Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - The "Do you take tipping seriously?" thread

4thTimeLucky · 06-16-2003, 09:37 AM

Okay. Why do US waiters/resses only earn "TWO BUCKS AN HOUR"? What is the minimum wage in America?

I think I am not unusual, in England, in thinking that being a waiter is like any other job. And with this job comes a pay packet that is in line with other similar basic service/basic manual jobs. This is protected by a minimum wage (£4.50 an hour from October 2003), but most waiters or bar staff jobs I've seen advertised offer more than this (around £5.50+ /hr).

Therefore tipping isn't something people expect UK waiters to have to live off. Indeed this idea that the person serving you needs your tip or they will go hungry that week seems quite an unpleasant one. Giving a tip to a good server is one thing, but paying waiters so little they *have* to get a tip from you to make ends meet is quite another.

In fact the whole tipping and 'discreetly putting the tip in their hand and them slipping into their pocket' thing seems quite demeaning. Like a pat on the head for serving the rich people well. Taking orders and returning with food and a smile is a job like any other. Why should it be singled out as requiring tips and not a good pay rate, when I don't tip the AA man who rescues my car or the person who drives my bus or the call centre person who answers my query.

The only other job I can think of that gets tips in England is strippers. Says it all really. Give waiters/resses a decent wage, tipping is just a way for restaurant owners to squeeze more money out of their customers and more unpaid labour out of their staff.

06-16-2003, 09:37 AM	#21 (permalink)
4thTimeLucky Psycho Location: 4th has left the building - goodbye folks	Okay. Why do US waiters/resses only earn "TWO BUCKS AN HOUR"? What is the minimum wage in America? I think I am not unusual, in England, in thinking that being a waiter is like any other job. And with this job comes a pay packet that is in line with other similar basic service/basic manual jobs. This is protected by a minimum wage (£4.50 an hour from October 2003), but most waiters or bar staff jobs I've seen advertised offer more than this (around £5.50+ /hr). Therefore tipping isn't something people expect UK waiters to have to live off. Indeed this idea that the person serving you needs your tip or they will go hungry that week seems quite an unpleasant one. Giving a tip to a good server is one thing, but paying waiters so little they have to get a tip from you to make ends meet is quite another. In fact the whole tipping and 'discreetly putting the tip in their hand and them slipping into their pocket' thing seems quite demeaning. Like a pat on the head for serving the rich people well. Taking orders and returning with food and a smile is a job like any other. Why should it be singled out as requiring tips and not a good pay rate, when I don't tip the AA man who rescues my car or the person who drives my bus or the call centre person who answers my query. The only other job I can think of that gets tips in England is strippers. Says it all really. Give waiters/resses a decent wage, tipping is just a way for restaurant owners to squeeze more money out of their customers and more unpaid labour out of their staff. __________________ I've been 4thTimeLucky, you've been great. Goodnight and God bless! Last edited by 4thTimeLucky; 06-16-2003 at 10:29 AM..