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May 16, 2005
Am I deluding myself by believing that I am entitled to my own money?
From what I understand, most states in the nation use the federal minimum wage standards of $5.15 an hour for non-tipping jobs, and $2.13 an hour for tipping jobs. The state of Oregon (where I reside, let me remind you) sets minimum wage for ALL jobs, including tip-based jobs, at $7.35 an hour.
Yet every single non-fast-food, non-waitstaffed restaurant has a tip jar on the counter... Even certain Subways have a tip jar.
My biggest issue is this: Why exactly am I tipping you? I feel no desire to tip a cashier for being nice to me during our 10 second exchange, and no reason to throw money at some guy who probably can't even see back in the kitchen (much less, even steps into it).
Tipping waitstaff is another thing altogether though, and I will never lower that amount of tipping, because I have a lot of respect for the multitude of really awesome waitstaffers out there, and the same applies to delivery drivers. I don't care if I waited forever, I don't care if my food is crap, I don't care if they only filled my drink once --I always tip at least 10%. With bartenders and sushi-chefs and usually baristas, I make an effort to not only tip, but also encourage friends to tip. I feel that if a bartender or sushi-chef is good, they've gone the extra mile to perfect their skills, so they really deserve something extra.
Also, I understand that it sucks to be on your feet all day behind a counter, Miss Barista, but do NOT eye me with a "Where the heck is my tip?" every morning with my Chai Tea. The reward for doing a good job and treating customers fairly is called a paycheck, and an added bonus to that is the ability to keep receiving that paycheck. Personally, I think tip jars are kind of rude, especially the ones with snide little remarks on them intended to make you feel bad for not tipping.
I hate to step on toes, but I have to mention just one last thing. Some people I know, meaning my friends, say that they deal with assholes on a daily basis, so they deserve bigger tips. Well, I'm sorry, but I do not in any way feel that dealing with assholes should be rewarded. I'm sorry you deal with them though, but in my job, I can practically promise you that I deal with more, and I have no complaints about not tipping.
I get demands from people all the time, working what might be described as "tech support," and then they yell at me because they're frustrated. And if someone needs complicated shit done at an inopportune time, I do it, and I don't complain about it or ask for extra money.
Also, in no way am I asking for a tip jar. That would be insulting to the students of this campus, and really embarrassing for me, personally.
Okay, I really need to stop this rant before I get out of control. I'm going to go home and make my own food, so I don't have to tip anyone. Ha.
Posted by Stacy on May 16, 2005 02:46 PM | Filed In: Food
Comments
I don't like tipping because it feels like tax evasion to me. Not that I know if or how tip money is added to the regular income and taxed accordingly, but it still feels like that, and I rarely tip for that very reason.
All work should be taxed equally and employers should pay reasonable wages instead of forcing the employees to beg to be tipped.
Just my 2¢ (tip not included).
Posted by Robert at May 16, 2005 03:22 PM
Cashiers all have tip jars because none of those people are really cashiers, they are future movie stars, rock stars, and bestselling authors. Your tips are an investment in the future of pop culture.
Posted by Tom at May 16, 2005 09:22 PM
In the words of Steve Martin, "I tip ebe-ry-botty...".
Posted by ian ashley at May 17, 2005 12:05 AM
I only tip waitresses and some waiters, I never tip a doorman or a baggage handler cause hey thats what they get paid for, and if someone has a tip jar out I think that is the same as a beggar on the street with a sign "will work for food or money"
Posted by steve at May 17, 2005 05:01 AM
tip jars are for dumping in unwanted change.
Posted by stacee at May 17, 2005 01:18 PM
I TIP HAWT CHIKZ
Posted by dave at May 17, 2005 07:51 PM
To answer Robert's post, restaurants report a percentage (around 12%) of the gross sales for food and beverage to the IRS for their staff. This means that if you have a $200 food bill and $200 wine bill, the restaurant will report 12% of $400 or $48 as income to the server. In other words, the server has to pay tax on it whether you tip it or not. So, please tip your waitstaff.
As for the other places Stacy mentioned, screw 'em. My friend worked at a dry cleaners, and put a tip jar on the counter just to see what would happen. At the end of the first week, he had an extra $30 bucks. It's just a ploy to squeeze an extra few bucks outta them.
If you REALLY wanna have fun, drop a coupon in thier tip jar and watch thier reaction!
Posted by Strongbad at May 18, 2005 09:02 AM
I, personally, see no harm in having a tip jar (especially if it's simply a plain jar labelled "Tips")... you're not forced to tip...
however, if they give you the shit-eye when you DON'T tip... they should be beaten because, yes, they do not work for tips.
I tip all sorts of people if they provide me good service. Gas station attendants that go the extra mile, get tipped. Cabbies get tipped. Waitstaff get tipped (especially because many restaurants DO withhold based on the total sales, and they often have to split tips with the cooks, bus staff, etc). Delivery people get tipped.
It's just custom and it's why people get into those jobs. If they were minimum-wage alone, most people wouldn't take the jobs. Especially deliver people who MIGHT get paid a minimal mileage amount which doesn't cover fuel or wear/tear on their own vehicles.
*shrug* Counter people who had tip jars... well.. tip 'em if you want to... if they put out the extra effort for you... if they went the extra mile... but if they are sour-ass mofos... don't tip 'em...
'course... maybe I'm biased...
Posted by Jason at May 18, 2005 02:17 PM
Tipping...not an issue for me. I live in Australia, and we don't tip here. I don't really see the point of the tipping custom I'm afraid. People can be 'sweet or sour' to the people they deal with, but it's the smile or the nod of the head as your customer leaves that should make you feel good for a job well done.
Posted by Baron at May 19, 2005 03:07 AM
Except it doesn't say that you're a rude prick if you don't make a donation. And I don't think it's so much about tipping in general, as it is about people who expect tips.
Posted by Baron at May 19, 2005 03:32 PM
*pounds fists*
*fussy face*
Since when were you BACK..?!!?
Oh, there's the entry. But still!!!!
glad to have you.
Posted by Jacquelyn at May 19, 2005 04:47 PM
Good entry!
I never understood why employees put up tip cups at fast-food joints and the like, but I don't find harm in them either.
There used to be tip cups at the coffee shop I work at. Since there were tips to divvy up between employees, I thought I should have gotten more than the cashiers because I was the one who actually made all the baked goods & other assorted food that they're handing out to the customers. But the tip cup ploy also left a bad taste in my mouth because they'd put the cups next to or right on top of the company's charity box. I don't even leave change in the tip cups when I go into work as a customer. heh
Eh. What it comes down to is if you're not satisfied with your job/pay, nobody's forcing you to stay there. Drop the 'tude and gimme my chai. haha
Posted by Erma at May 21, 2005 12:03 PM
