Friday, February 26, 2010

So, there is a group on Facebook called "If you can't afford to tip your server 20%, DON'T GO OUT TO DINNER." Being curious, I checked out the page. Unsurprisingly, there were complaints from servers about being stiffed on tips (which, yeah, they have every right to complain about), but also a lot of servers stating that they should receive 20% tips regardless of their level of service because 1) They need the money and/or 2) They shouldn't be penalized if they are having a bad day.

Wha?

I worked as a hostess in high school and as a server after high school and in college. I know what it is like to bust your ass serving obnoxious patrons who have enough money to buy alcohol and desserts, but somehow leave a tip that is nothing. It sucks. Really, it sucks. I can recall being stiffed on tips when I know I gave very good service. But, I also understood it came with the job description. It sucks, but it is what it is.

That said, I have two problems with this concept that servers (or anyone in a service industry where there is tipping) should expect a certain tip regardless of quality of service. A tip is synonymous with gratuity; according to the dictionary, the definition of gratuity is: "a gift or reward, usually of money, for services rendered." If you want a good tip out of me, there had better be service rendered. I'm not going to tip you well for just showing up and turning oxygen into carbon dioxide, okay? You have to actually do some, I don't know, work! I know there is a lot of behind the scenes stuff that servers do, but if my table has been sitting for over 20 minutes and you still haven't shown up to even say hi (much less take a drink order), don't expect a good tip! When I was a server and I was in the weeds, I would either ask another server to help me out or ask a manager to give me hand - I never just let a table sit there wondering what was going on. Second, where did the concept of 20% being the expected tip come from? When I was server, 15% was the norm for decent/good service. I don't know how in the last 15 years or so, that percentage has increased to 20%. I've heard some servers state that it is to keep up with inflation, which leads me to believe that they don't understand the concept of percentages.

I will say it unabashedly - I tip 15% for good service and 20% for great service. It's not that I can't afford to tip 20%, it's that I believe it's insane to keep raising the percentage expected. Hey, servers, if you don't want my 15% tip, fine. I'll just stay home, spend my money elsewhere, and not tip you anything. Try paying the bills with no tips and just your crappy attitude.