Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredguy123
Agree. I wouldn't tip them. Also, I avoid restaurants that charge a mandatory "gratuity" for large groups. To me, it's insulting. At least the IRS recognizes that a mandatory gratuity is not a tip.
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I'm okay with a restaurant adding 15% to the bill for large parties. This is why: there are times, when a large party will have a dedicated server. That server doesn't serve any other table while that party is there, because the server already has 20 customers and really just shouldn't be expected to manage more if there are other servers on the shift.
If that table's host says "please give me the bill, I'm taking care of it" and he stiffs the server, then that server has just spent the last hour-plus working his butt off for less than minimum wage, and ZERO opportunity to earn a dime from any other customer for that hour.
My grandparents always undertipped - they put $1 on the table, no matter how large or small the bill. They decided that $1 was quite enough, the server should "just get a better job" if they want to earn more than that. Because they assumed that it was -that- easy for everyone to "just get a better job." So my sister and I always snuck a few bucks extra to the server after the grands went toward the exit of the restaurant. We estimated, since the grands wouldn't let us see the bill. Often there were 14 people: grands, my parents, my mom's two sisters and their spouses, and all the grandkids. I was the oldest grandkid and since I was working, it was no big deal to me to toss in a five or a ten a few times a year to ensure that the server wouldn't be utterly miserable after dealing with our family drama for an hour (just somewhat miserable, but hey - that's the customer service business for ya).
This kind of thing does happen. Not often, but often enough to cause a server to walk out on the job. Employers who understand this, will make sure that the larger parties are guaranteed to kick in at least the minimum gratuity. Customers can always top it off if the service was remarkably awesome, but generally no more than 5% of the pre-gratuity, pre-tax bill.