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.
I have enjoyed reading what you have to say and the replies that some people have left. I work in the hospitality industry and have for over 20 years. So I do think that does qualify me to rebut what you have said or at least clarify or maybe justify why tipping is required.
1. You act as if you’re my best friend
No I do not or ever want to be your friend. However, I do want your experience in my establishment to be enjoyable. So I will be friendly and kind to you. I do this because I want your return business. Does that justify a tip, no. You are here for food and to eat your food. My job that I get paid to do is take your order, bring your order to you, and render payment, no tip required. You have stated as far as you are concerned, I am a conveyor belt and a computer into which you input your order. Once again you are correct. Now here is where I come in. Will a conveyor belt and a computer make sure your food arrives to you in a timely fashion, will it make sure you have received everything you have ordered, will it inform you of any problems with your order and offer ways to rectify said problems, and will it make sure your order is up to your satisfaction and offer refills if needed? I do not believe so. Those things cost extra. Remember you said, “I will pay the bill which includes the cost of the food, the environment and the salaries of the people involved – nothing more.”
2. You don’t get paid enough
Once again you are correct, it is not your problem. You should not be required to make up for, what you would consider my employer’s cheapness. You would like the full cost in everyone’s bill. If employers paid servers a decent wage, the cost would have to be made up somewhere. Raising the cost of the food would be the likely place to do so. Now it has been argued that fast food restaurants pay their employees a decent wage and the cost of the food is not high. Well for one, we are not talking about fast food restaurants, we are talking about sit down full service restaurants. Also fast food restaurants aren’t known for their high quality of food and they also do not offer a more diverse selection of food like most sit down full service restaurants. When you offer higher quality and more of a selection of food, the cost of the food goes up. As well as the likely hood of food waste. Meaning most restaurants offer fresh, not frozen, food. And you know food does not last forever and can go bad. So you have food waste. That cost also has to be made up somewhere. So you still think that server wages could be raised without raising the cost of the food? Now I would be all for a set wage or even getting a commission, because I don’t like having my salary being determined by someone who is not qualified to pay me for the job that I do. However, if we did receive a decent wage or commission, most restaurants would be priced out of existence.
3. You’ll spit in my food if I don’t tip you?
I agree with you on this one. If someone I work with were to do something like this, I not only would be appalled, I would have them immediately fired. That is disgusting and just plain wrong.
4. Bringing me my food isn’t worthy of being paid extra
I think I addressed this with my comments of number 1. No bringing you your food isn’t worthy of being paid extra, it’s my job. No I didn’t cook it or invent it, but I did insure it was prepared the way you had requested and in a timely fashion. I also followed up to see if it was up to your satisfactions. I also offer you what you may need and or want to make your dining experience a more pleasurable one. I also make sure that you are informed of anything that may not be on the menu that you might enjoy. You may think that my job is one that any unskilled individual can do, I’m here to tell you that you are well misinformed. There are many jobs out there that have entry level positions, including serving, but to work at the level of service that I do, it takes years of learning a skill set to performing the service that I provide.
5. Money doesn’t grow on trees
Where should I begin on this one? Yes you work hard for the money in your wallet and if all you want is to order food, have it brought to you, and then sent on your merry way, by all means you should not have to pay more than what you have received. If you come into my restaurant and want more than that, as I have explained earlier, then yes I do expect to be compensated for the extra service according to industry standards. Meaning 10% bad service, 15% to 18% good to average service, and 20% or more for excellent service. I take pride in the job that I do and I expect to be well paid for doing so.
If you still choose to not leave a tip, at least inform your server so that they will not waste their time with you because for them time is money and they can then spend more time with their other guests who will appreciate the service that they provide.
In reply to Billy
In response to your #1 and #3, yes, a conveyor belt and a computer makes sure my food arrive in a timely fashion. In fact, a conveyor belt makes sure my food arrives just as quickly, if not more quickly, because it goes directly from the kitchen to me, or perhaps slightly indirectly, without requiring breaks, or standing around chatting with coworkers, or anything else while my food gets cold. A computer doesn’t screw up my order if I give it properly. You didn’t cook my food, you didn’t “ensure” anything. You’re just the middleman in my complaint to the kitchen. You don’t affect the rate at which my food is cooked. If there’s a computer, and the order was entered correctly, the complaint still goes to the kitchen. You can imagine all you want that serving takes skill, but it really doesn’t. I’ve spent a few decades walking, and so am pretty decent at it, but it’s still just walking and just about anyone can do it.
In response to your #2, many fast food restaurants are now sit-down where they bring you your food. Even where they aren’t, the difference is honestly just a few feet more. The fact that the FOOD is (generally) better quality at a “normal” restaurant does not mean that a server does more work, nor that they deserve to be paid more, than a fast food employee. Therefore, the cost of food really has nothing to do with how much a server would/should be compensated. Beyond that, even IF the difference were added to the food, basic math will show that the difference wouldn’t be significant.
In response to your #5, this doesn’t make sense. You’re saying we shouldn’t pay extra for you to do your job – which is provide GOOD service – yet recommend 10% tip for bad service? A server should not expect a tip. Ever. It’s their job, as you’ve repeatedly said yourself. It shouldn’t even be a consideration, let alone an expectation, under /any/ circumstances. The only possible consideration would be customer choice IF the service is above and beyond what your job actually is, and NEVER for anything less than that.
In reply to What a joke
You obviously have no understanding of the hospitality industry because no a conveyor belt can not make sure your food arrives quickly because it can not talk with the cooks to make sure your food is being prepared. And no matter how well you think you place your order into a computer someone still has to read it and it would be up to me to convey what your requests are to the cooks. Trust me on that one because I worked at a restaurant where the guest inputted their order into a computer and it went directly to the cooks and I still had to explain what the guest wanted. Even after the guest put in their order properly. You don’t understand how a kitchen works, but luckily for you I do.
You definitely show your gross lack of knowledge of restaurants and the costs involved to operate one. If you raise server wages the cost of the food provided would go up. Just like you said basic math. Most small restaurants could not handle such an increase because their clientele would not want to pay more. Therefore they would go out of business. Most people would not see that it would cost the same to them because they don’t realize that basically the servers pay would now be included.
And my job according to you is to bring you your food. Providing good service is up to me and that is where the gratuity comes in. I don’t have to offer you refills. I don’t have to make sure you received what you wanted. I don’t have to correct any mistakes made by you on what you ordered. I do this to insure you have a pleasurable time and enjoyed your experience. Like I said, I’ve worked in this industry for over 20 years, I know all about it. Until you’ve worked in this industry don’t start telling me about how it works. I don’t go around telling you how your job works. If you don’t want to tip, fine, but at least have the balls to tell your server ahead of time. You don’t know what a server or cook or manager have to do in order for there guest to enjoy their dining experience. Educate yourself a little bit more about what you are talking about. Don’t go around bashing my industry just because you think you know what you are talking about. You don’t have a clue.
In reply to Billy
Wow, you’re stupid.
“…no a conveyor belt can not make sure your food arrives quickly because it can not talk with the cooks to make sure your food is being prepared”
And you talking to them will magically make them prepare it faster? Because cooking totally works that way, and doesn’t require actual prep times. Cooks make food in the order that makes sense, unless they miss an order, and guess what – if there’s a computer system, it puts the orders right there, anyway. Just like in fast food. Your anecdotal conjecture doesn’t necessitate your usefulness. If you’re not there, the cooks would just ask the customer. I apparently know how a kitchen works better than you do, because you don’t even seem to understand how cooking works. My cook friends often make jokes about how the servers nag them about stuff, and they just smile and nod their heads, then completely ignore them.
“You definitely show your gross lack of knowledge of restaurants and the costs involved to operate one. If you raise server wages the cost of the food provided would go up. Just like you said basic math. Most small restaurants could not handle such an increase because their clientele would not want to pay more. Therefore they would go out of business. Most people would not see that it would cost the same to them because they don’t realize that basically the servers pay would now be included.”
This is an outright lie. It wouldn’t go up any significant amount. Fast food restaurants, as we’ve covered, pay their workers minimum wage. Ignoring the fact that your employer is already legally required to make sure you get federal minimum wage, there’s a difference of $5.12 an hour between federal minimum wage and pre-tip service minimum wage. Even if you have a ratio of 4 tables per server, and are working at half capacity, that’s still only an additional $1.28 per person (2 tables of 4 people for 2 hours, or 4 tables of 2 people), which is divided between food ordered and drink. And that’s assuming the manager wouldn’t keep server numbers at a level where the ratio wouldn’t be optimum. At full capacity, that’s down to $0.32 per person difference. The reality would likely be somewhere in between. That’s not a significant difference – nobody would likely notice food prices going up by a few cents per order.
“And my job according to you is to bring you your food. Providing good service is up to me and that is where the gratuity comes in. I don’t have to offer you refills. I don’t have to make sure you received what you wanted. I don’t have to correct any mistakes made by you on what you ordered. I do this to insure you have a pleasurable time and enjoyed your experience. Like I said, I’ve worked in this industry for over 20 years, I know all about it.”
If you don’t do this, how long will you keep your job? You’d be fired very quickly, which means it’s most definitely your job to do it. That’s WHY you get paid instead of having a conveyor belt instead.
“Until you’ve worked in this industry don’t start telling me about how it works. I don’t go around telling you how your job works. If you don’t want to tip, fine, but at least have the balls to tell your server ahead of time. You don’t know what a server or cook or manager have to do in order for there guest to enjoy their dining experience. Educate yourself a little bit more about what you are talking about. Don’t go around bashing my industry just because you think you know what you are talking about. You don’t have a clue.”
I know how your job works because I know people who work in the industry, including people who do your job. You don’t tell me how my job works because you’re not educated enough to understand how my job works. You don’t need an education to do your job, regardless of how much you imagine that to be true.
