How do you feel about tips in restaurants?

[trish]

Restaurants in the US do not pay their employees a living wage, let alone the legal minimum wage for other jobs. At least the staff who wait on tables can supplement their income with tips (the general rule is 20%). The waiters and waitresses are not responsible for the ambiance, the food, the conversation at the table next to yours, what's playing on the juke box or the TV etc., yet their tips often suffer should any of these prove annoying. Cooks are often paid very low salaries as well and even when the food is very good they are never tipped. Owners are out to make a buck, and if it means stepping on the backs of their workers so be it.

[trish]

I heard this story being discussed on NPR yesterday as I was driving home. It seems the customer is suing because his receipt, showing his signature, was photocopied and posted on the internet. The claim is that his signature is personal and protected by privacy laws. Can that be? Isn't your signature a facet of your public face? You sign public petitions, contracts, checks, etc. A signature is usually taken to be a public proof of one's private identity.

[TSPornFan]

i subscribe to the theory that employers pay you just enough money so you don't quit. if your incentive in the service industry is to exceed a customer's expectations because your pay is dependent on it, you may be more motivated to go a good job. waitresses, devoid of the need for a tip, would be inclined to offer little more customer service than the check out girl at mcdonalds.

amber...as a person who provides a service to others and may likely be tipped...i can't see why you don't see how this is a much better alternative to paying higher wages and negating tips all together. the best waitresses at the finest restaurants can pull in a ridiculous amt tax free

it is no different than a real estate broker or car salesman...pay is dependent on performance. it's the way it should be. his point is stupid. a tip is nothing more than "commission pay" over base

You need to look at why people work at these jobs. These jobs may be their only option. People work crappy jobs because its the best option they have at the moment.

America says it is the land of opportunity. Yes, it is the land of opportunity for the rich. Most people die in the same class they were born in. The American Dream doesn't exist. It's a joke. America is full of inequality. America is one of the most unequal nations on Earth.

[Jericho]

Tips? Yes, to Garbage collectors at Christmas (or they strew all your Rubbish across the garden), window cleaners, milkman, postman, the paperboy..... and in hotels yes, the bellboy and the porter who carries your luggage, and room service and the maid. cabbies.

Apparently, Postmen aren't allowed to accept tips (i always make sure mine gets a bottle at xmas..He goes above and beyond).

But the binmen can fuck right off, lazy bunch of cunts!
Was a time, they'd come up the drive, take the shite down, then bring the bin back up. Now, i have to sort the rubbish out, carry it down to the bottom of the drive, then go hunting around the street for my bin because they're too fukkin lazy to put it back where they found it...FUCK 'EM!

[RallyCola]

You need to look at why people work at these jobs. These jobs may be their only option. People work crappy jobs because its the best option they have at the moment.

America says it is the land of opportunity. Yes, it is the land of opportunity for the rich. Most people die in the same class they were born in. The American Dream doesn't exist. It's a joke. America is full of inequality. America is one of the most unequal nations on Earth.

That is the biggest load of horse shit. that is the attitude of a defeatist and someone that wants to blame everyone other than themselves for their predicament. yes, america isn't a fair place and having money makes life a lot easier, but moving about the class system is not difficult if you are not afraid of hard work.

if you work at a job because it is your only option...then that's the job you deserve.

my parents' combined gross income was 40k a year when i was a child. they struggled to pay rent in a shitty apt in jackson heights queens and never owned a new car or fancy labels on their clothes. presently, i earn significantly more than that because i paid attention in school and i'm still just a fellow.

though it is true that many people are grossly overpaid and over valued, far less are really underpaid or under valued. if you earn 50k a year but think you should earn 150k...you are probably not realistic about your own potential. you may think you are undervalued, but the market doesn't so stop your bitching or do something about it.

other than students working their way through school or developmentally/physically disabled people...if you are a person in a low income position, you've done something wrong in life.

[Prospero]

I agree Jericho re bin men but woe betide you if you don't 'bribe" i.e. tip them. They actually come knock and my door and ask for a tip.

[TSPornFan]

That is the biggest load of horse shit. that is the attitude of a defeatist and someone that wants to blame everyone other than themselves for their predicament.

if you work at a job because it is your only option...then that's the job you deserve.

my parents' combined gross income was 40k a year and i presently earn significantly more than that because i paid attention in school and i'm still just a fellow.

though it is true that many people are grossly overpaid and over valued, far less are really underpaid or under valued. if you earn 50k a year but think you should earn 150k...you are probably not realistic about your own potential.

other than students working their way through school or developmentally/physically disabled people...if you are a person in a low income position, you've done something wrong in life.

I'm normally nice to people. Dude, you're an asshole. A person's social status does not mean they made mistakes in their lives. In America, your social class determines the quality of your education. In America, your race determines your pay.

There are many college graduates who are working at these low wage jobs because these jobs are their only option. Is that their fault? NO. You can't make a "job creator" hire you.

People need to stop blaming the poor for being poor. People need to look at our social structures because our culture, government, structure, and society are the problems.

[RallyCola]

I agree Jericho re bin men but woe betide you if you don't 'bribe" i.e. tip them. They actually come knock and my door and ask for a tip.

really? i have never tipped the garbage men. when we had our co-op, we tipped the handymen and porters in general, whose responsibilities including collecting garbage among other things. it has never crossed my mind to tip the guys in the truck.

here in NYC, a garbage man starts at 34K a year as a base before overtime and ends up at near 70K by 5.5 years in. that's enough money for a job where your only skills is to drive a truck and pick up heavy dirty things.

[Jericho]

I agree Jericho re bin men but woe betide you if you don't 'bribe" i.e. tip them. They actually come knock and my door and ask for a tip.

Yer kidding?
Cheeky fukkers!
If they tried that around here, they'd get the tip of some fukkers boot up their arse!

[Prospero]

I know Rally, but if you live in NYC then. unless you have a brownstone or out in the burbs (certainly in Manhattan) you're probably in an apartment building where you never have any contact with these guys. Its all doormen and janitors. But, as you know, outside of Britain's city centres, most everyone lives in their own houses - with drives and front paths etc - and we all have a more direct relationship with the garbage collectors, mailmen, etc etc. They come onto your property - so you don't want them dropping bins and crap on the roses or whatever.

I was unaware you postmen were not supposed to accept tips. Mine has never refused (and he is a good guy anyway.)