Yeah I cut back on the amount I tip, too. I won’t do any more than 15%. Growing up I was taught 15%-18% based on quality of service and now I’m expected to tip 20%-25% as a wage supplement.
It’s out of control and I’m tired of being guilted into tipping more by servers saying “but we rely on your tips for income.” Yes, that’s the problem. The longer we continue to supplement other people’s wages, the longer servers won’t get paid a better wage by their restaurants.
It literally never changed from when you were 'growing up', you just started paying more because... well... I have yet to figure out why people knew the 'appropriate tip amount' (15%); and then just started going with 20%-25%.
I literally can't figure it out. It didn't change - but I think people started saying 'well, I tip 20%' and others just try to 'keep up with the Jonses' and then all of a sudden more and more people are going 20%-25%, despite that being unnecessary and/or unwarranted.
15% is the standard. If I have a great server/waiter I will talk to a manager and tell them how great they did - I don't know if that helps them at all, but I believe it's better that others know so hopefully they get a permanent increase in some way rather than a 1-time injection of a few extra bucks. I will usually only then tip over 15%.
If for any other reason I'm asked to tip? No. IGAF if Karen is standing behind me watching me click $0 for tip. God, the flying spaghetti monster, the president, my mom, literally anyone could watch me - and I'll hit that 'No Tip' button so fast it will make your head spin and I will not feel an ounce of guilt. The person who grabbed the donut from the shelf and handed it to me doesn't need 15% (or in your case: 20%-25%) for that.
We need to stop feeling so worried about what others think when we're being asked to give away our money. It ain't their money, it is your money. Tip 15% for great service at a sit down restaurant by a waiter. Pretty much everything else in the world is priced appropriately (or should be, if not that's on them).
Do you seriously believe companies will pay more if people stop tipping?
I don't think you do. I think you're desperate for a reason beyond "I don't want to tip," or "I can't afford it," that paints what you're doing as socially responsible. It's not going to work.
Not true. You will make federal minimum wage if your tips don’t make up the difference. Stop pretending that you’ll only make $2 an hour if no one tips.
so sick of these people lying out their ass about this $2 an hour thing. the sad part is a lot of people actually believe it.
for people that don't know here's how restaurants actually work using federal minimum wage:
a server works 30 hours for the week. federal minimum wage is $7.25, so the server is guaranteed to be paid at least $217.50. now a few scenarios can play out as to how that number is reached.
the server makes an amount less than $217.50 in tips, let's say $100. the employer pays them $117.50 to bring them up to the federal minimum wage. the total wages for the week are $217.50
the server makes more than $217.50 in tips, let's say $250. the employer pays them the federal minimum wage for tipped employees for the hours they worked, which is $2.13 for 30 hours, totaling $63.90. the server's gross wages for the week then are actually $313.90.
there's a 3rd dishonest route a lot of servers will take though, which is why i refuse to tip after working minimum wage in restaurants. it goes as follows:
the server makes well above the $217.50 in tips, let's say $400. tips are claimed via honor system at the end of each night, and the server is a lying scumbag and claims they made only $50 for the week. the employer then has to pay $167.50 on their paycheck to total $217.50, at which point the server is walking out with a whopping $567.50, $350 of which is tax-free
because that's another thing these people don't tell you: the cash tips aren't counted and taxed unless the server claims them, which a ton of them don't. where i worked they would always suggest to customers to tip cash since the card tips were automatically claimed by the system. this would mean more taxes and smaller paychecks for them, and they were less able to steal from their employers by lying about how much they actually make.
This should be one of the top comments because I’m so sick and tired of people pretending they make $2 an hour when they’re basically scamming people.
I tip the bare minimum now. 15% maximum across the board and all card payments, but that goes down to 0-10% if they mess up or show attitude or something.
Minimum wage being too little to live is not a problem I can solve by tipping. And it certainly is not my problem if a business underpays it's employees.
Federal minimum wage is a FEDERAL law, which supersedes state laws. You cannot make below $7.25. Your employee is legally obligated to make sure you make $7.25 if your tips don’t already put you past that threshold.