Don’t bring a cook or manager into this because serving is not cooking, nor managing. And a manager who also does serving also gets paid more because their job entails more. I know managers, I know cooks, and I also know servers. I know what they do, and what it entails. Why you think it’s some private, industry secret just shows how laughably dim-witted you really are. Do you need praise for tying your own shoes as well? Or do you just wear velcro?
In reply to What a joke
It is very clear to me that you have absolutely no idea of what you are talking about. Your limited knowledge of the hospitality industry, via your friends that work in restaurants, makes you think you know it all. Servers do not have to take care of your needs or wants. If you go into a restaurant and state that you don’t tip, a server does not have to serve you. It’s called the right to refuse service and no manger or owner would fire a sever for not serving. Your friends in the restaurant business should have told you that. If you think that you can go into a restaurant, enjoy the service you get and not tip, and think you have gotten the better of that server, because you showed them, try going back to that same restaurant and get service the next time. They will remember you and more than likely tell you your business is not appreciate here. Owners and mangers stand behind their employees and do not allow individuals, such as yourself, to mistreat their staff and that includes not tipping the servers. So once again, you do not know my job, you ignorant asshole, and instead of reading the cliff notes about what I do, try getting all of the information first, because neither you or your friends know as much as I do about the hospitality industry. It has been shown by your regurgitation of the same shit that you believe is true. Futhermore, you probably couldn’t afford to eat, let alone afford a glass of water, at the restaurants that I work at. You poor excuse for a human being. I hope you didn’t pay too much for your education, because you got ripped off.
In reply to Billy
You don’t have to tell them you’re not going to tip. Tipping isn’t a requirement. Also, the law has repeatedly found that a business cannot refuse service for arbitrary reasons. Refusing service for somebody refusing to pay an employee of a company for doing a job they’re already being paid for would likely land the restaurant with a lawsuit. There have been many instances of servers being fired over demanding tips.
Here’s a guy who got fired for complaining on Facebook about how low her tip was:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/21/chilis-server-fired-facebook-rant_n_1615430.html
Here’s a waitress who was fired for posting the receipt where a customer had written why they shouldn’t get a tip:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/31/applebees-waitress-fired-god-tip-receipt_n_2591794.html
You keep talking, yet you can’t back up anything you say. The waitresses above apparently believed they were entitled to tips, but they thought wrong. Your conjecture isn’t proof, where there is a long list of evidence to support everything I’ve said here. You’re just an angry, entitled moron who somehow still believes it’s the customer’s duty to pay you for a job you’re already being paid to do. Maybe you should start paying customers just to come in and be customers, then?
In reply to What a joke
Both examples you have provided are of servers posting complaints for not receiving a tip. Yes you would be fired. However, if it is made known that you will not be tipping a server for service, before hand, a server and restaurant can and should refuse to serve you and not you, a judge or anyone else can make them serve you. Show me a post to where a customer who blatantly will let it be known that they will not tip and who then are refused service, will be able to sue that establishment. It doesn’t exist. Yes you do not have to tell them you are not going to tip, but if you don’t tip and then expect to continually frequent that restaurant, then yes a server and restaurant have the right to refuse service to you and there is not a lawyer or judge that can force a restaurant serve you, especially if it is known that you will not tip. And yes tipping is an understood requirement when you go out to eat, every American knows this. Otherwise we would not be talking about this. Once again you show your ignorance of my industry. You don’t know how restaurants work and you are misinformed. You read articles about how servers complain about there tip or lack there of and get fired and you believe that entitles you to not have to tip and there is nothing a server can do about it. You are wrong. Any restaurant that values their employees will stand behind their employees and not allow pompous dicks, such as yourself, to mistreat their employees. If you don’t want to tip, that is your right, but you can not force a server or restaurant to serve you, especially if it is known that you will not be paying for services rendered. However if you so choose to be deceitful and go into a restaurant, receive service and not tip, then there is nothing a server or restaurant can do about that and it shows in the type of moral character you have.
In reply to Billy
Fired for refusing to serve police officers:
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/17/jimmy-johns-employee-fired-for-refusing-to-serve-police-officer/
Another fired for refusing to fire police officers:
http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/local/denton-county/2015/09/16/whataburger-appalled-after-employee-refuses-to-serve-officers/32501483/
Two waiters fired for refusing to serve alcohol to a pregnant woman: http://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/30/us/2-waiters-lose-jobs-for-liquor-warning-to-woman.html
I don’t need to show you a case where a server was fired for refusing to serve somebody who said they weren’t going to tip because it isn’t standard practice to tell somebody you are going to tip. As you’ve agreed elsewhere, payment comes after the meal. Since tipping should never be expected, it shouldn’t be expected for a customer to tell a server they won’t be tipping.
I know how restaurants work. I know many restaurant managers, owners, and employees. I’ve linked you articles that show the RESTAURANTS DO NOT STAND BEHIND THE SERVER regarding being tipped.
Again, you’ve failed to demonstrate how it is in any way the customer’s responsibility to pay the server for a job they’re already being paid to do. You’re living in a delusion if you believe a server can keep their job for refusing to serve a customer for anything other than outright harassment. There have been servers fired for complaining that they are assigned tables of people who tip less. There were waitresses fired from Cracker Barrel for refusing to serve black customers because they “tip less.” They then proceeded to try to sue Cracker Barrel for it.
You’re wrong if you think any restaurant actually values the servers. Do you imagine it’s hard to hire more staff? A Taco Bell in my town recently fired EVERY STAFF MEMBER and closed for a week while it hired new people simply because people were giving away food to their friends. Again – servers are a dime a dozen.
In reply to What a joke
It’s funny how everything you make reference to are fast food establishments. Taco Bell, Cracker Barrel, Whataburger, Jimmy Johns, Red Robin, all low scale, low end restaurants. Try Ruth’s Chris, Flemmings, Eddie V’s, probably restaurants you’ve never heard of or been to or could even afford to eat at. I’ve read those articles and yes I would have fired every single employee. The first two because that is out right discrimination and against the law and the last one because the server took a beer label and placed it in front of the customer, pretty much insulting the customer. Now if a customer, who is pregnant, orders an alcoholic beverage, that server has the right to not serve her and there is not anyone who can make that server serve her a drink and that server can not be fired for that. It is the law. Something I have to learn about if I am going to be serving alcohol. If I insult that customer like the girl did in that article, then yes I would be fired.
In reply to Billy
Cracker Barrel isn’t fast food. And, again, nothing a server does is above what a fast food employee does, anyway.
You know what? You’ve told people here to “put [their] money where [their] mouth is,” so I invite you to do the same. You think you should know ahead of time if you’re going to get a tip? Start asking the customer when you go to their table if they intend on tipping you beforehand.
If you can do that without getting fired, I’ll concede your point. Until then, you have nothing to back what you say.
In reply to What a joke
I don’t think that I should know ahead of time if someone is going to tip or not. You are the one saying that you shouldn’t tip and yet still receive good service.
In reply to Billy
And you’re agreeing by saying you shouldn’t know. If you don’t think you should now that they are going to give a tip, you can’t assume that you will receive one because there is always a possibility that you won’t, yet you’re willing to provide the same service without knowing.
This an admission that it is your JOB to provide that “good service” because you’re willing to do it regardless of knowledge of tipping. If you don’t think that’s true, again, I invite you not to and see how long you keep your job.
In reply to What a joke
Yes that is true, but if you don’t tip and you come back in another time, then you will not receive as good of service or any service at all. And yes myself and the establishment I work for can refuse service to you based upon that premise and it is not unlawful.
In reply to Billy
You can, but you can also be sued if it’s considered an arbitrary reason. And since tipping is NOT required by law, nor should ever be expected, I’m pretty sure, “They left a bad/no tip last time,” could be considered arbitrary.
The “right to refuse service” isn’t quite as cut and dry as you seem to think it is. As a restaurant is considered a public service, even if they are a private company, they can be sued for refusing to serve people.
On top of that, management makes the decision whether or not to serve somebody. If you tell management you aren’t going to serve a table because they’re bad tippers, you’ll be fired. If the manager refuses service to a customer for refusing to tip? Well, just watch how fast that place gets closed. Some customers may like to tip if they feel it’s warranted, but customers are told they won’t be served if they won’t tip, especially in this day and age with social media, and your business will be ruined. The higher quality the restaurant, the more this is true because the more the customer’s money, and the more the customer’s sway with their friends, is worth over you.
In reply to What a joke
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=485435
In reply to Billy
http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/restaurants-right-to-refuse-service.html
Also, random forums aren’t exactly credible sources.
In reply to What a joke
Actually you arrogant smug bastard, when pricks like you come in and don’t tip…what you’re very ignorant friends ( which is difficult to believe you have any) didn’t tell you.. We are REQUIRED to tip out the hostess, and bartender %12 of our sales. So you do not tip… We actually end up paying for your cheap lack of judgement. You think you are superior to people who waitress… But in reality you wouldn’t last an hour dealing with demanding assholes such as yourself…and i guarantee Billy and myself out work you every day. You arw nothing more than an entitled jerk..who probably got dumped by a waitor along the line..and has an issue with all of them. Fact is… Making sure you have a good experience deserves a tip. Just like when you ride in a taxi, stay at a hotel and have your room cleaned every day, get your car cleaned…any service given deserves a tip..because saves you from doing it. My advice to you’re stupid ass…
1. Learn to cook and stay home.
2. Pray you never have a daughter or son has to work in the industry and runs into a total prick like you( which they will)
3. You sound like a spoiled rotten brat who has never earned anything for themselves in you’re entire pathetic existence.
4 i hope you choke on your food next time your cheap slimy arrogant entitled cheap ass sits down at a restaurant expecting great service.
