they will likely not be able to get a job again.
If you screw up as a server, your worst outcome is having to walk your ass down the street to another restaurant and putting in another application.
As for the putting things together, fast food workers do plenty of food prep, and they have to work faster than servers. They don’t get tips.
**”You try getting drinks and salads for a table of 6 while also attempting to assemble and distribute food for up to 4 more tables. I am 100% positive that you know nothing about the service industry.”**
$Bill here has worked as a server as a job, I’ve done it as volunteer work. If you consider that difficult, you have noooooo idea what difficulty is.
When I was in school alone, I was taking the max amount of credits just to make sure I could graduate without taking an extra semester, for two semesters in a row. I had to study for 6 different classes, do homework, find time to work on group projects or papers that also fit in everyone else’s schedules, and work on individual projects. I had to maintain a high GPA (3.5+) to keep my scholarships and grants. I also needed to maintain that GPA because, as a single father, I didn’t have time for an internship, so the only way I was going to land a job in my field was impressive academics.
**”The reason you should tip is that most servers barely break even some days. Calling people in the service industry “losers” just ahows how much of an ignorant jerk you are. I hope you get food poisoning every time you go to a restaurant, because Karma definitely forgot to punish you.”**
Servers aren’t investing money, so there is no “breaking even.” They make at least federal minimum wage, and the job isn’t intended to live off of. They do nothing more than any other job that has no tips, so there’s no justification for it.
And you clearly don’t understand karma. Karma is a force of balance. You get back what you put in. If we’re getting rewarded for the hard work and dedication we put in, while servers just stay poor because they whine and cry and hold out their hands because they think they deserve it, it’s exactly what karma is. Maybe it’s your attitude – wishing poor things on customers. Just like half the servers here making racist statements, or threatening harm to people simply for not giving them money they haven’t earned. That’s karma.
Collosal asshole. I would be shocked and dismayed if you are single.
Why didn’t the person who wrote this give his/her name?Afraid of being outed as the nasty,cheap bastard/bitch that he/she is?Disgusting and disgraceful.POS,stay home and eat.Cook and clean for yourself,because you don’t deserve to have this service done for you.
In reply to Mary Stevens
What the hell are you talking about?
In reply to What a joke
Customers that don’t tip at restaurant’s I have worked at have been told to not come back. I have also done delivery before and told the customers we can no longer deliever to your house.
In reply to Former waiter/driver
Oh? Where’d you work? Because pretty much everyone here who has experienced a server whining about tips, the server has gotten fired.
And it’s funny that a business would tell somebody not to come back just because they refused to do the restaurant’s job.
Guess maybe it’s just shitty restaurants with crappy service.
In reply to Former waiter/driver
No restaurant will ever tell a wealthy customer to not come back for not tipping. Restaurants need repeat customers to stay in business.
When I leave an exclusive restaurant without tipping, the manager thanks me for coming in and looks forward to my next visit.
Waiters are a dime a dozen. Affluent clientele is needed and appreciated by the restaurant. Tipping you is not my concern.
If I don’t like the waiter or waitress, I bring it to the attention of the manager. The next time I come back the subpar employee will no longer work there. Servers are extremely easy to replace.
In reply to Mary Stevens
You’re on this site and you don’t know my name?
In reply to bhagwad
She is a dumb waitress posting on your webpage . Your name and picture are all over the site. Waitresses do not possess much brainpower. This is a simple fact proven again and again.
haha. This guy. Don’t worry I get where you are coming from. Many people are like you. I am a college student who serves at pretty nice establishment. I pull in roughly 200 hundred a shift (fucking awesome I know). It enabled me to stop sucking the mothers tit and pay for everything myself (rent, utilities, insurance, etc…) while being a full time college student. That being said, what I do as a server is not meant for everyone. Many servers get demoted as soon as they start. You fail to realize that your world view of going to a restaurant is polar opposite for many people. Most people expect to have a server take care of any need they have. Servers are the face of the restaurant. They need to have exceptional communication skills and have a prospective towards the needs of everyone they are taking care of. Is it easy? for me, yes! I like a fast pace environment and am a really good communicator. From dealing and meeting needs to every type of person I have served, leaning the entire menu inside and out, and multitasking in stressful situation, I honestly feel serving has led me to my future chemical rep sales job ;). And dude, it is part of our culture. As an American, you have a choice of being that dick who doesn’t tip! I choose to tip because I enjoy the feeling of paying extra (five dollars is nothing to me) towards people serving me.
