Tipping.....?

Question

why do we tip waiters, baristas, hairdressers, ect? I mean they do get a paycheck. Whats the point in tipping them? besides letting them have extra pocket money? I don't see teachers, doctors or lawyers getting tips? I work at a daycare..... where the heck in my tip?

haha I'm not mad they are getting tipped, I mean, I tip them myself. But who started this tipping thing, why do we only tip certain people, and why do we even do it when they are already getting paid?

Answer 1

They're tipped because they work hard and don't get paid worth c**p.

Answer 2

Waiters don't make minimum wage and rely on their tips to make up the differance.  Teachers, Lawyers and Doctors make way more than the minimum wage.

Answer 3

They get a pay check but they are getting paid less than minimum wage. They get paid about $2.50/hr- their wages are made up almost entirely of tips. Teachers, doctors and lawyers, on the other hand, get paid wayyy more than $2.50 per hour!

Answer 4

The custom of tipping came from the time of patronage of classes.  Certain people were doomed by their class and station in life to be in significantly lower earning capacity than those they served.  Think of the old fashioned bell-hop, the shoe-shine boy and other vocations that were basically assigned by class and social rank.

The assumption was that those people didn't make much anyway and the patronage of the better-off was what got them by.  But, the expectation thereof was that the service given would be exceptional in order to "earn" such patronage.

So, we now have established in law that waiters and waitresses can be paid an hourly wage below the minimum wage based on the assumption that their skilled service renders them patronage that puts their earnings over minimum wage.

It is something like the theory behind commission pay, in that since service will often make or break it for an establishment, the servors employed there must have the incentive to strive for that tip.

I assume that as long as waiters and waitresses are willing to work under the law as it exists and are willing to except a lower than minimum base pay, then the practice will continue.

Thankfully, we don't see starving shoe-shine boys, footman or others whose vocation arose specifically out of social barriers to better opportunities.

Answer 5

like everybody has said waiters make maybe 2-3 dollars an hour, i guess it helps keep the cost of the food cheaper, i never did understand why they don't just pay them minimum wage

Answer 6

service industry workers get paid through tips or commission.  servers get hourly, but it's like $2 an hour.  tips are how they make a living.

Answer 7

If waiters and waitresses were paid at least minimum wage, I wouldn't see a need to tip either.  But it seems they make around $2.45 per hour and that's just ridiculous.  If restaurants were forced to pay them minimum wage (thus also causing food prices to go up) then we would not be expected to tip.  But since they are paid a ridiculously low wage because they are expected to make it up in tips, it is up to the rest of us to do what we're supposed to do.

Answer 8

I'm not sure about baristas and barbers, but waiters make less than minimum wage because they are expected to make money from tips. In the United States it's customary to tip around 20%, and at minimum 15%.

Answer 9

I think it's for the excellent service that they give us.

Answer 10

We are paying them for good service and they do not make very much for an hourly wage. You are working with children. Most likely the kids are keeping you entertained, you should be tipping them. I really hope you tip the kids in the future as you should as they are keeping you entertained.

Answer 11

Tipping in the United States is widely practiced and is considered by a few to be a social obligation under a variety of circumstances. Many consider the custom to be antiquated, adding an unnecessary level of complication for the customer. Employees in occupations where tipping is common often receive very low salaries and the majority of compensation in tips. However recent laws passed in several states have resulted in servers making over minimum wage (e.g. California, Washington, etc.) United States wage laws stipulate the option of lower minimums for occupations where tipping is the custom.

Tipping is often computed on the amount of a transaction, before tax. The practice of tipping varies from place to place. In general, tipping is practiced when services are rendered by an employee in the restaurant, bar, hotel, and/or taxi industries.

Tipping is usually up to the discretion of the person receiving the service, while most establishments add a gratuity to parties of 6 or more. The customer should verify this in advance, in order to avoid double tipping. In the case of excellent service, a customer should feel free to include an extra tip even if the establishment has added some gratuity, as the service professional usually has no say about whether or not their employers use this policy.

When tipping is expected, giving a very small tip, such as a penny, is used as a deliberate snub, to indicate service was awful, while still showing that the customer is a regular tipper but that the service did not warrant a tip.

[edit] At a restaurant

Tipping is considered by some to be a social custom in restaurants having traditional table service. The customary tip for a restaurant meal in the United States historically ranged from 10 to 15 percent of the total bill (before tax) for good to excellent service. Today 15 to 20 % (before tax for good to excellent service) is apparently now the norm [23]. According to Fodor's: At restaurants, a 15% tip is typical for waiters; up to 20% may be expected by some waiters at more expensive establishments. It is still under debate how the 15% tip become prevalent. If one was to assume that as inflation and cost of living increased the base price of the meal then the 10% tip would have also risen at the same percentage.

Many restaurants include a mandatory service charge (not to be confused with a tip or gratuity) often at 18% or more on the bill for groups of 6 or more guests. [24] Reputable restaurants should require their servers to inform their patrons of such hidden charges before they order. However, this should be verified by the customer to avoid tipping on top of the service charge.