Its total disrespectful pricks like you that make me work twice as hard to provide a future and put money in a college fund for my baby daughter…so she never has to feel even slightly degraded by asshole lickers such as yourself.
In reply to crystal
The policy at your place of work is not our concern. It’s not law, and you chose the job. It’s your employer’s responsibility to pay you, not the customer’s, and you’re already being paid to do your job – which is serve the customer – by your employer. If you don’t like the wage you earn ($7.25 an hour), then blame yourself for taking the job, or blame your employer for not being willing to pay you more. But it’s /never/ the customer’s fault your choice in job doesn’t pay more than minimum wage, and no matter how hard you THINK your job is, it’s not worth more than minimum wage because it is, by definition, unskilled labor.
In reply to What a joke
Just to clarify, they weren’t being fired for the reasons you believe. When hired, part of the paperwork we sign includes an agreement to not post any negative issues about our job on social media. Bad media = bad reputation and bad business. Those servers violated that agreement and were fired. They were not fired because they refused service to someone who did not want to compensate them for that service.
Also, as far as tipping goes for our pay checks. The employer is legally responsible for making up your lack of tip. If at the end of the pay period I do not make the state’s minimum wage when you add my tips to my tip wage, they must compensate so that I do. So the more people that don’t tip the more food costs have to increase. And having work at a place where people hardly ordered a $9 burger but when it dropped to $8 were all about it, I know the value in even the smallest of pricing changes. And the other side of that is that a restaurant will not change food costs because an employee is not making enough tips. They will assume the employee is not doing a very good job and replace them with someone who might bring in more tips. This is why servers bring it to the attention of their managers when someone doesn’t tip. I will not lose my job because of people like you. And want it to be known it isn’t for any short coming on my part.
Might I suggest that if you do not want to tip (that is your right but) please order carry out food. If you do not want to prepare your own meal and do not want fast food, and are not going to tip, placing a carry out order seems like the perfect solution.
In reply to Maria
“Also, as far as tipping goes for our pay checks. The employer is legally responsible for making up your lack of tip. If at the end of the pay period I do not make the state’s minimum wage when you add my tips to my tip wage, they must compensate so that I do. So the more people that don’t tip the more food costs have to increase. And having work at a place where people hardly ordered a $9 burger but when it dropped to $8 were all about it, I know the value in even the smallest of pricing changes. And the other side of that is that a restaurant will not change food costs because an employee is not making enough tips. They will assume the employee is not doing a very good job and replace them with someone who might bring in more tips. This is why servers bring it to the attention of their managers when someone doesn’t tip. I will not lose my job because of people like you. And want it to be known it isn’t for any short coming on my part.”
A difference of a $1 on a burger isn’t the same as a difference of like $0.50 on something – and that’s talking about one item – if all costs are relative, it’s not a big problem. Again, fast food restaurants (and yes, a fast food worker does everything a server does, whether you want to admit it or not) get paid their $7.25 an hour without the shop having to close.
And the idea that servers will lose their jobs if they’re not making tips doesn’t make any sense if NOBODY PAYS TIPS, which is the entire point here.
“Might I suggest that if you do not want to tip (that is your right but) please order carry out food. If you do not want to prepare your own meal and do not want fast food, and are not going to tip, placing a carry out order seems like the perfect solution.”
To use your blanket assumption from above, if more people carry out, then servers don’t have a purpose, and so won’t have a job, let alone get any tips.
In reply to Billy
Yes!!!! Haha
In reply to What a joke
I’m a student at the University of Michigan with a major in Biomolecular Science. I’m studying to become an orthopedic surgeon. I work as a waiter in the summer to pay my tuition. I’m very educated and can very easily understand how your job works. It takes a bright person to provide good service as a waiter while they juggle 5 other tables and all of their orders and drinks. I dare you to try it.
In reply to Colin
I honestly doubt you could do my job, and just because you’re studying it doesn’t mean you understand it. Trust me on that one – I mostly worked as a tutor while in school, and the number of people who barely understand the material (if they do at all) is alarming (especially in the medical majors).
That aside, it doesn’t take a bright person to wait tables. The very fact that you said that kind of backs up what I said above, actually. First, most restaurants don’t give wait staff 6 tables, and even if they did it’s not usually busy enough where all those tables are full. Second, you most definitely have the benefit of being able to write down the orders, which includes the table number. You just can’t be dumb as a brick, and there are quite a few exceptions to that rule.
As for “trying it,” I’ve done volunteer work that required me to wait on tables. It just wasn’t a job, and it wasn’t at a restaurant. I still had to write down what people wanted, keep track of their tables, etc.. If that’s difficult for you, then I can’t imagine what your GPA looks like. I wonder if you’re like the girl I know who wants to be a teacher? She somehow thinks she’s going to make it while taking math classes below the 100 level and struggling with the material.
Good luck with that.
In reply to What a joke
You actually make me giggle at your stupidity lol. Restaurant service is not a joke and as far as people never having 6 tables thats quite a joke because 6 tables is the absolute minimum amount of tables I get when I work, usually I have around 10-13 tables, but hey I guess thats New York right? But, clearly you have zero education on the matter. I went to culinary school, a large portion of that was learning restaurant services. I’d say I’m quite qualified after competing in Restauraunt services and getting a full education because I placed first in regionals states and nationals. Please, I’m gonna ask you at what degree should your coffee cup be set at? Also, how many forks are supposed to be out and what side? Or maybe, which side are you supposed to bring soup from , how about drinks? Please tell me Mr. Connoisseur what wine would go best with the steak you couldn’t afford? Oh thats right, you have zero education on the matter which means quite frankly your points mean shit. I go above and beyond to make your experience enjoyable you don’t wanna tip because you are a cheap bastard then don’t but I’ll laugh the next time you try to come into my restaurant. Making 5 dollars an hour is not fair, do I blame management? No because EVERYONE is doing what they can to keep their business running & customers happy. You literally have to be a fool if you think “anyone” can do our job because that is the farthest from the truth. Try managing 12 tables doing back work, cleaning, steaming your damn glasses, folding your unappreciative ass’ napkins, flipping tables running to get 12 different tables their drinks, sauces, napkins and whatever extras YOU request because we are trying to make your experience enjoyable. I don’t gotta do jack shit but throw your food on the table in front of you. THAT is my job. You want another drink to fucking bad tip your waiter.
In reply to oooook
“You actually make me giggle at your stupidity lol. Restaurant service is not a joke and as far as people never having 6 tables thats quite a joke because 6 tables is the absolute minimum amount of tables I get when I work, usually I have around 10-13 tables, but hey I guess thats New York right? But, clearly you have zero education on the matter.”
Actually, no, that’s not average. Any intelligent person also knows that their personal experience isn’t actually evidence of anything. Just ask the average drunk driver. According to the CDC, 112 million drunk drivers get behind the wheel each year. However, only around 10,000 alcohol related fatalities occur. That means 111,990,000 times per year somebody can say, “Well, in MY experience, driving drunk doesn’t cause an accident.” I guess that means drunk driving isn’t dangerous, right? /sarcasm
No intelligent restaurant manager would set the ratio of tables to waiters that high. Even for casual restaurants, a ratio of 4 to 7 is generally the standard. For nicer places it’s 3-4. The reason for this is that not having a low ratio means that people are waiting for far too long for service, and (as we all know) that means nobody will come to your restaurant.
“I went to culinary school, a large portion of that was learning restaurant services. I’d say I’m quite qualified after competing in Restauraunt services and getting a full education because I placed first in regionals states and nationals. Please, I’m gonna ask you at what degree should your coffee cup be set at? Also, how many forks are supposed to be out and what side? Or maybe, which side are you supposed to bring soup from , how about drinks? Please tell me Mr. Connoisseur what wine would go best with the steak you couldn’t afford? Oh thats right, you have zero education on the matter which means quite frankly your points mean shit. ”
You don’t go to culinary school for waiting tables. I know people who go to become cooks, or caterers, or even lunch ladies. But you don’t go to school to be a waiter.
Also, fun fact, pretty much every question you listed is available to anyone who can Google. If you went to school for it, you’re not only an idiot, but a money wasting idiot.
You make $7.25 an hour. The fact that you claim otherwise just proves that you have no idea what you’re talking about. Federal law REQUIRES you make at least $7.25 an hour. And it certainly IS fair that you get paid that much. There is no requirement to go to school, and (most importantly) you chose the job. By taking the job you /agreed/ that your work was worth what you pay. That is an absolute admission that the value of your services is not worth more than minimum wage.
In reply to What a joke
No $7.25 an hour is incorrect. Its $5.77 an hour. The government expects people to tip us.
In reply to crystal
http://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/002.htm
Federal law says you’re a liar, or just stupid. Which is it?
It is not my responsibility to pay your wage. It is your employer’s. A tip is never required, nor should it ever be expected. By definition it is a gratuity.
In reply to What a joke
I am smarter in life..wealthier in family and friends. As a single mother i do what i have to to provide a life for my daughter. I will raise her to be the opposite of you. You are the lowest of the low..and worse than the worst person you can imagine. I am better than you. My job doesn’t determine that.
In reply to crystal
“I am smarter in life..wealthier in family and friends. As a single mother i do what i have to to provide a life for my daughter. I will raise her to be the opposite of you. You are the lowest of the low..and worse than the worst person you can imagine. I am better than you. My job doesn’t determine that.”
I did what I had to to provide for my son – I went to school and got a better job. You whining and expecting handouts just teaches your daughter that she doesn’t have to really work for anything in life and that you should just accept things as they are.
I’ve taught my son that if you really want something – including a better life – you work for it. I’ve taught my son a sense of pride and dignity. The sad fact of the matter is no matter how much you work and save for your daughter’s college education, she probably won’t go, or succeed, because you’re providing a bad example by refusing to do more yourself. She’ll be just as entitled as you, and when she doesn’t bother to do the work at school and expects good grades anyway, she’ll end up in the same spot you are.
