If you'd prefer, we can avoid the controversy surrounding the industry at the moment and people's angsty positions on whatever side. Instead, just a simple question...

If the laws were changed to insure Waiters and other staff were paid at least minimum wage, would you stop tipping them?

Consider this from a economic perspective; since many arguments hinge on the notion they don't make enough. The cultural aspects of tipping can be a foot note at most with that in mind.

If minimum wage wasn't enough, at what wage would you stop tipping?

Perhaps also consider that prices would most likely change to compensate the increased wages in staff.

No . But then again i personally don't understand why we tip waiters to begin with and why they don't make minimum wage . I mean , give extra money to a person that a) just takes an order and brings food and b) is doing thier job . Here is some extra money for doing what you are supposed to do . I will admit i am ignorant on this subject.

Yes.
The customer shouldnt have to be paid more than the person needs to not rely on tips to make their money.
thats bullshit.
Peopel dont tip in japan, and if they do its an insult saying "youre terrible and you might need this favor later on"

tips need to stop

Matthew94:
I'm pretty sure I've seen people post a few times that these laws are in place at the federal level so workplaces have to pay them minimum wage by law if tips do not cover it.

Corrected, we don't play our employees. ;)

You are correct though. Federal law requires employers make up the loss if tips do not cover at least Federal minimum wage. But there in lies (one of) the problem; employers are asking customers to directly cover the costs of their employees. Why not simply factor it into the costs? (Although some people would bock at the increase in pricing)

I don't tip.

Granted we have a minimum wage in the UK but still .... they carried my food from the kitchen to my table, how the fuck is that worth a tip *well done, you can put one foot infront of the other while carrying a plate ... who's a special little one, here have some money for a lolly".

Probably not, though I would be less inclined to tip "just because". You can't change social/cultural customs just by flipping a switch.

I do think every, or at least most jobs should have some way to incentivize going above and beyond you're basic job requirements. Tipping is a pretty straightforward way to accomplish that, especially for that line of work.

Oh boy, tipping thread. Where's that dis gon' be good image macro...

I tip and I live in England which already has a minimum wage so I'm gonna flip the question the other way around; If I lived in America I wouldn't feel obliged to tip regardless of service as many American serving staff seem to think I should.

If you do a shitty job I won't tip.

If you do an average job (as in bare minimum but nothing I could complain about) I won't tip.

If you do anything above average (like simply having a good attitude) I will tip.

If you go above and beyond (Like taking time out of a busy schedule to assist me) I will tip very well.

Marter:
In Canada, I'm pretty sure they do make minimum wage. And we all still tip. So I guess my answer is "yes."

They probably receive the regular minimum wage, but in canada generally the minimum wage for people receiving tips is lower. (In quebec, tip receiving minimum wage is around 8.50, while regular minimum wage is 9.90)

OT: I would tip for exceptional service, but it wouldn't be a default.

I would only tip if they were getting a minimum wage. If the tip is used to 'make it up', that implies that they will get minimum wage regardless of whether I tip so all of the tip effectively goes to management.

I don't have a problem with tips being shared, because I used to have a job as a kitchen porter, so that was the only way you got tips. Kitchen Porter is the sort of job where people only notice it when you're doing it badly. Every time you haven't complained about dirty plates when the restaurant's full is because the KP's are working there asses off.

I give tips for excellent service as an incentive to keep it up, and only if such service is provided. I don't give tips out of pity, or out of any other sense of obligation.

Changing the wages so that they don't rely on tips won't change the benefits for the aforementioned trend. There will always be people who do more than others, and I'm of the opinion that the attitude should be rewarded.

Matthew94:

DevilWithaHalo:

Matthew94:
I'm pretty sure I've seen people post a few times that these laws are in place at the federal level so workplaces have to pay them minimum wage by law if tips do not cover it.

Corrected, we don't play our employees. ;)

You are correct though. Federal law requires employers make up the loss if tips do not cover at least Federal minimum wage. But there in lies (one of) the problem; employers are asking customers to directly cover the costs of their employees. Why not simply factor it into the costs? (Although some people would bock at the increase in pricing)

Grammar nazi eh?

It's spelled baulk not bock.

"there in lies (one of) the problem"

That should be plural, it should be problems.

You started it...

Actually, unless we're playing billards it's balk(Baulk being an alternative spelling still only used in the UK where both forms of balk arose). Which in turn is from the middle english balke. Also, "there in" should more correctly be "therein"

I live in Ireland and have worked as a waitress on and off for a couple of years. We have minimum, However I like to tip. If a waiter or waitress is nice, well-mannered, and friendly then i will tip well. The only time I won't tip is if the server is unpleasent and rude.

Working as a waitress, It's always nice to be tipped. Don't forget waiters are on the front line when it comes to a restaurant. If a customer complains about something, It's usually to the waiter, If the food is cold or not cooked to the customers liking then it is the waiter that has to deal with the complaint. Not the chef.

I know this is over the top but I've had to deal with customers like this with no thanks what-so-ever.

I don't mind tipping. Minimum wage isn't a whole lot anyway, and if a waiter does a good job (hard to really say exactly how they make it better, but I've definitely had meals when at the end I'd say the waiter added to the experience), I don't mind paying them a bit more.

In China though, waiters don't get tipped, and that works too. The service in decent restaurants is just fine, from my experience. I think in the end, good waiters are going to do a good job anyway, but if your culture says you ought to give them a few more dollars for a job well done, then why not?

In my country they do make minimum wage, and I still tip. Even if their wages went up, I'd probably still tip. Don't know why, seems silly. Don't tip any other people working minimum wage.

just an interesting fact, in england money made of tips gets taxed so allot of what you give to the waiter goes to the government

No, I won't stop.

In my country, they do get a regular salary. Giving tips is considered a token of courtesy for a good service. Its not mandatory at all... So, I tip them if I think they did a good job, regardless of their wage.

You know what's really fucked up?

Places now charging for delivery, which makes people think delivery drivers get that money, so they don't tip, while the driver still makes <$5/hour and gets only $.15 on the dollar from those delivery charges.

That's fucked up.

Not really here or there, but yes, I would still tip even at minimum wage. Gee, thanks for catering to my every whim for 30-45 minutes. Here's a couple bucks for you, person who gets to be subjected to my tabletop bio-hazard waste and overflow of food-based filth, not to mention every pointless comment, complaint, and dirty flirtation I could throw your way, and all for a pittance.

Oh, and server? Be sure to share that with the dishwasher, poor guy's up to his elbows in everyone's filth, and gets to stay until 3am cleaning up after everyone else for not much more than the same amount of money you got from the clock, minus the cash-in-pocket.

evilneko:
Oh boy, tipping thread. Where's that dis gon' be good image macro...

Meh, I would hope the specificness of the question helps alleviate much of the controversy behind the discussion. But this is the internet after all...

Matthew94:
...that will show him.

Indeed, I have been shown.

TheBobmus:

Don't you tip people like bellboys? It's not only waiters that tend to get tipped. Taxi Drivers as well, if they go above and beyond.

True, sorry, I tip taxi drivers too, from time to time. Never really stay at hotels with bellboys, and I'd carry my own stuff anyway, so not them.

I generally don't tip very often even now, okay you did something you're expected to do, well done, if they do go beyond the call of duty then perhaps I'll tip, that's if there isn't a bloody service charge already included and then they can forget it, can you tell I'm bitter?

I tip all personal services regardless of whether they are expected to or not as a personal gesture.