As long as service is table service, not doing the thing you are already paid to do like make a sandwich at subway or burrito bowl at chipotle. I've let that sucker me in for a while due to "you just need to answer this question then tap" guilt. Have added it up and it's hundreds of dollars since this became normalized. These same restaurants have increased their prices too, pass those increases into pay for the employees.
Totally. Agree I worked both at a counter for a chain and bussed tables at a nicer restaurant. They are totally different situations when it comes to service and tipping. I donāt pay 20 percent for a takeout order i pick up at a restaurant. Thats 10 percent max
Using your line of logic just as devil's advocate - aren't servers just doing the job they are already paid to do? So why do they get tips but not the subway employee or the chipotle employee?
No, there is a world of difference between working a counter and providing quality table service. Itās like comparing a kid doing oil changes and a mechanic rebuilding an engine. They are both working on cars, but the level of knowledge and effort are miles apart.
So does the mechanic rebuilding the engine get tips?
Tipping is a very arbitrary system that relies upon guilt and absolves the business owners of having to pay adequately.
Iām not going tonight screw over a server because the system sucks. You arenāt fighting the man, youāre fucking over a hardworking group of people. Hopefully the system changes, but that would actually mean our government doing something
The difference in skill required between a waiter and someone working a counter is minimal. The counter worker may have to be more skilled in some settings. Both can be trained at approximately the same time and require no previous experience, education, or specific skills.
A mechanic rebuilding an engine requires specific skills and education and experience.
So you should know high end restaurants routinely have nepo hires with no experience as waiters and they do fine for the most part. You don't see that with mechanics who are expected to rebuild engines. There's a very good reason for that.
Not the person you replied to, but Iām a server. The short answer is that servers receive tips due to their position being deemed a ātipped positionā, thus being subject to the federal tipped minimum wage of $2.13/hr. This varies by state, though, so some servers donāt rely so heavily on tips as in other states.
If a server doesnāt make at least minimum wage with their combined hourly wages and tips, the restaurant is legally obligated to compensate the worker up to minimum wage.
I know it may seem like we arenāt doing anything special, but the ones who are good at their jobs also possess knowledge to curate the experience for a guest. We often go out of our way to cater to allergies and preferences, make the visit extra special for a birthday or event, recommend a drink that pairs well with your order, etc. We do all of this with the (and I hate to say this) expectation we will be compensated for it.
That being said, I still think tips depend on service. Mistakes happen and should be forgiven, but I have personally worked with people who think they deserve a tip for showing up, but their service is hot garbage. However, I think itās completely classless to have the āanti-tipā mentality, but still patronize establishments where staff relies on tips. Thereās something foul about requesting a service, knowing the custom, and then stiffing the employee. Just not cool, imo.
I understand the "tipped employee" payscale, I was just asking why the kinds of service the person I replied to changes when they tip. Their example uses Subway and Chipotle, which I think are standard minimum wage paying jobs but, and I know they didn't say this, but what about baristas? I believe baristas are sometimes considered tipped employees, right? So the person working the counter at the local coffee shop might be making $2 an hour but based on what the person I replied to was saying they wouldn't tip them. You also don't know if the person working the register is JUST working the register or if they trade off with other employees at different stations throughout the day. Know what I mean?
For the record, I tip when asked because I've never worked in the service industry and I don't know who is on the tipped scale and who isn't. I also recognize that the service industry, be it waiting tables or working a counter, fucking sucks. So if my 20% tip can make their lives easier I'll do that.
I went into a little detail in my third paragraph. Basically, the tip is for the experience. The person at Subway isnāt telling you how the spinach will compliment your meat choice. The barista isnāt putting a candle on your croissant for your birthday. I still tip at these places (admittedly, I try to tip people who change my windshield wiper blades, too), but they are already paid by the employer for the service theyāre providing. Tips are traditionally for good service contributing to an elevated dining experience.
Iām sorry, Iām trying to type this in a way where I donāt sound whiny or accusatory or anything. I just want people to understand that we arenāt just taking an order and ringing it in (if we are doing our jobs right), because I can understand why tipping can be annoying for the consumer.
Re: second part - you're good! I think we're both just trying to discuss and explain.
My original goal was to point out a flaw in their logic. They said "you shouldn't get tipped for the thing you're paid to do." I tried to show I wasn't being a troll or argumentative by declaring devil's advocate and claimed, in a way, good service is what wait staff is being paid for, although their wage should be considered illegal, in my opinion. The wait staff is paid to be hospitable and knowledgeable about the menu just as a Chipotle employee is paid to add your chosen ingredients to a burrito.
I understand the wages are paid differently and that's why it's important to always tip wait staff. Like I said before, I tip almost always when asked because there may be some sneaky jobs out there that are considered tipping wage that I simply don't know about. Also, minimum wage is stupidly low so if my $2 helps then they can have it. I'm far from rich but I try to look out for folks when I can.
I don't visit coffee shops etc, however I do visit bottle/beer shops and do tip there. There's often conversation etc so it's more than grabbing to go food.
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u/_HiWay Aug 28 '24
As long as service is table service, not doing the thing you are already paid to do like make a sandwich at subway or burrito bowl at chipotle. I've let that sucker me in for a while due to "you just need to answer this question then tap" guilt. Have added it up and it's hundreds of dollars since this became normalized. These same restaurants have increased their prices too, pass those increases into pay for the employees.