In reply to What a joke
I could probably perform as well if not better than you in your career. The only thing stopping me is not having a degree. If I know everything you know, why should I need a degree? I find what you do a fun hobby, which I do every waking moment while not working my pharmaceutical distribution job.
Yes, I’m a nerd. I am passionate about it. It IS my life, however, I refuse to go to college and pay thousands of dollars that I don’t have, only to prove my worth. Employers should instead request proof of experience by observing my talents. Rather than be lazy and accept paper, they should see for themselves.
Believe me, sir, you are nothing special. Just another cog. The only true difference between you and a server is that you require extra curricular activity to prevent becoming obese.
In reply to Jake
“I could probably perform as well if not better than you in your career. The only thing stopping me is not having a degree. If I know everything you know, why should I need a degree? I find what you do a fun hobby, which I do every waking moment while not working my pharmaceutical distribution job.”
Sure you could. I did hobby coding before I went to college, too. There’s a LOT more to software engineering than what you learn as a hobby – especially in terms of math, syntax, and understanding the underlying structure of programming languages.
“Yes, I’m a nerd. I am passionate about it. It IS my life, however, I refuse to go to college and pay thousands of dollars that I don’t have, only to prove my worth. Employers should instead request proof of experience by observing my talents. Rather than be lazy and accept paper, they should see for themselves.”
Being lazy is refusing to put in the work to earn that piece of paper. There’s more than the simple degree that they look at. Your transcripts matter, as well, and your GPA. They don’t give a damn that you passed if you have a 2.0 and all your teachers say you’re a git. The problem is that your hobby work isn’t legitimate experience or demonstration of knowledge. To get a job in the profession, not only do you prove you know what you’re doing through your grades and degree (beyond just programming), but a successful student does internships, or builds projects on top of the school work. After all, how do you expect to get experience in the field to begin with if you can’t get the job without experience (again, your hobby work is not experience working in the actual field).
“Believe me, sir, you are nothing special. Just another cog. The only true difference between you and a server is that you require extra curricular activity to prevent becoming obese.”
Yeah, cause obese servers don’t exist at all. I’ve done more work than a server, I’ve made an investment into myself as well. As I described above, there’s a lot more to getting a profession than what you seem to believe is a simple piece of paper. That piece of paper proves a lot more than you believe, and the fact that you don’t understand it shows the REAL reason you’d never be able to do my job.
In reply to What a joke
You’re right. I can’t do your job. I find it funny how you say that you can’t acquire the same skills and knowledge online as you can in college courses. Everything they teach is freely available online. One only has to put their mind to it in order to achieve it. Why can’t I do your job? I don’t enjoy working for people.
I prefer to be my own boss when it comes to my hobbies. Yes, I make money from them. Yes I have a primary full time job that I enjoy, I am a workaholic and can’t stand having time off, it’s depressing. However, pharmaceutical distribution isn’t my hobby.
I guess you can’t consider something a hobby if you make more money with it than your primary job, all without a degree. It’s a modest 80k a year, but it’s fairly decent for not having a degree. I find it quite hilarious that my hobby work wouldn’t be considered enough for an employer. Afterall, I’m only freelance.
In reply to Jake
“You’re right. I can’t do your job. I find it funny how you say that you can’t acquire the same skills and knowledge online as you can in college courses. Everything they teach is freely available online. One only has to put their mind to it in order to achieve it. Why can’t I do your job? I don’t enjoy working for people.”
You’re missing the point that there’s more to the job than the basic knowledge. Most of the higher level classes have little to do with actual coding, for example. And that’s beyond the other requirements – such as the math requirements – to get one’s degree. There’s a difference between a degree in basic coding, which is generally a two year degree, and software engineering, which is 4+, and it isn’t just knowing more programming languages.
“I prefer to be my own boss when it comes to my hobbies. Yes, I make money from them. Yes I have a primary full time job that I enjoy, I am a workaholic and can’t stand having time off, it’s depressing. However, pharmaceutical distribution isn’t my hobby.”
You don’t have to have a boss when it comes to software engineering. In fact, the engineers generally direct the coders below them. You make a lot of excuses, but what your argument really boils down to is, “I could do your job if I wanted, but I just don’t want to.” What’s next, “My dad could beat up your dad!”?
“I guess you can’t consider something a hobby if you make more money with it than your primary job, all without a degree. It’s a modest 80k a year, but it’s fairly decent for not having a degree. I find it quite hilarious that my hobby work wouldn’t be considered enough for an employer. Afterall, I’m only freelance.”
Yeah, you’re outright lying here. First because, if it were true, you’d have mentioned it in the first place. Second because that’s more money than a job in pharmaceutical distribution pays to anyone who doesn’t have a degree (you realize this stuff is easy to look up, right?), so if it were true you wouldn’t bother with the lesser job, or wouldn’t consider it your “real” job.
In reply to What a joke
I had a huge response for you. However, something went wrong. I decided it would be a waste to attempt the retype. I’ll sum it up.
Life decision-
Was young and dumb. Niave of what true love was. Had a child with the worst possible woman in the world, thougu she’s a good mother.
Regular job
-accepted the position before Obama care
-insurance is still cheaper than independent insurance
Hobby
-virtually no work involved anymore, aside from bug fixes and “DLC”/micro transactions added. May create new IP in future when I’ve gotten bored.
-Ad revenue, dlc/micro transactions
-child support isn’t based off this
-allows for money to be put aside for daughter when she turns of age, to either invest or go to college with, if she chooses
-free from the grasp of her mother, who purchases frivolous items with said child support payments. I will elaborate more on that if you are so inclined.
In reply to Jake
Did you miss that I was a single father?
I think you’re confused – if you make income off a hobby, it’s income and must be reported to the IRS. It doesn’t matter if it’s freelance, or a “hobby,” if you’re earning it you pay taxes on it. Hell, even if it’s sitting in the bank just earning interest, the interest is taxable as income as well unless it’s in certain accounts or something like a bond or CD. Since it’s a taxable income, if you think you don’t have to pay child support on it you’re lucky it (apparently?) hasn’t been reported. I can guarantee you that a judge can, and will, demand payment out of it. In fact, if they found out you’d had it as a secondary source of income and weren’t upfront about it, you’d end up with MASSIVE back payments, as well as possibly some jail time for lying about your income. If you’re also not reporting it to the IRS, you’re committing tax fraud on top of it.
I have a friend who pays child support out of freelance income, and he has to provide regular income reports to the child support agency – both so they get the money he’s ordered to pay, and also so they don’t assume he’s making more than he is. Hell, I have a friend who is on disability who still has to pay child support out of it.
In reply to What a joke
Also, I must say, without that job I would have been 600lbs at this point. I have no motivation to work out. I enjoy getting paid for it, though.
In reply to Jake
Let’s review this, shall we?
The average tuition at a state university – the same type of school I went to – costs an average of $9,410 per year for state residents. Assuming you could even get accepted to the college, that’s about 11.8% of what you claim you make off of freelance coding alone – easily doable without even taking a loan or getting scholarships. Since you claim you’re just doing the coding as a hobby, and that $80,000 a year is plenty to live off of, you would clearly be fine, financially speaking, while in college, especially if you properly invest your money so it’s paying you back.
Now, you can’t say it’s a matter of principle because you’re just fine throwing money at people who are already being paid to do their job, and a school uses that money to pay the professors and keep the facilities going (hey, look, another place where they pay their employees!).
If you believe anyone capable of tying their own shoes would believe that to be true, you’re absolutely delusional. Hell, the fact that you’d even make the claim while at the same time demonstrating your inability to comprehend the purpose of a diploma beyond being “a piece of paper” shows you probably rode the short bus to school.
In reply to What a joke
Do you do the dishes when you are done eating at a restaurant? Do you go get the food from the kitchen when its done? Becsuse a machine thst brings food to you and every single other table in a busy restaurant would cost a shit ton of money. Do you wipe down the table and reset it when you sre done eating? No you dont. If you want to just pay for the food then go to the store and buy it yourself. You probably dont do that because you dont esnt the hassle of cooking and preparing everything and cleaning everything up afterwards. That’s where the waiters come in. We do something that you dont want to do thus making your night much more convenient.
In reply to luke
Most restaurants hire dish washers and/or bussers. If they’re tacking it onto the waiter’s job that’s not my problem, they’re the ones who accepted the job for the wage they were offered. Waiters are also not the cooks or prep.
The cost of making my own food is lower than that of going to a restaurant. The reason is that the prices are set to make an income. And before you start, no, basic math can show you that the business paying the servers their $7.25 an hour isn’t going to make the cost of food skyrocket. There are several comments through this section that have shown that, at most, it would be a matter of a few cents per item. Fast food workers, who actually do everything that servers do PLUS have to cook and work at a much faster pace, get paid minimum wage while keeping the price of the food low.
Think of it this way – if nobody went to restaurants, or all ordered takeout, wait staff would have no job. Their entire purpose is to serve customers, and any who don’t do that would be fired. Either way, it’s not my responsibility to pay the waiter to do their job, it’s the restaurant’s, and it’s already legally required for them to ensure their waiters
In reply to Billy
You are worthless and I refuse to tip you. Your job is a joke and you are a waste. http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm
You have to make minimum-wage you are overpaid
In reply to Wentworth
Oh that is a good retort. You have nothing but insults to say. Luckily for me and everyone else in my industry, there are not many people like you out there. Don’t tip, I don’t care. You don’t matter.
In reply to Billy
Billy dont waste your time replying for uneducated people. They are just cheap disgusting human beings.
In reply to Billy
Billy, you make excellent points. If an individual doesn’t want to tip their server, they should stick to buffets or fast food. I enjoy good service and will pay for it in addition to my food.