In reply to College Chemistry Student
I rather keep the 5 dollars that means nothing to me in my own pocket. The people serving me should be honored to be serving me. It is a brush of greatness for them.
You think that learning the menu is a big deal? I find it sad this job even challenged you. Good thing you are only selling fertilizer chemicals. Pharmaceutical sales are well above your ability.
In reply to $Bill
Brush of greatness? You are hilarious. You’re job must be a comedian. Now I see how you have made loads more money than anyone on this site. Good luck on you’re future trolling endeavors. Although I would love to know that if you’re not a comedian then what amazing job allows you the time to troll at such a high level? Please do (lie) tell us. Don’t hold your breath for a reply though, Feinberg SOM takes a good bit of my time.
In reply to John
I’ll let him answer for himself, but most jobs you need an education for also allow you to check email and do things that are not work-related, so long as you actually get your work done.
Also, I’d question whether somebody at Feinberg (student OR staff) would use the wrong your/you’re, given their requirements for admission.
In reply to John
I own a drug compounding laboratory factory. I have a PhD in nuclear medicine. We also process marijuana extracts for medical and recreational uses.
If your grades are high enough from Feinburg, I will allow you to clean our bathrooms.
In reply to College Chemistry Student
So instead of “sucking the mothers tit” you’re instead sucking strangers’ tits and paying for everything with THEIR money. Money they actually earned. You might as well stand on a corner and hold up a sign begging for money, because that’s essentially what you’re doing. Except you use the pretense that somehow you’re earning the customer’s money doing the job you’re hired, and paid, to do by your employer.
And being part of American culture doesn’t make it right. Slavery was part of American culture, and segregation. Denial of women’s rights was part of American culture.
Hell, it didn’t even originate in America – it’s a borrowed custom from Europe where the upper class did it to show off how much money they had, and how much the poor would do for an extra penny. Even they think tipping in America is insane.
Refusing to give you money you’re not earning isn’t being a dick. Expecting people who aren’t your employer to give you money just to do the job you’re already paid to do is being a dick. Imagine any other person doing that. Imagine the cable guy showing up, doing the install, then getting pissy because you didn’t slip him $10 afterwards. Imagine the grocery store clerk getting mad at you for not handing them an extra $20 on your $100 groceries.
Ha, I COMPLETELY agree!
Although I will tip as apparently that’s how low employer’s have sunk. I tip because it’s an unspoken part of the deal, an invisible charge and I put up with it.
But really I don’t want waiters to go all buddy-buddy on me and I definitely don’t want to know their name.
In reply to W. Vaduz
Let me see if I have this right? The tip is an unspoken part of the deal, an invisible charge you put up with.
A financial transaction should never have unscrupulous charges you put up with. There is no such thing as an unspoken part of a deal.
I wish there was a way to say this nicely. You are truly a moron.
I agree that you are not obliged to give tips to waiters, if you don’t want to. But you really sounds like an fucking dickhead on reason #4.
In reply to NoneName
Reason #4 simply states that doing your job does not make you entitled to extra money. I don’t see why you have a problem with this?
In reply to $Bill
It’s the tone of the statement that sounds like he’s a dick. That’s what I’m referring to.
Oh dear heavens. Shut up. Serving is easy work….when we aren’t busy. When we get busy it’s like hell. Please, to the 16 year old….most places don’t even let you serve till you’re 19 because of alcholhol sales. You were probably a hostess and thought you were a server because you got “tipped out”.
and “we don’t deserve your moeny”…ok ok. Just trying to my job. I suppose you don’t deserve any extra money, either. However, you are getting paid minimum wage. We are not. You are one table out of 8 others we must tend to. Luckily, people like you are rare and most people do empathize when we say our check are literally $0. So to say we depend o tips is an understatement. Do you get money in your paychek? I’m sure you do. I do not. Every week its $0. However, I leave the restaraunt with around $200. On a good night. So in the end, I actually win, even after all the crap guests put us through, because if you do your job right you can make almost $900 within 5 days. So… yeah. Don’t tip. or not. But if you feel this strongly about not tipping. perhaps try a tipped position. It aint easy.