Tipping on wine with a meal requires some discretion/judgment, as many restaurants mark up their wine 200 to 400%[citation needed]. Tipping etiquette websites (e.g. Findalink.net/tippingetiquette, winespectator.com, bremercommunications.com, betidy.com, etc.) suggest a tip of 15% on the meal before tax, and 5-10% on the wine (especially if the total wine bill is near or exceeds the cost of the meal).

With the advent of many traditional table service restaurants offering take-out and curbside service, standards for tipping vary. One source advocates optional tipping.[25] Others say that tipping should be 5-10%.[26] More money may be offered if exceptional service is provided or if the order is particularly difficult.

Tipping at buffet-style restaurants depends on the level of service. If patrons get their own beverages, $1 per head is usual. If patrons order beverages (or more) from the server, then a nominal tip such as 5% of the bill based on service quality may be considered.

Tipping at fast food restaurants and coffee places such as Starbucks (where there is no traditional table service), is not necessary, despite the growing number of tip jars (a.k.a. guilt cans) appearing at them.

It is common for servers to "tip out" portions of their tip receipts to support staff like bussers. Bartenders usually are tipped separately by the patrons ordering drinks at the bar and receive a "tip out" generally ranging from 1% -2% of the servers total sales.

[edit] At a bar

When purchasing alcoholic beverages at a bar it is customary to tip. One dollar per drink is customary. If a bartender is taking special care to take and fill your drink orders quickly at a busy bar where others may be waiting for service, a tip in the higher range is appropriate.

[edit] At a hotel

Bellmen are customarily tipped approximately one dollar per bag in five star hotels, and often tipped for deliveries (food, boxes, faxes). Room-service personnel at most American hotels expect tips, anywhere between 10% to 15% of the price (before tax) of what was ordered. It should be noted that many hotels automatically add a service fee to room service meals. The customer should verify this in order to avoid double tipping. A small tip for the housekeeping staff is discretionary. Tipping the front desk staff is almost never done unless the service is exceptional.[citation needed]

[edit] Delivered meals

The driver is often tipped 10%. A greater tip can be given if the driver has to drive in inclement weather (e.g. snow), carry heavy loads, and/or climb flights of stairs. This issue is complicated by establishments sometimes charging a delivery fee, which is similar to a service charge, although in many cases (e.g. pizza delivery establishments such as Dominos) the driver gets no part of the delivery fee, and may be under-tipped as a result.[citation needed]

[edit] Car wash

If a person hand dries the car, he/she is sometimes tipped.[citation needed]

[edit] Getting a haircut

For a haircut or salon service, it is customary to tip the barber or stylist 10% to 20%.[citation needed]

[edit] Valet

At restaurants or hotels where the customer valets their car, it is customary to tip the valet $2-5 or occasionally more at high-class establishments.[citation needed]

[edit] Tattoos and Body Piercing

It is also customary for a customer to tip a tattoo artist or body piercer. Although tipping for these professions is customary, there is no set percentage to tip the artist.[citation needed]

[edit] Christmas season

Many service staff are tipped annually during the Christmas season, such as newspaper carriers, house cleaners and pool cleaners. Some people also tip their local mail carrier in this manner, not knowing that it is illegal to do so (see government workers below).

In some large cities, the staff of apartment buildings, such as building superintendents, porters, concierges and doormen, receive similar annual tips.[citation needed]

[edit] Government workers

Under United States federal law it is considered bribery to tip government employees. However, they are permitted to receive gifts less than or equal to $20.00. A non-monetary gift valued at $20 or less is appropriate. A potential tipper can donate money to a charity related to the government agency. For example, most National Parks have related "natural history associations", in which case the worker that prompted the tip may appreciate hearing that their service prompted a donation.[citation needed]

[edit] Other

Many reputable retailers forbid their employees to accept tips (although this is illegal in some states, such as California, due to the fact that state law states "tips are the property of whom they are given, and employers are not allowed to require employees to refuse, give, or share their tips with anyone"[27]. Tips are not generally given to parcel-delivery workers, and acceptance of tips may be forbidden by state laws and/or the employer. No tip is expected for retail clerks who bag one's groceries or carry one's purchases to the car. Some grocery stores have a jar for spare change by the cash register, which is not for tips but is used to help cash customers who are short on change (for example, a customer paying a $5.02 bill can use $0.02 from the change jar and thereby avoid paying $6.00 and getting $0.98 back in change

Answer 12

they get tipped because there base pay is very low, generally lower than minimum wage. They get paid based on the service they provide and who better to determine what they have earned then the customer. And don't forget to tip the Dealers at the casinos you visit, their base pay is very low as well.

Answer 13

The wages for some jobs are set up assuming that the people will make tips.  Like others have pointed out, restaurant servers are often paid below minimum wage under the assumption that the rest of their earnings will be in the form of tips.  Granted, that is not the best set-up, but it's the way things are here in the US.