In reply to La’Darius
Bringing me the food I ordered, and refilling beverages is not service worthy of extra money. It is called doing your job. Get a real job, no tip for you ever.
In reply to Gordon
Get a real job? Go fuck yourself, you piece of shit.
Your point of servers spitting in your food doesn’t even make sense… How can someonw spit in food if you already ate it and have the check and are paying?? Nice try :)
And since money doesn’t grow on trees maybe you should be a man and cook for yourself or learn how to save money.
Try being a server and say they don’t deserve it. They do more than “carry food” they deal with scum like yourself, vacuum the restaurant, clean the bathrooms, memorize what’s in every dish and cocktail as well as the prices and what it tastes good with what. Then we have to stay after it closes and vacuum and clean again.
In reply to Nicole
No server does anything more than somebody who works at BK, and they get paid the same minimum wage the law requires servers be paid. If you think being a server is difficult, do the work to get an actual profession. You think it’s so much easier? Prove it. Don’t sit there and whine until you’ve actually done some REAL work in your life. Everyone has had a crappy job in their life – and many, many jobs are far worse than being a server. It’s still menial, unskilled labor, and the compensation of a minimum wage is exactly what it’s worth. And that’s beside the point that it’s not even the customer’s responsibility to pay you for it.
In reply to That’s a lie
Actually servers get paid around $2.83 an hour. People that work at Burger King and other fast food restaurants get paid the state minimum wage. It’s not the same. Uneducated ass!
In reply to Ignorance
Funny you call me uneducated when you don’t know that Federal law requires servers make at least the Federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. The employers just use a loophole to get out of paying the difference in that tips are counted. If you don’t get tips, your employer has to make up the difference, and since they’re your employer, it’s their responsibility – not the customer’s – to pay you in the first place.
In reply to That’s a lie
So what do you do for a living since you know so much about hard work? You obviously have the time do sit behind your computer and go on and on about how servers don’t deserve a tip, so i can’t imagine you have much to do throughout the day. Have you been to college? Did you graduate? Are you following a career path that is specific to your major? I doubt it. I doubt that you have ever worked at any job considered difficult in your lifetime. Why do I doubt it you ask? Because all hard workers understand hard work. Period. I have never met a hard worker who would belittle another hard worker based on their job title. Hard work is hard work, and server is a lot of work. There are harder jobs out there, but a fucking retard knows that. Grow up. If you’re to fucking broke to go to a restaurant and leave a $3 tip, then stay the fuck HOME! Bring your negative energy somewhere else. Also, if a server does NOT WANT TO SERVE YOU, HE/SHE DOES NOT HAVE TO FUCKING SERVE YOU. You will literally sit at your booth unattended. Server’s could care LESS about shitty guest.
In reply to Rodney Benjamin
Why thank you for asking, I have time to respond because I took two weeks paid time off for the holidays. Of course I have a college degree. I graduated highest honors, in fact – in computer science. I got a career in my major’s field within two months of graduation (my official title is Software Engineer). I worked hard for my position and my benefits.
I understand hard work. As I’ve pointed out several times here, I went from homeless to college grad. I did so as a single father. I did my work. I had crappy jobs. But crappy doesn’t mean hard. Waiting isn’t hard. It’s not. It takes no skill. It doesn’t even take that much physical exertion. They aren’t tilling a field. They aren’t even standing at a cash register for hours on end like people working at a store. Anyone who would EVER suggest that being a waiter is hard work has never worked hard a day in their lives. In fact, I have friends who actually failed out of college who admit that it’s far more difficult to graduate University than simply work an unskilled job. My friends in the restaurant industry all agree, as well. The cooks, the managers, the owners, even the freaking dish washers, all point out about how easy waiting on tables is and how obnoxious the servers are for whining about how hard they have it.
I make a rather good living with my job. I can certainly afford a $3 tip. The problem is there’s no legitimate reason to give one. There just isn’t. It’s not the customer’s responsibility to pay a server to do their job. Especially when the employer is already paying them to do so. To suggest otherwise is no different than saying you should pay your cashier for ringing you up, or tipping that guy at BK for taking your order and bringing you your food. To suggest a server doesn’t have to do their job – which is to serve the customer – is absurd, unless they are being unreasonably rowdy, or harassing the server, or something of that sort. People have sued – and won – for being refused service for what is considered an arbitrary reason. Refusing to tip is most definitely an arbitrary reason since there is no obligation to do so. Any server who does so and thinks they won’t get fired is sadly mistaken, especially when the reports start driving business away.
In reply to What a joke
What you don’t understand is that most servers that don’t give a shit are those who are treating it as a part time job… There are those who actually make friends while doing the job. Meeting people with different backgrounds and experience. You go into a computer science major is obviously because you are lacking in social skills, you don’t understand what gratitude is. You only care about yourself, your money and your food. So why don’t you tell me what is excellent service to you? So I can point out to how much of a high horse you’re sitting on.
In reply to Weissman
My social skills are just fine, thank you very much. As I mentioned to Colin, I did a lot of tutoring in school (which requires social skills). I went into Computer Science because it was an intelligent choice. It’s a continually expanding field that pays exceptionally well, there were plenty of jobs available, and not a lot of people can handle the math levels needed. I also am capable of learning the several languages needed simply to graduate – languages that, unlike spoken languages, must be fairly precise.
The TL;DR of it is that I’m a Computer Scientist because it pays well and I could do the work.
In terms of service, it doesn’t need to be a formal explanation. Basically, anything a server must do at /all/ tables (or mustn’t do) is a job requirement. It’s something they’re being paid to do already – by the restaurant. If you can think of something that a server would be fired for doing (or not doing) at every table for the day/week/month, it clearly shows an expectation of the job they were hired to do. This is because (and here’s the important part) tips are not an obligation.
In reply to What a joke
So you are just a cheap nerd, congrats
In reply to oooook
No, I’m not cheap at all. I spend a lot of money to pay the restaurant for what I get. It’s just not my responsibility to pay you personally. You’re not my employee and you’re already being paid to do your job. That doesn’t make me cheap, it just means I’m intelligent enough to fall for your scam.
Honestly, tipping should be illegal. People expecting tips are con-artists who somehow manage to dupe people into imagining they should pay you for work you’re already being paid to do. The fact that servers constantly say they’re not being paid to SERVE CUSTOMERS throughout the comments just show why it’s fraud. What the hell do you think your job is?
In reply to What a joke
You are a big fat douche that hides behind his keyboard. The hardest thing you do in a day is adjust your computer chair. You claim you are a single father? I feel soooooo bad for your son… He will never find a good partner in life, to love and respect him… following suite of a cheap arrogant jerk like you!
In reply to crystal
Again, I’m not cheap just because I’m unwilling to give your lazy ass a handout to do a job you’re already being paid to do. I’m also a pretty nice guy, and my son has a lot to look forward in life because I put in the work to ensure he has a bright future ahead of him.
If you think my job is so easy, why don’t you do it? If it’s so much more difficult for you to wait on people, why don’t you just go out and get a degree and get a better job? It’s easier, right? According to people like you, it takes no effort at all, so there’s absolutely no reason for you to complain that you get crappy pay. Obviously you’re choosing it over the “easier” lifestyle of getting a better job.
In reply to What a joke
Go out, get a degree, and get a better job…haha well if i could do that i would..but thousands in debt for school tuition isn’t what i can do right now..however i do not get handouts from my family. I make my own way. I prefer to work to try and buy a home for my child and i. Unlike you and your spoiled kid. Your job is easy and doesn’t even deserve a title. Any schmo can get a computer degree if they have another source funding tuition and childcare.
In reply to crystal
“Go out, get a degree, and get a better job…haha well if i could do that i would..but thousands in debt for school tuition isn’t what i can do right now..however i do not get handouts from my family. I make my own way. I prefer to work to try and buy a home for my child and i. Unlike you and your spoiled kid. Your job is easy and doesn’t even deserve a title. Any schmo can get a computer degree if they have another source funding tuition and childcare.”
You’re so full of crap. I went from homeless to college grad. I did the work to earn scholarships. I did take loans, but since I was willing to do the work in school, and picked a field I knew I could get a job in, I knew I’d be able to pay them off quickly. You’re just making excuses.
You’re not getting handouts from family – that’s a better option. Instead you’re not only expecting, but here DEMANDING, handouts from strangers. Tips are handouts – they’re certainly not pay for work, since you’re already being paid to do that job. You don’t make your own way at all, you expect other people who earned their income to give money to you for nothing.
My child isn’t spoiled – he knows what it is to be poor, and he knows that managing money is important. He doesn’t get everything he wants just because he wants it, and he has to earn his allowance.
Again, if my job is so easy, why don’t you do it? Why do so many people fail out of my major? Can you do the advanced math? Can you come up with complicated algorithms? Can you learn entirely different languages? You say anyone can do it, yet I’ve known a LOT of people who fail out before getting to their second year.
In reply to What a joke
Are you saying standing up at a cash register is harder than being a waiter? Because that’s thr dumbest thing I’ve ever heard for multiple reasons. Reason number 1 standing for hours is not only part of the job of a waiter buy guess what else we have to do? We have to run around like chickens with our heads cut off cuz dick heads like you want your third free refill of ice tea while the other table needs to put an order in and the othrr table needs ketchup. Reason number 2 at some restaurants the waiters enter the orders into s computer similar to what a cashier does. A cashier stands for hours the same way as a waiter is on his feet for hours running around trying to ensure you enjoy your night
In reply to luke
You do understand it’s their JOB right? And wait staff do have downtime. The only time it’s an issue is generally lunch/dinner rush, and even then there’s generally a moment or two where a server could sit down for a couple minutes. I’ve been in restaurants during rush and WATCHED them stand around doing nothing while they wait to make a round again.