In reply to Mia
http://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/002.htm
You are a lying stupid piece of shit.
Read the link dumbass, you make minimum-wage with or without tips.
Your job is simple because it is an unskilled job. As an adult you should be ashamed of yourself for not having a real job.
In reply to Mia
Tips are your pay. The reason your paycheck is reduced is because the tip credit allows your employer to reduce your pay by the amount you receive in tips up to a limit, and the rest goes to taxes, which EVERYONE pays.
You make minimum wage for a job that is WORTH minimum wage. Anyone who is developmentally “normal” can show up at a restaurant and serve tables with no formal training (or monkeys can, with proper training). The reason I’m paid more is because I spent thousands of dollars and 4 years on an education just to understand what my boss tells me to do, and the know-how to actually do it. You could not show up to my job, get hired, and actually perform the job without some sort of education, or at the very least years of practice (and my employer isn’t likely to hire you without the formal understanding of process, which most people neglect to self-teach).
Every job gets busy. The difference is when my job’s busy, if I screw up, at best it sets back a million dollar payment milestone, and at worst it costs us a several million dollar contract and the recommendation of a customer worth several other contracts worth just as much.
Don’t ever make the mistake of setting foot in New Orleans. You will be chased down in the street and exposed by people here that don’t stand for that BS. My standard tip is 20% unless the service is off and then it’s no less than 15. Occasionally it goes as high as 25.
McDonalds’s is probably best for you or possibly one of the lovely chain restaurants that people in this country patronize. Also, for the alleged 16 yo jackass waiter, Ruth’s Chris started in New Orleans and 16 year olds are busboys or dishwashers, not waiters.
In reply to Nola 70119
Yeah, funny, the smegma of America makes threats. They may have the highest tipping rate in the US for a city, but they still average less than 17%.
Oh, and, exposed for what, exactly? There is absolutely no rule that says one MUST tip. It is optional by its very definition. If anyone should be exposed, it’s the cheap ass bosses who try to screw over their employees as well as the customers.
Ruth’s Chris may have started in New Orleans, but it doesn’t exist only there. Laws vary by state, and any manager or operator is simply going to follow the rules of the state and their own personal preference. Stating that they started there means absolutely nothing.
In reply to Nola 70119
A few months ago I had dinner at Commander’s Palace New Orleans. This is an upscale restaurant well above your pay scale. Nobody chased me down the street for not tipping. The manager did personally come to my table, and thanked me for dining with them. Our bill for the evening was a little over $500.
You are a silly little waiter boy. Your threats are meaningless, and pathetic.
In reply to $Bill
Are you fucking serious? What makes you think you deserve to treat people such as servents?! What makes you think you only have to pay for he product and not the service as well? If you had a 500$ tab you very well can tip your server 18% of what your bill costs. They may not have said anything but they will more than likely remember you and very well refuse you service next time of add a gratuity of 18%. Where I work I tip out my bartender 10% of my liquor sales and my busboy and expo as well so yes we do lose money off of you who do not tip. If you would like to be served at an establishment then you must understand why you should tip. This is absolutely mind blowing to me after reading these comments. I hope you stay far away from any restaurant I’m working at.
In reply to Jordan
Waiters are modern day servants. It is a pathetic job that only teenagers or retarded people should have. It is not meant to actually support you. It is a job for a little extra spending money.
I paid for the food you must bring it to me. Waiting on me hand and foot is your job, not a extra service.
If you add a gratuity, I will not pay it since the law is on my side. A Tip or gratuity is voluntary only. Courts have already ruled on this.
You are also a liar, because you do not tip out people for money you never received. This is a tax law violation. You are full of shit nothing costs you money.
I will never be refused service to a restaurant, because for a business to survive they need rich affluent customers. Servers on the other hand are a dime a dozen. If I am unhappy you won’t have a job. Nobody cares what you have to say you have a joke for a job.