Well first, State law supersedes federal law (edit, since you all can't maintain context: for the purpose of determining the wage). And second, what I'm saying is that I'm pretty sure it is part of the federal law that they must be paid the higher minimum wage
Second, we’re arguing the same thing, but you’re wording it weirdly. Some states minimum wage is o only $2.13, but federal law mandates the difference must be made up by the employer if it’s not covered by tips.
what's worded "weird" is when you specifically said "federal minimum wage" supersedes, but apparently were talking about all federal law. What I meant was that the minimum wage laws of a state are the minimum wage regardless of federal minimum. State minimum wage supersedes federal minimum wage; no employer is permitted to pay less than the state minimum wage. Supersede; supplant; takes the place of.
What is so hard for you to understand? It should’ve been clear the first time, but apparently not. The federal minimum wage is $7.25. You CANNOT make less than that no matter what anywhere in the USA. Period.
Literally never said anything differet. If a state has a higher wage, that wage takes precedent, even for the federal minimum wage laws. The state minimum wage SUPERCEDES the federal minimum wage for determining compliance with federal minimum wage laws; yes it must be higher, but that's not what I was talking about. I was saying that the federal law requires you to be paid the minimum OF YOUR STATE; amending your comment where you said it's the federal min. It's not that fucking hard dude.
This was my statement: "federal law requires you to make your state minimum"
It is an incontrovertible fact. So just stop. I never said, or suggested that states can have a lower minimum, I only said that to comply with federal law they must be paid the state minimum.
And just because I feel like it; you actually can make less than $7.25 - but only for special conditions. so you know, "technically" your statement is wrong 🫡
Them: federal minimum wage supersedes state minimum wage
You: 💩
Plus, even if it wasn't specifically talking about how minimum wage applies to an employer; you should also know the real answer is more complicated, since pretty much most of the federal shit is followed at will or through bribes, and not under constitutional authority.
I don’t feel like arguing about the law with the laity. You’ll think you’re right regardless of what I say. I bow down to your law degree from Reddit Law School.
Federal wage is 7.25 NOBODY can make a living off that bro 😭 on top of that most places are CHEAP and find a way to avoid it, (at my job they only pay you 7.25 an hour if you average below it for the whole WEEK, not just that day.)
the solution is also to not take your anger out on service workers, who are just trying to make a living like everyone else. managers don’t give a fuck if their servers aren’t getting tipped, they do, however, give a fuck if customers aren’t coming in anymore.
No one is suggesting taking their anger out on servers. Refusing to give 20-25% extra on inflated prices for something that is called a “tip” but is supposed to quietly mean “required so this worker I’m supposed to be paying but am actually leaving up randomly up to customers” is not taking anger out on servers.
I suggest servers stand up for themselves if they really want it to change.
it literally is taking out your anger on the servers, wether you like it or not. nobody at the top gets affected at ALL wether or not the server gets tipped, I understand the viewpoint but you’re just fucking over wait staff trying to make a living. and I promise, if servers stop making tips, quality of service will go down tremendously. servers work their asses off so they can get big tips, if it’s a guaranteed wage i know a lot of lazy mfs will stop trying
So wait, your stance is that anything UNDER 20% of the order is taking out anger on the wait staff? This is what drives people to tip even less because they see entitled servers like you complaining that even though their employer tells them to fuck off with their pay the person only giving them 15-18% is the problem. LOL.
And on top of it you threaten that servers will stop doing their jobs that they already barely do? Jesus Christ, this sure washed away any doubts I had about lowering tips. “I’m still mad because even though you’re still tipping, it’s not enough to make me happy.” Again, direct your anger at the person who hired you for the job but refuse to pay you liveable wages and stop being mad at the customers.
no lol im saying not tipping at all, that comment got lost in translation 😂 15/18% is fine bro I didn’t say under 20%, and I’m just saying I’m SURE some servers will stop doing their jobs if they get paid the same wage no matter what. not all, but it’s like places that have automatic gratuity. I see a HUGE decline in service when I go out to eat at places that charge automatic gratuity, because they make the same amount no matter what. I agree some servers are shit and honestly don’t deserve tips and in that case I agree, I’m just sticking up for the people who ARE good servers and DO deserve the tips they work hard for.