And the two most important things, as I keep pointing out, is that servers ACCEPTED THE JOB FOR THE PAY THEY WERE OFFERED, and that IT’S NOT THE CUSTOMER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO PAY THE WAITER – IT IS THEIR EMPLOYER’S RESPONSIBILITY.
In reply to That’s a lie
Working in a real restaurant and fast food are two complete different things. If people should just got out and get “real jobs” then where will everyone be when you walk into a restaurant and want to be served and fed? Did you not think that the people working in many restaurants as servers are doing it because of the cash tips to put themselves through school or to have extra help for their family? Not everyone can walk into a corporate office and get offered a job with benefits and 50k+ a year. I advise you to consider someone other than yourself before you go and expect great service at a SIT DOWN restaurant, you ignorant fucking douche bag.
Oh wow, let us all be reminded that we are listening to opinion of a mighty “shop floor manager”, talk about unskilled labor. Why don’t you get a real job? But sorry don’t let me tell you how to do your job like you clearly are telling me how to do mine. You know absolutely nothing about how a kitchen or the hospitality industry works.
1. Like many other full time college students, this isn’t my dream job. It is something to make ends meet and help pay for my education so that I will get that “real job” that you speak of.
2. Do you really think that all we do is take your order, put it into a computer and bring it to you? That’s clearly all you want correct? Well fine if that’s what you want to pay for, then that is what you will get. I won’t get you refills, I won’t bring you that extra cup of ranch to you or hot sauce that you forgot to ask for the first time. I won’t tell the chef’s to bump the fries you forgot to order to make sure it comes out with the rest of your meal, I won’t check to make sure your food looks fine before it gets sent out to you, I won’t check on you to make sure your steak is cooked, hell I won’t even treat you nicely because technically I don’t have to. Does all that sound like a pleasant experience to you? I think not. And that is what gratuity is for because honestly I don’t have to do any of that. I can let you sit with your cold food and empty cup and you will just have to deal with it.
3. My favorite because you assholes never understand this. Most restaurants take a percentage out of the servers tips of the night to compensate food runners, hostesses, and bus boys etc. people who are vital to keep services do YOUR experience running smoothly. So for you people that feel that you don’t have to tip, I am actually paying for you to eat in my restaurant, so thank you.
So if you feel like you shouldn’t tip, then fine but tell your server that up front. I won’t be mad, but you will get exactly the service that you are paying for. My gratuity pays for all those extra things I do. My wage is enough for me to “act as a conveyor belt” and ring in food and then bring it to you and leave you alone, but that’s want you wanted, correct?
Educate yourself.
In reply to Rachel
“1. Like many other full time college students, this isn’t my dream job. It is something to make ends meet and help pay for my education so that I will get that “real job” that you speak of.”
I managed to go from homeless to a college grad as a single father without ever working as a waiter. I also never held my hand out and begged for money I didn’t earn, which is exactly what expecting tips is.
“2. Do you really think that all we do is take your order, put it into a computer and bring it to you? That’s clearly all you want correct? Well fine if that’s what you want to pay for, then that is what you will get. I won’t get you refills, I won’t bring you that extra cup of ranch to you or hot sauce that you forgot to ask for the first time. I won’t tell the chef’s to bump the fries you forgot to order to make sure it comes out with the rest of your meal, I won’t check to make sure your food looks fine before it gets sent out to you, I won’t check on you to make sure your steak is cooked, hell I won’t even treat you nicely because technically I don’t have to. Does all that sound like a pleasant experience to you? I think not. And that is what gratuity is for because honestly I don’t have to do any of that. I can let you sit with your cold food and empty cup and you will just have to deal with it.”
If you treat customers like that, regardless of whether they are going to tip you or not, how long do you think you’ll last at your job? How long do you think you’ll be there before you get fired? That’s the job of a server. A job that you are paid to do. By your employer. That’s why you have the job INSTEAD of a conveyor belt, which would cost the owner next to nothing, and wouldn’t take breaks and whine about how very hard it is.
“3. My favorite because you assholes never understand this. Most restaurants take a percentage out of the servers tips of the night to compensate food runners, hostesses, and bus boys etc. people who are vital to keep services do YOUR experience running smoothly. So for you people that feel that you don’t have to tip, I am actually paying for you to eat in my restaurant, so thank you.”
That’s not true of most restaurants, only SOME, and that’s still restaurant policy, not law, and certainly not a requirement. And that’s beside the point that it’s still not the customer’s responsibility to pay you, it’s your employer’s. They are responsible for paying the minimum wage the job is worth.
If you think being a server is hard work, I can’t imagine how you actually do in school, and I certainly can’t imagine how you’ll actually get a job if you actually manage to get a degree. As other servers have so kindly indicated throughout the comments, there are a lot of people with degrees still working as servers.
In reply to What a joke
I can’t even believe how big of a piece of shit you are…just don’t go to restaurants, you should keep your selfish shallow ass at home with a instant meal and save all us decent people the stress of dealing with your existance. I’m sure you are a very angry person in general, probably don’t see good in anything only negativity. But the people your discrediting, their existance is mentioned to make another person’s better, not slave for 2.13 an hour and have to take care of selfish nasty human beings like yourself. Merry Christmas from a server because I love you even tho you can’t love yourself.
In reply to Mike
Slaves don’t get paid, and servers get $7.25. By law. I’m really not an angry person, just an intelligent person. And it’s “you’re discrediting” not “your.” It’s their job, and another difference between them and slaves is that slaves don’t have a choice. They chose the job, the job is worth $7.25 an hour.
And it’s /still/ not the responsibility of the customer to pay you. It’s your employer’s responsibility.
In reply to What a joke
I do not get paid $7.25 an hour, I get paid $2.16 an hour from my employer. If I wanted to work a job that is worth $7.25 an hour, I would work at McDonald’s. I am in medical school and rely on this job to ease the stress that my loans hold for me in the future. If you don’t want to tip servers that work tirelessly to earn money, then go to a restaurant that definitely pays their servers an hourly wage that is much higher than what I earn, or do not eat at a restaurant at all. I would rather not have you as a customer and make your 10% tip, I would rather have no customer at all. I bust my ass to ensure my guests have an enjoyable experience and people like you are not worth the time at all. Just know that karma is a bitch to people who are voluntarily ignorant.
In reply to julia
Federal law requires your employer ensure you make at least $7.25 an hour. If you don’t get enough in tips to make up the difference (and you shouldn’t get any tips, it’s not the customer’s responsibility), the law requires your employer to pay you the difference. This means that your employer must LEGALLY pay you $7.25 an hour if you get no tips.
For a medical student, you sure are ignorant. If “karma is a bitch to people who are voluntarily ignorant,” you’re likely to be screwed.
In reply to julia
You are stupid, and a fucking liar.
http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm
In reply to What a joke
yes it is your responsibility to pay for service otherwise you should go to a fast food. If you want to seat your ass down and have things to be bring it to you you have to pay for, you want a polished silverware to eat your food ,you have to pay for, you want water to be bring it to you pay for, want bread to be bring to you pay for,you want your allergy been taking care for pay for, want someone to clear your plates after you done, you have to pay for ,thats what we call service. if you dont get any of that then you are more than right not leaving a tip, otherwise if you have got all you needed you have to pay for it.Don’t fucking go to a restaurant if you dont want to pay for service.
In reply to ed
The cost of the service is in the cost of the food, and the server does nothing more than somebody in fast food does. There are several fast food places where they bring your food to you. The server doesn’t wash the dishes, the server doesn’t polish the silverware.
The server is employed by the restaurant. Their job is to serve the customers, and they are paid to do that job by their employer. If they don’t do that job, they are fired. The customer pays the restaurant for this, the same as any other business you pay for services. Yet for some reason you seem to think it’s the customer’s duty to compensate the server for something they’re already being paid to do.
In reply to Mike
Wow.. “I love you, you piece of shit”? Really? It sounds like you exemplify the type of mentality that demands privilege as a right. I personally usually tip around 25 percent. My wife and I both used to work in service, and that’s my choice. I was shocked when I read the subject title,s o read the whole article. The writer makes valid point. Granted, he is crass, and without grace or tact, but business owners need to take responsibility for their employees. Big business is sucking the life out of our economy and as we scrape by week to week, they’re living the big life on our backs.
Joe’s Crab shack has recently been trying a pilot program of actually paying their servers a real hourly wage, as have other large businesses.
All that being said….. “I love you and Merry Christmas you peice of shit”? Look no farther for the angry person. You’re looking at him.
Thank you for the insight. Now I know that when someones leaves no tip, the reason is because they are a pompous simpleton, and not because of poor service. :) God bless.
In reply to Carly W
I think it is so funny how you think the world owes you. http://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm
I also think it is funny how servers always lie about making $2.13 an hour when you are making minimum wage with our without tips.
I refuse to tip you because I am wealthy and important. You are no more important to me, then the linen napkin that fell on the floor. Nothing you do requires advanced education, skills, or training. Your job is so pathetic, as an adult you should be embarrassed.
If you ever give me poor service I will have you terminated. The corporate office will send me A gift certificate for a return visit. As a waiter or waitress you truly are nothing more than a conveyor belt. That analogy is exactly what you do. Trying to glorify your pathetic job by making it sound skilled is extremely laughable. All through history the poor serve the wealthy. As a waiter or waitress you should be thankful the wealthy allow you to serve them.
In reply to Gordon
Wow, you are so misinformed. Put your money where your mouth is. It doesn’t matter how wealthy and important you think you are, if you walk into any restaurant and have the balls to tell them you will not tip for service, you will not receive service. It’s called the right to refuse service. Any server can refuse service to you and no corporate office, manager or owner would fire a server for doing so, especially if that person states that they will not pay for service. However, you probably don’t have the balls to tell them ahead of time and get your nut by being deceitful.