In reply to $Bill
You don’t know what he fuck you are even talking about, you pompous prick! You are nothing and nobody feels honored to even fucking know you I’m sure let alone wait on your condensending ass! You are nothing more than a self conceited asshole who thinks he is above anyone and everyone! You are no fucking better than anyone! And yes you do have to tip out for your liquor sales regardless if the fucking table tips!!!! I do every fucking day so I fucking know this!
In reply to Jordan
We are paying for the service by paying the restaurant. The server is not our employee, they are the restaurant’s employee, and the restaurant pays them a fair wage for what they do.
What makes you think a server deserves $90 on a $500 tab just for doing their job – one that they’re already being paid to do? They do the same work as a server at a shitty restaurant with a $20 tab. In turn they do the same amount of work as a fast food worker, if even that.
In reply to What a joke
$90 on a $500 bill is ridiculous. Jordan is an immature baby that thinks he is entitled to extra money. I can’t stop laughing at him. He is the definition of a waiter douche bag. A classic loser that thinks the world owes him. Even at minimum-wage he is overpaid. His employer does not feel he is with $45 an hour, but this loser waiter thinks he is.
In reply to $Bill
I am a women thank you. I don’t get a paycheck because every dollar I make in credit card rips is pulled and claimed from my taxes so I end up getting a void to 64 cent paycheck every two fucking weeks. In the last year I have gotten nothing above that. You both do not understand how the industry works so you really should shut the fuck now and just stick with fast food from now on. Mmk?!
In reply to What a joke
We do not get paid anything other than fucking tips get it through your narrow minded fucking brain!
In reply to Jordan
Federal law (which supercedes state law except when it benefits the employee more) states that you get paid at LEAST minimum wage with or without taxes. If you do not get enough in minimum wage, your employer is REQUIRED BY LAW TO PAY YOU THE DIFFERENCE. And that is beyond the fact that the maximum amount of tip credit is $5.12.
Get it through your clearly empty fucking head. http://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/002.htm
In reply to What a joke
Shut the fuck up about the federal law bullshit! You are reading shit off of the internet that you do not know about or understand so just stop making yourself look like a moron to all of the people on this site who do know what hey are talking about. If you were to know that every restaurant has a lawyer and that there are ways of getting around these laws. If you want to continue to keep your job you do not question this because to sue an establishment for labor laws it can take up to four years and usually gets you nowhere. Plus I am an experienced good server who doesn’t need to argue this because I usually average 20 to 30 dollars an hour.. Because I run my ass off and turn my tables quickly and efficiently. But regardless if I were to get reimbursed for the nights I don’t make much Or not I still get more taxes taken out as a server because of cash tips so it doesn’t even make a difference on my paycheck.
In reply to Jordan
Thankfully I am going to school to be a marine biologist so I won’t have to wait on stupid ignorant people such as yourself. Dealing with people like you on a regular basis can really kill your soul and give you a special kind of hatred for people.
In reply to Jordan
LOL Really? You’re going to be a waiter the rest of your life. Not only is there no way in hell you’re intelligent enough to actually become a marine biologist, there aren’t exactly a lot of jobs out there for marine biologists and the growth rate is lower than the national average for jobs overall.
In reply to Jordan
You fucking moron, that link is to the DEPARTMENT OF LABOR. It expressly details FEDERAL LAW.
You understand it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to do something about infractions, right? Like there isn’t some magical law fairy to make them follow the laws – if you’re not being paid what you’re supposed to be paid, it’s up to you to fucking report it or sue. Either way it’s not the customer’s problem, nor their responsibility to make up for your lack of action.
And EVERYONE pays taxes. It still does not justify giving you money you don’t earn.
In reply to Jordan
You’re literally saying you’d rather let your boss fuck you over than stand up to them. Do you let them bend you over at night, too? Do you get down on your knees and smile like a doughnut to keep your job? I suppose you blame that on the customers, too, don’t you?
If your job sucks you quit. If you can’t quit and have to suck it up, you don’t take it out on the customer. It is NEVER their job to pay you, regardless of how fucking pitiful and shameful you are. It’s your choice to be in that situation, it is ALWAYS your choice. And I can say that because I’ve BEEN homeless, and I NEVER took shit from people and played the poor me card, and I sure as hell would rather be homeless than let my boss screw me out of my wages and expect the customer to pick up the tab for them.