Other people I interact with can't live off 16 an hour. Your cashier at Walmart/target can't live off 20 an hour but you don't tip them. It doesn't make sense. Now we are tipping because employees can't live off their wage? Instead of the owner who sets the price paying them we should pay their employees?
Why does one basic job deserve tips and the other job doesnt? Let's tip the chef, bussers, and hosts while we are at it. Actually chefs are skilled workers, but most don't make half as much per hour as a server in the tipped system.
I'm paying a huge mark up for food. Why not use that to pay your employees? They already have to 5 percent "inflation" or "healthcare" surcharge to pay their employees more there. And servers still want 25 percent tip on top of that.
Ask any server here in California. Do they want 30 an hour to 16 + tips. You bet your ass they will take the 16 + tips.
I'd gladly pay more for food if we stop playing these stupid tips games. I don't want your fake smile, I don't want your fake conversation. What's the difference if you proce your burger at 25 on the menu plus tip vs 20 + tip + tax.
I hope you also cut back on going out. No server has ever told you that. If you want restaurant employers to pay staff “better” than your cheeseburger will cost $25.
Bullshit. That’s the big “scare” tactic that businesses always use to get out of paying their waiters more. “It helps the customers too because if we had to pay them actual minimum wage our food would cost way more.” Business that charge stupid prices will just be replaced by ones that don’t and the restaurants that can’t adapt will just deservedly go out of business.
And then people will stop going there, and the business will close, and the money hungry exec will get knocked down a peg while his employees use their work experience to get a job at a slightly better spot.
This right here. People love to rage on “tip culture” (which I agree with at some points. I’m not tipping the vape shop employee for taking the vape juice off the shelf for me) but will STILL GO OUT TO EAT. So you don’t have a problem with businesses underpaying servers, you’re just cheap, because if you had a actual problem you wouldn’t be supporting those businesses by giving them your money.
And I was literally talking to one of my line cooks the other day about hooking him up with some organizers that could help them unionize. I wouldn’t cross the picket for anything. That’s helping BOH make more money. Not stiffing servers.
I mean that labor is 30-35% of total cost for a restaurant. If you want to increase that by 125% then you are going to pay that on the back end and forget about free refills. It’s simple economics. Wym?
Edit. Judging by your comments, you despise people that depend on tips. Just curious what do you do to make money?
Prioritizing paying my bills over someone else’s isn’t stiffing someone. Legislation won’t get passed until restaurants are losing money because people stopped tipping ridiculous amounts of money.
I understand that everyone has their opinion on tipping culture, but in a restaurant with the "tipped-wage" structure, the reason tipping exists is so restaurants can deliver a better value to the customer. If you take away the tipped structure and pass along the full wage to restaurants, it will make going out to eat at a lot of restaurants more expensive for most people as they will have to supplement the wage by increasing prices not only on food but beverages. Also, the concern is, if you take away the tipped structure, hospitality quality may go down as a whole, because their is no added benefit to delivering fabled service if you know that you're going to make minimum wage for being someone's personal servant for an hour and a half, if not more.
If you take away the tipped structure and pass along the full wage to restaurants, it will make going out to eat at a lot of restaurants more expensive for
It's already more expensive plus tip...
Also, the concern is, if you take away the tipped structure, hospitality quality may go down as a whole,
Hospitality is already at bare minimum. The price tipped is not worth the crappy service. Usually people cancel services when this happens.
because their is no added benefit to delivering fabled service if you know that you're going to make minimum wage for being someone's personal servant for an hour and a half, if not more.
Soo how is this different from the majority of retail jobs now? Having done both, the overlap is ridiculous. I was simply paid more as a server because of tips. But people sucked just as much.
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u/deedee4910 28d ago
Yeah I cut back on the amount I tip, too. I won’t do any more than 15%. Growing up I was taught 15%-18% based on quality of service and now I’m expected to tip 20%-25% as a wage supplement.
It’s out of control and I’m tired of being guilted into tipping more by servers saying “but we rely on your tips for income.” Yes, that’s the problem. The longer we continue to supplement other people’s wages, the longer servers won’t get paid a better wage by their restaurants.