[b112]

Wow.

The person that does the work.

Yes the waiter cooked the food, cleaned the dishes, bussed the dishes, seated the table(politely!), and so on. They did the work.

I worked in a restaurant with tip sharing. The point behind it was, motivation by every step in the chain, for all persons, to do a good job. To compensate for a job well done.

So that even the dishwasher, would take time to endure glasses spotless, to put that little extra touch.

And all were hired, including the waiters, with this understanding.

Which means, you are advocating theft from coworkers!

If this is indicative of how waiters think today, I will be paying by card, and tipping by card.

To ensure a waiter doesn't steal from their coworkers, if tip sharing is a thing.

[Spooky23]

I worked as a waiter in a restaurant in the 90s when I was in high school. I was making $2.65/hr, the line cooks were making $10-12, yet I’d get shook down to tip the busboy, cook, bartender, hostess etc. If you didn’t play, you’d get slow-rolled. They wanted their vig whether or not the customers tipped well. Fuck that.

Tipping via card is even worse in many places because the manager or operator is just assigning money (or not) as they feel. Again, working spiffed retail sales, you need to track what you’re owed or mistakes will happen.

[jeromegv]

Lots of place have similar salary (minimum wage) for everyone so such a gap doesn’t exist. Your experience seems to be from few decades ago.

[ianai]

Their experience should be the assumed current reality until clearly proven otherwise in the US. The laws of course haven’t changed.

[Retric]

I am not intending to tip the dishwashers when leaving a tip, I am tipping the wait staff.

The actual solution is simply to pay staff a reasonable wage just like every other job. Lucky the solution is simple for customers, defect from the spiraling tip system.

[b112]

I am not intending to tip the dishwashers when leaving a tip, I am tipping the wait staff

Of course you wouldn't want to have gratuity flow to the lowest paid of the staff, which has the most sweat enducing, filthy, labourish job in the place. They're probably an immigrant too, so screw em, right?

(The above response is due to you singling out the dishwasher, instead of, say, the chef, or everyone).

First, in Canada (unlike the US), everyone is paid a wage. Tipping amounts are different too, as a result.

However, tip sharing is not a new thing. I was part of it in the early 80s, in Canada, and it has nothing to do with the latest "tip me for just doing my job" culture.

Tip sharing properly reflects the wholeness of the job, not just the singularity of the waiting staff.

And while it is reasonable for you to have a different opinion on tip sharing being good or not, this does not change the fact that if you work a job with tip sharing, pocketing tips is theft.

I bet it's OK for all the other waiters to tip share, but then one waiter steal tips from the pool too?

Even with today's "the owner has money, slack off! Steal from them! Work as little as possible!" trend, this is taking money from hard working co-workers!.

It is theft.

[Retric]

I singled them out dishwashers because either they did a sufficient job or they didn’t. You don’t get super extra clean dishes, thus exposing the basic lie of tip sharing.

People get up in arms about tipping because the numbers have gotten so out of whack. 20% tips being expected completely undermine the basic economics of restaurants which is why they get so focused on tip sharing. The current expectation is to tip just to cover people doing their basic jobs.

Imagine going to a restaurant, getting average service, and then not tipping because everything was average. It’s not about tipping for excellence in the US, it’s about providing basic compensation that not a tip that’s just payment for services rendered.

[ianai]

Forget that. I tip because it’s a high abuse, high stress industry and I know that life. What you’re calling average is probably skewed towards above average treatment from the customers.

If you’re sick of paying 20% tips then work to change the law. Don’t take it out on the poor saps just trying to make ends meet.

[Retric]

Or, do what I do and avoid tipping restaurants when possible.

Tipping is inherently a negative experience and you should treat it as such. So for example any service that operates on tips looses a full star on review sites from me.

[xen2xen1]

Wow, you even went to the "they're just immigrants", huh? I don't care who they are, I should not have to Bribe everyone from the dishwasher on up to do a good job. Just pay them. Don't make me, the end user, responsible for how well the entire staff is compensated. When I started reading this article I had sympathy for the folks who wanted tips. Heck with that, the whole chain should not extort me to do their jobs. I'll pay by card, and pay the minimum tip. Tipping is out of control.

[sandworm101]

>> Yes the waiter cooked the food, cleaned the dishes, bussed the dishes, seated the table(politely!), and so on. They did the work.

They may have done the work, but are mostly not paid the money. Wait staff are unqualified and generally paid dirt in expectation that they will receive tips from customers. Kitchen staff are certified/licensed in their trade, paid something more than nothing, and are not expected to earn tips. That is the current reality. A customer trying to force a new reality by not paying cash tips to wait staff will not be appreciated.

[ianai]

Many/most of my favorite places probably did have the server do much or all of the prep. I know because I can watch them. Places are crazy understaffed still.