[maureenod]

Servers do not get minimum wage. Their hourly wage is much lower. They also have to do "side work" before and after, usually 2 hour each shift. And also, the poster that said the server forgot her bill. Well, that was taken out of the servers pay. I was a server in collage and I would rather stand on a corner with a cup than do that again.

[NYGUY]

Originally Posted by HimandMe

When did it change here into a system to bolster up the salary of underpaid staff....

When restaurants were allowed to underpay their staff by not even paying minimum wage.

[Record10ti]

Originally Posted by NYGUY

When restaurants were allowed to underpay their staff by not even paying minimum wage.

You of course understand that a certain position only offers a certain wage....

[outlaw]

Originally Posted by NYGUY

When restaurants were allowed to underpay their staff by not even paying minimum wage.

So you don't believe in the market theory of supply and demand?

[biker1]

In FL, the minimum wage for wait staff is $8.05 per hour. If the combination of the hourly wage and tips do not add up to $8.05 per hour the employer must pay additional money so that they realize $8.05 per hour.

Originally Posted by NYGUY

When restaurants were allowed to underpay their staff by not even paying minimum wage.

[HimandMe]

Yet tips aren't meant to be "wages"...nor is it fair to the hard working server that always goes the extra mile that the slacker ...expects...demands the rewards of a tip...that only the eager beaver really deserves...

i like customs of reward for good work ...paying it forward, giving anonymously but not blanket expectations especially when service is quite bad or when it is automatically decided that a percentage is put on my bill either way, as a matter of 'company' policy.

Am I wrong in my thinking?

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by outlaw

I usually tip 500% of my bill. Are the tippers still going to tip when the restaurant is fully robot operated? Robots have to make a living wage, too.

Originally Posted by Rebel Pirate

So if you and your spouse eat out and the bill is $50, your tip is $250?

Based on Outlaw's final comment, I think he is tickling our funny bones.

[rubicon]

Originally Posted by HimandMe

Am I the only one having a hard time with some of these threads? If tipping is an act of generosity for good service, given without strings how did it ever become something "expected" or worse"demanded". How can people call others cheap or stiffing others for not putting out like they do for reasons they may or may not understand. When did this system change into something other than what it originally was? It didn't change in Europe, at least in parts I've travelled to where you put down a single Euro as a tip and the staff shakes your Hank thankfully. When did it change here into a system to bolster up the salary of underpaid staff and if you didn't or perhaps came from Europe like my girlfriend and didn't understand, were called cheap?

A tip was always a tip for good service....not something automatically expected....and btw....we are generous people with good hearts, just having a problem with this thread.

Himand Me: I agree with you 100%. However it seems our society has been compromised by rickeyD's The Dangerfield Effect"", "America's Entitlement "Mentality" or "Customer Guilt"
tipping should be made commensurate with performance

The push by government/unions in minimum wage, regulations is pushing restaurants to invest in better technology .

I personally would rather order from a tablet and have a robot bring my order to the table

Naw I'm kidding I missed the human interaction

[PennBF]

I remember many years ago my wife and I were on our way to a function and we stopped at a small restaurant to have something to eat. The service was terrible and the food OK. I was not happy and left with giving only a 5% tip. We went to the function and all evening I was haunted by the fact that the poor waitress that waited on us was probably relying on the tips to pay for her family and meet expenses. As a result I drove an extra 20 miles to go back to that restaurant and as luck would have it it was still open. I went in and told the poor waitress I forgot to leave a
respectable tip and gave her the 20% I should have. The lesson I received from this is to think of the person serving, they may not be perfect and it may or may not be their problem but it is what they use to support their family and we owe that to them. I leave a 20% now and I don't have any second thoughts about the service or food. So what, we are lucky to be able to eat out.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by PennBF

I remember many years ago my wife and I were on our way to a function and we stopped at a small restaurant to have something to eat. The service was terrible and the food OK. I was not happy and left with giving only a 5% tip. We went to the function and all evening I was haunted by the fact that the poor waitress that waited on us was probably relying on the tips to pay for her family and meet expenses. As a result I drove an extra 20 miles to go back to that restaurant and as luck would have it it was still open. I went in and told the poor waitress I forgot to leave a
respectable tip and gave her the 20% I should have. The lesson I received from this is to think of the person serving, they may not be perfect and it may or may not be their problem but it is what they use to support their family and we owe that to them. I leave a 20% now and I don't have any second thoughts about the service or food. So what, we are lucky to be able to eat out.

This world needs more people like you.

[Nucky]

Originally Posted by PennBF

I remember many years ago my wife and I were on our way to a function and we stopped at a small restaurant to have something to eat. The service was terrible and the food OK. I was not happy and left with giving only a 5% tip. We went to the function and all evening I was haunted by the fact that the poor waitress that waited on us was probably relying on the tips to pay for her family and meet expenses. As a result I drove an extra 20 miles to go back to that restaurant and as luck would have it it was still open. I went in and told the poor waitress I forgot to leave a
respectable tip and gave her the 20% I should have. The lesson I received from this is to think of the person serving, they may not be perfect and it may or may not be their problem but it is what they use to support their family and we owe that to them. I leave a 20% now and I don't have any second thoughts about the service or food. So what, we are lucky to be able to eat out.

Eureka! The Voice Of Reason. On The $$Money$$.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by PennBF

I remember many years ago my wife and I were on our way to a function and we stopped at a small restaurant to have something to eat. The service was terrible and the food OK. I was not happy and left with giving only a 5% tip. We went to the function and all evening I was haunted by the fact that the poor waitress that waited on us was probably relying on the tips to pay for her family and meet expenses. As a result I drove an extra 20 miles to go back to that restaurant and as luck would have it it was still open. I went in and told the poor waitress I forgot to leave a
respectable tip and gave her the 20% I should have. The lesson I received from this is to think of the person serving, they may not be perfect and it may or may not be their problem but it is what they use to support their family and we owe that to them. I leave a 20% now and I don't have any second thoughts about the service or food. So what, we are lucky to be able to eat out.

And I will add my

Tipping has become part of the cost of eating a meal in any dining establishment that takes orders at the table and then brings the food and beverages to you. I personally don't think that the original intent, or how the whole thing got started, really matters. Those of us who are fortunate enough to be able to dine out can afford a few bucks to help someone who may very well need that small amount much more than us. It is often more about kindness than satifaction with the restaurant.

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by Marathon Man

And I will add my

Tipping has become part of the cost of eating a meal in any dining establishment that takes orders at the table and then brings the food and beverages to you. I personally don't think that the original intent, or how the whole thing got started, really matters. Those of us who are fortunate enough to be able to dine out can afford a few bucks to help someone who may very well need that small amount much more than us. It is often more about kindness than satifaction with the restaurant.

Another great post.

Let's not forget that the IRS assumes that a server will receive additional compensation over and above their base salary (8% I believe?) and will be taxed accordingly.

So if said server does not average that 8%, then they are taxed on money that they did not actually receive.

I'm guessing no one on here would take kindly to being taxed on money they didn't actually bring in, so it is easy to see (at least for me) that a couple of extra bucks for a tip is the right thing to do.

As someone else mentioned, I am just grateful that I can eat out anytime I choose whereas there are so many people that cannot.

[HimandMe]

I get it finally. Here in the U.S. It is a kindness for underpaid workers.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by HimandMe

I get it finally. Here in the U.S. It is a kindness for underpaid workers.

As compared to where?