Originally Posted by Whatnext (Post 2437072)

I worked as a first responder for many years. No one ever tipped us for saving their lives.

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2437076)

What city did you work in where first responders were paid less than minimum wage with the understanding that tipping for their services was customary?

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580 (Post 2437081)

I believe you missed the point entirely. Pay people properly for the work they do and a verbal "Thank you" (acknowledgement and appreciation) should be all that is expected. Giving people money for doing their job (tipping) is demeaning. Both to the server and the customer. Food service is honorable work and deserves fair payment, not "tips" like an organ grinders monkey tipping his hat for coins. It's a bribe. It's a scam.

Originally Posted by dougjb (Post 2437103)

A person working full time hours at about $10 per hour is earning approximately $20,000 per year.

If you think you could survive on that annual pay, then don't tip at all. Otherwise, cough up some tip money.

Personally, I have never understood the concept of tips being used to supplement a worker's pay. No other industry suggests I pay extra for the businesses work force. Restaurants just have awful business plans if they have to rely upon the largesse of their patrons (which they do).

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2437089)

I don’t think I missed the point at all.

But as for missing a point…. What you write sounds nice (in an insulting kind of way) but it doesn’t reflect today's reality. Tipping may be a bribe and tipping may be a scam but tipping is customary in the US and tipping often provides a major part of a server’s income.

Originally Posted by dougjb (Post 2437103)

A person working full time hours at about $10 per hour is earning approximately $20,000 per year.

If you think you could survive on that annual pay, then don't tip at all. Otherwise, cough up some tip money.

Personally, I have never understood the concept of tips being used to supplement a worker's pay. No other industry suggests I pay extra for the businesses work force. Restaurants just have awful business plans if they have to rely upon the largesse of their patrons (which they do).

Originally Posted by shaw8700@outlook.com (Post 2437126)

What happened to 15% for a tip? They have a built-in system of getting more money - when restaurants raise their prices the tip is raised too. But really I don’t like tipping. For example, we just had a mini-split put in our garage. The guy worked until 8 p.m. Should we have given him a tip? How much?

The idea that some people get tipped and others don’t is bizarre.

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2437029)

Tips aren't supposed to be part of a server's paycheck from their employer. They're supposed to be in ADDITION to it. As a "thank you" from the customer directly, for doing a good (or better) job. There are people with extreme views in either direction:

People who think it's good to give at least 20%, and up to 40% of their tab, usually because they want to show off how generous they are. Those are the people who think they can buy their way into heaven.

People who think that they shouldn't tip at all, because the boss is paying the employee, and the employee is owed nothing by the customer. Those are the people who don't think they have to earn their place in heaven.

And then the people in the middle like me: old-fashioned. Traditional. If service is adequate, no complaints but nothing spectacular, I tip 15%. If service is good, but not great, they get 18%. If service is outstanding, they get 20%, plus one penny, plus a compliment to the manager to let them know their employee was responsible for maintaining high standards for their restaurant. If service was BAD, they get no tip, and a complaint to the manager.

I tip curb-side folks if they have to come out in the rain. I toss the change into the tip jar when I buy something at a take-out joint that has one - sometimes. Those are people who are already earning minimum wage or better, they are not "tipped employees."

Originally Posted by JMintzer (Post 2437130)

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

When the wife and I eat out, exactly who am I trying to impress when tipping?

The server? Someone I'll probably never see again or have them remember me that next time I dine there?

I've been lucky enough to have made a good living for the last 40 years. I have no problem sharing some of that. During Covid, I tipped like Ray Liotta in Goodfellas... Why? Because I could. And because those I tipped were having a hard time making ends meet due to Covid restrictions.

Oh, and I don't believe in heaven (just like you don't)...

Originally Posted by fdpaq0580 (Post 2437134)

Like this post! Wouldn't it be nice if if the ones you have so generously helped support didn't need the tip money because they were being paid properly by the business that values their employees.

Originally Posted by Sensei (Post 2437011)

Great information. Clearly, that additional $3.02 will more than compensate for any tips any server could gain in an hour. No more tipping necessary at all!