In reply to Billy
They have provided a link that backs what they are saying, yet you are calling them misinformed? Now you’re just ignoring what’s right in front of you.
Nobody is being deceitful. Nobody is going in and telling you they /plan/ to tip you, are they? It should never be an expectation.
In reply to What a joke
First off they, as well as you, believe that if you walk into a restaurant you have to be served. That is not correct. If you state that you will not tip your server, you can and will be denied service. The only link that has been provided is for wages. I’m not talking about wages, I’m making reference to you thinking a server has to serve you or they will lose their job. If you refuse to tip, and blatantly express that you won’t ever tip you will not receive service and no one would ever force a server to serve you knowing that you will not pay for service.
In reply to Billy
Doesn’t work that way. I have paid for the food and for the environment. The tables, the cutlery, the music. All that is included in the bill. You say the server can refuse to serve me. Then how will the restaurant deliver what I have paid for? Will the manager himself come and bring me my dishes? The cook?
Sorry, you misunderstand reality. The server is merely the restaurant’s way of giving me what I pay for. If the server refuses, they lose their job. As simple as that.
In reply to bhagwad
No you are misunderstanding reality, since payment is rendered after you are finished, then yes there is nothing a server can do about that. However, if you are so bold as to make it known that you will not be paying for service, i.e. tip, then yes you will be denied service. By everyone. It’s called the right to refuse service and no server would lose their job if those facts are known.
In reply to Billy
Good luck explaining to your restaurant manager how you cost them sales. Or actually not – if a waiter refuses to serve me, I can simply go to the manager and get them fired. Remember – servers work for the establishment. They will do what the establishment requires them to do.
In reply to Billy
Sorry, but if a server doesn’t do their job – which is to serve customers – they will be fired. ANY job where you don’t actually do your job you get fired.
A restaurant would lose customers reallllly fast if they started refusing service to people just based on tipping, regardless of whether customers generally tip or not. To be told that they MUST tip isn’t something customers are okay with. In fact, one of those links I posted was a refusal to pay a “mandatory” gratuity, but the server got fired.
Restaurants need customers to pay for their services. Servers are a dime a dozen and easy to replace.
In reply to Billy
“First off they, as well as you, believe that if you walk into a restaurant you have to be served. That is not correct. If you state that you will not tip your server, you can and will be denied service.”
Wait a second. This contradicts what you said earlier.
“My job that I get paid to do is take your order, bring your order to you, and render payment, no tip required.”
You can’t even keep your story straight. You’ve directly stated it is your JOB to serve the customer, so if you refuse to do so, you’re not doing your job.
The tip is not paying for service. My bill is paying for service. The tip is not required. Even when supposedly “mandatory,” it has been demonstrated that a customer cannot be forced to pay gratuity.
In reply to What a joke
You are the one who can’t keep the story straight. When I stated that my job is to take your order, bring your order to you, and render payment, no tip required, it was in reference to you already being in the establishment. If this is the type of service that you desire, then I would have no problem with you not leaving a tip. Because you real have not received any service. However, the service that I provide in the restaurant I work for, entails more than that and that requires extra payment. Hence said gratis. Now if you require more service than the basic service you are provided with and express that you will not pay for the extra service requested, then yes I can refuse to provide you with said extra service. I do not have to cater to your needs and wants, especially if you are not going to pay for it and you state that ahead of time. You pay for basic service on your bill and that is all that you are entitled to. I do not have to refill your drink or make sure you are satisfied with your food especially if it is known that you will not be paying for extra service and if you think that I have to, you are wrong. That is a courtesy extended to our guests.
In reply to Billy
Any extra payment for services provided by the RESTAURANT should go to the restaurant. If you think it’s not your job to do that, try not doing it and see how long you keep your job.
If you think you’re valuable to your place of employment, explain why it is you’re not paid more? Any employer that values an employee ensures the employee is paid well.
In reply to What a joke
I am paid well and I make a very good living too. My place of employment does ensure that I am paid well and I am very valued there. I make them a lot of money. And the restaurant doesn’t provide the extra service, I do.
In reply to Billy
Yeah, I’m sure you do. /sarcasm
In reply to Billy
Try not doing it. Try doing just the “basic service” you mentioned. Tell me how that goes.
In reply to What a joke
I don’t provide basic service, but if that is what the customer wants, that is what the customer gets. If you think that I have never given less service to a customer because they didn’t tip me, you are wrong. I have and I did not get fired and the customer did not complain. They got what they paid for. I know you will always see servers as nothing more than conveyor belts because you only go out to eat and you don’t go out to dine. There is a difference. You enjoy your low level eateries and your substandard service, because that is all you want.
In reply to Billy
If they ask for it, it’s still providing “better” service because you’re doing what they asked. Try doing it as a standard rule. That’s the point, you say it’s not part of your job to do it. You’ve repeatedly said that it’s not part of your job to provide “good” service. Your being nice? Your smiling? Your getting extra things the customer asks for? They do that at Taco Bell. Bringing food to the table? They do that at Hardee’s/Carl’s Jr.
Stop providing your so-called “excellent” service as a norm, regardless of expectation of tips, and see how long before you get fired, because if it’s not part of your job, and not part of what you’re paid for by your employer, you won’t.
In reply to Gordon
You are what’s wrong in this world. You are wealthy and important? However, dirt poor. You are poor in compassion.understanding..i am sure friends or love. It’s “wealthy and important” greedy monsters like you that gives America a bad name. I hope you lose every dime. I hope you become humbled. I hope you one day have to be a survivalist…and when you are scared to get your wealthy and important hands dirty… You will rely ONCE again on the “linen napkins on the floor” of the world to help you survive… But you won’t…you will die clutching your phone and wallet. You are below everyone…your income doesn’t determine anything. You are the epitamy of scum. I am so thankful to not be you.
In reply to crystal
I think it’s hilarious that you assume the people here are bad just because they won’t give you money you don’t deserve. I’m sure many people here give money to charities. They also pay more in taxes than you, which go to social programs, like food stamps and WIC.
You’re not a charity. You’re asking for extra money from customers just for doing your job (that you’re already being paid to do). YOU are what’s wrong with this world – an entitled, whiny adult-child who complains about how difficult life is while refusing to do the work to make it better and expecting everyone else to just hand you the money they’ve earned and you haven’t.
In reply to Funny
Your opinion determines if i earn my money or not? I pay taxes. We all pay the same percentage. Givingmoney to charities doesn’t make up for your undeniable lack in character. I bet you wouldn’t last an hour as a server.
In reply to crystal
“Your opinion determines if i earn my money or not? I pay taxes. We all pay the same percentage. Givingmoney to charities doesn’t make up for your undeniable lack in character. I bet you wouldn’t last an hour as a server.”
Actually, no, we don’t pay the same percentage in taxes. Apparently you’ve never heard of tax brackets. The more money you make, the more is taken out at each bracket. Not only do I pay more in taxes in actual dollars, I pay more of a percentage.
I still find it funny you’re basing your view of my character on whether or not I am willing to give you MY money that I earned for you to do what your employer pays you to do. I volunteer my time and money to charities who actually deserve it. The fact that I’m unwilling to just give you money you don’t deserve and haven’t earned does not make me a bad person. The fact that you’re /expecting/ people to give you money you haven’t earned and don’t deserve makes you a bad person.
Pretty sure no Indian ever tips anyway, so this isn’t really shocking at all. As much as I hate stereotyping, it is almost always true when you work in a restaurant. You can validate your reasons all you want, but I’m pretty sure your family is the person that taught you that your tip is never to show gratitude, yet you probably demand extra service, like everyone else does. Always the neediest when you come for us to serve you, and tip 10 percent to the girl trying to pay her way through college, even though you work in your big office job, and have your nice cars. No one else is going to say it on here, but I bet your ass they have been thinking it. It might not be your job to make up for the wages, but if you have so much money anyway, a couple extra bucks shouldn’t break you anyway. Its a shame that every where, IN EVERYTHING (not just tipping, donating to charities too) that the rich always tip less, and the people who have less always tip more. Also it is a myth that employers have to make up federal wage, because I have walked out of there with less than that on slow days tons of times. Sometimes you go in there, and you have someone have a 20 dollar check as your only table, and then the tip is only 4 dollars, but then your there doing all of the other sidework in the back for another 2 hours, such as cleaning, preparing, and prepping for the nighttime to ensure everything goes to plan. The places that abolish tip ALWAYS give servers at least 12 dollars an hour, and the food DOES go up, because unlike fast food, our food isn’t paper from god knows where. We’re actually educated on everything that comes through. The only reason you refuse to tip is because you are a stubborn asshole who doesn’t give a fuck about someone else getting an education, so they don’t have to work this job. Unfortunately college prices are too high nowadays, and you can’t have the logical argument of getting a better job, when serving is the best playing job a lot of people can get who are also in college, which accommodates their schedule. Not everyone has a daddy handing them money if they need it.
In reply to Its racist but true.
If your employer does not make up at least your minimum wage after tips, then they’re breaking the law. Always amazes me how instead of blaming cheap – and possibly criminal – employers, you’re criticizing the patrons.
In reply to bhagwad
Dirty muslim scum. I have a shooting target that looks like your grandpa.
In reply to crystal
HAHA and you’re calling US people of poor character?! You’re a prejudiced, horrible person!
So now you’re a prejudiced, entitled, whiny person who expects people to pay your way in life instead of doing the work others did to earn their money. You’re truly a scourge on humanity. I’m sad that you’ve already reproduced.
In reply to Its racist but true.
I don’t give a fuck about you, or the tip you feel you’re entitled to. Legally I am only required to pay my bill. If you refuse to do your job by serving me, you will be terminated that is reality.
Servers are a dime a dozen. Wealthy customers are not easily replaceable. You are easily replaceable, and the least skilled in the restaurant industry. Even the dishwasher is more valuable then 10 servers. You are delusional to think you’re worthy of more then min wage. I will not tip a living conveyor belt.
In reply to Gordon
I’m a restaurant manager. If you come into my establishment and behave in this manner, I will back my servers and fire YOU. In other words, don’t come back. I would rather take care of people who appreciate the food and service my team offers. You’re not welcome.
In reply to Kelly
Sure you are. Why don’t you just pay your emoyees like you’re supposed to instead of expecting the customers to do it for you? You’re the real trash here, if you’re even telling the truth. And you’d be soon out of business if you start throwing out paying customers.
In reply to Kelly
Let me give you a lesson on how the world really works. I went to Ruth Chris 2 weeks ago and I did not tip. Party of 4, the bill was a little over $300. New Year’s eve we had dinner again at Ruth Chris. This time we celebrated with single malt scotch, and a $150 bottle of Champagne. Our bar bill was over $200 before dinner. The waitress was a very rude disrespectful to us. After we ordered filet mignon for dinner, the waitress was slamming our plates on the table and being very rude again.
The manager came over immediately and apologized. He asked the waitress if something was wrong and if she needed to go home. She told the manager that we had a large bill last time and did not tip her.
The manager apologized to us profusely, and told us dinner tonight would be on the house. He took the waitress by the arm and immediately took her into a private area of the restaurant. A few minutes later The manager came back to our table. He informed us that we are valued guests, and please be assured this will never happen again.
We told the manager how she was rude from the very beginning. He told us she was no longer employed by Ruth Chris. This is how the real world works. The customer is valued. Servers are easily replaceable. As a server you need to learn your place, she learned the hard way.
In reply to Gordon
Customers are a dime a dozen chump. “Wealthy” customers are no different than poor ones with a gift card. You are no better than any single person on this thread…even though you might think so. Infact you are below every one on here. You are the most pathetic kind of human there is.
You are ridiculous. Go back to Europe where you belong. Waiters in Europe get paid decently and a tip is an extra. In America waiters get paid significantly less and a tip is expected. You should try to get used to the way America does things if this is where you are now living or visiting. You are just as bad as people who come to live in America and make no effort to learn English.
In reply to Josie
Waiters and waitresses in the US get Federal minimum wage, by law, and that’s exactly what they earn. Tipping should never be expected.
In reply to What a joke
This is completely incorrect. I was a cocktail waitress and made $2.83 and hour plus tips. If you don’t have the decency to tip, then don’t eat at restaurants where tips are expected (aka everywhere). You are very ignorant and clearly have not worked in the restaurant business before. It’s not easy dealing with people like yourself all day.
In reply to Rachel
“If an employee’s tips combined with the employer’s direct wages of at least $2.13 an hour do not equal the Federal minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference.”
http://webapps.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/002.htm
Federal law says you’re a liar, or just stupid. Which is it?
It is not my responsibility to pay your wage. It is your employer’s. A tip is never required, nor should it ever be expected. By definition it is a gratuity.
In reply to What a joke
I am stupid and a liar. I really do make min wage with or without tips. I just feel entitled to a tip because I am too dumb to get a real job.
To all of you mother fucker who do not and will not tip your server, stay the fuck at home or go to a nasty fast food restaurant and eat your food wrapped in paper.
Your are served by another human being and you are better than them because you are paying. Working as a server is not easy and it us an honorable job, its a lot better than taking handouts form the Government.
If your service is bad then by all means do leave a tip. This is how we do it in America, we value everyones hard work and show our gratitudes by paying for service rendered.
In reply to Are you for REAL
“Your are served by another human being and you are better than them because you are paying. Working as a server is not easy and it us an honorable job, its a lot better than taking handouts form the Government.”
A tip is a handout, they are just cutting out the middle man by asking for it directly from the worker instead of getting it from the taxes they pay. Waiting is not an honorable job in any sense of the word. It is, by its very nature, unskilled and disrespected. Honorable, in contrast, is defined as highly respected.
“This is how we do it in America, we value everyones hard work and show our gratitudes by paying for service rendered.”
We do pay – the restaurant. We pay our bill. The waiter is already being paid to wait on us. Do you tip the cashier at the store? Do you tip the bus driver? Do you tip your teachers? These are all people doing their jobs, just as I do my job, yet we do not expect to be paid by the customer for what our employer is already paying us to do.
I have been working as a server for a couple of years now while I go to school, and I can attest to the fact that it is not an easy job. Before I was a server, I worked as a hostess, a dishgirl, and a comptroller for the same resturant, and would have completely agreed with everyone in saying that servers are annoying, and whiney, and lazy.
When I started serving myself, I realized that it was a lot harder than I would have thought. At the place that I work at, we are given 5 table sections, and during our rush, depending on how many servers are scheduled, we could have up to 9 or 10 tables, with groups up to 12 people.
The motions of being a server are easy. You wait for the order, you put in the order, you inform the kitchen staff of anything special, and you bring out the food. That’s not the part about bring a server that is difficult. The difficult part, in my opinion, is the customers themselves. You will have people that will ask for something every time you walk by, you will have crying babies that make it impossible for you to hear the next tables order, you will have rude, cheap people that try to find every little excuse that they can to have things taken off of their bill, you will have people who get sick at their table, people who will spill drinks, people who will need 5 drink refills, you will have people who will take out their anger and frustration out on you, you will have teenagers that giggle anytime you ask them something, or people you went to school with who will talk about you within earshot, wondering if you will be working here for your entire life. Throwing all of that in, and the need to have to remember 100 different things about each table–whether table 42 will need hot sauce for their pizza, or how many boxes table 35 needs, or if some other person at some other table requested that a special drink be brought out with his meal–it can get overwhelming. I would never say that it is hard to be a server, but is is definitely overwhelming. And I think what’s what many of the servers are mixing up. Anybody can be a server, but it does take a certain kind of person to be a really good server. It’s a fun and interesting job if you’ve got the attitude for it, but there are definitely some days where you want to tear or hair out or have a mental breakdown.
A lot of people who go to the resturant that I work at are regulars. There are two people who come in every so often that are notorious for not tipping. Our manager has specifically told us that we can not refuse service, but none of us will give them poor service just because we know they don’t tip. It is not what we would like to portray as both servers, and human beings. People are NOT required to tip us. Some people, like the “successful, wealthy people who have ‘actual’ jobs” will not tip. People who can only afford their meals, will not tip. People who did not receive quality service will not, and should not, tip. It is not an expectation, or it would be included in the bill. It is up to our customers to decide whether or not we are deserving of a tip, and whether or not they are gracious enough to do so. People who tip definitely out weigh those who dont, so there is no point in throwing a fit about it. If you don’t want to tip me, then I don’t want your tip. It’s as simple as that.
In reply to None Of Your Buisness.
Don’t worry, I will never tip you.
Your career doesn’t make you important. Your heart does. Frankly, people like you are the lowest of the low. I’d rather serve a homeless person who can’t tip…than an entitled “rich in money, poor in spirit” flake such as yourself. Your existence alone should tip the universe for dealing with you breathing.
In reply to crystal
You know, the computer, tablet, or phone you’re using to whine here, and the website itself, the browser you’re using to view it, the network that IS the internet… ALL of it… was designed and is managed by people who are important enough for it to exist. If it weren’t for them, there would be none of it.
If it weren’t for waiters and waitresses we’d have to get our own food… like we do most of the time, anyway. *gasp* THE HORROR! /sarcasm
In reply to Funny
You are easily replaceable and worth nothing. Any graduate can do what you do. I know highschool students who have been more successful than you. A dime a dozen. If it werent for internet users, you wouldn’t have a job. You’re welcome.
In reply to crystal
“You are easily replaceable and worth nothing. Any graduate can do what you do. I know highschool students who have been more successful than you. A dime a dozen. If it werent for internet users, you wouldn’t have a job. You’re welcome.”
You’re joking, right? You have no idea how successful I’ve been, so how would you know if they’ve been more successful than I have?
The internet has nothing to do with my job, I was simply pointing out that people with those jobs actually are important, where servers really aren’t.
In reply to crystal
I am important because I possess complex skills that are used for the advancement of medical technology. My skills are very valuable, so I am paid accordingly.
Without waiters or waitresses we simply would have to get our own food from the kitchen. This is why you are paid min wage, and not valuable. You are easily replaceable with no skills to speak of.
Just being able to serve wealthy important people should be an amazing experience for you.
The pay you receive reflects your worth as a waiter. Because you are worth less then a dishwasher, tipping you for doing your job is pathetic. Expecting to be tipped shows you are foolish and delusional. You are worth much less then minimum wage. The so called service you think you provide, is nothing more then your simple job.
Did you know that most places let you order food to go? You don’t have to tip then. You won’t have to deal with us annoying servers interrupting your life. You can experience the food you wanted in the comfort of you own home or somewhere else. The parking lot if you will. Do us all a favor and start doing that. There’s so many things servers have to do besides just taking food & drink orders, delivering food to tables, and keeping up on drinks you may want. It seems to me that you are slightly uneducated in that industry, but that’s fine. It’s impossible to know everything. Your article is highly offensive.
In reply to Ashley
When I pay for the food in a restaurant, I’m also paying for the ambiance, the air-conditioning, the cutlery, the music, the seating…all of which is why restaurant food is more expensive than fast food. Getting it “to go” means I’m paying for something without receiving it.
I have a right to enjoy the restaurant…and the restaurant uses waiters to deliver the food to me. The food and ambiance that is included in the menu price and that I am paying for.
In reply to bhagwad
Quite frankly, bhagwad, I don’t see how this argument is still going on. Many people still tip and will continue to do so. Many people don’t tip and will continue to not do so. Either argument is similar to a dog chasing it’s own tail.
People should just do what they feel is right and stop trying to tell others what is right for them.