Rumors Of 10% Tipping On Oprah's Site
This morning on Facebook, an old friend requested information on a rumor that Oprah is telling the US to only tip 10% in this economy. Of course I googled the question and only found an OMagazine article on her site stating that you should tip a minimum of 15%. I also read her forum where the debate is pretty heated. Essentially if you haven't worked in the food service industry and are cheap, you don't want to have to pay a tip. If you have worked as a waiter or waitress you are adamant about tipping.
In the United States, restaurant owners base wait staff wages on an expected 15% gratuity. You should prepare to pay at least that much in restaurants when you go out to eat. Waiters and Waitresses work very hard pleasing customers. No matter how their day is going, they have to put up with incorrectly prepared meals and drinks, angry customers, wrong orders and long hours on their feet. I waited tables in High School and in the small rural community I lived in, made no more than $20/day in tips. I would get a quarter, or a dollar for my efforts. These uneducated farmers thought I made minimum wage and they were being kind with 1-4% tips. One of my family members worked his way up from being a waiter to being a kitchen manager to a general manager. He finally makes a living wage managing 35 people. Wait staff has to tip out to bar tenders, food deliverers and bussers. If you don't tip, they still have to tip out and make even less money. To say, "Well that waiter isn't getting a tip from me," is making you ruder than them. Instead, try leaving a note or making a comment to the dining room manager. You should walk into that restaurant ready to pay the minimum no matter what. I make sure to tip at least 15%, even with bad service. If they are good, which they generally are (or if there's alcohol on the bill) I tip 20% or better. If you are going out to a restaurant for a meal expecting to be waited on, you should budget for a 25% tip. There are restaurants where you aren't expected to tip, like cafeterias, McDonalds and Taco Bell. These workers are paid commensurate to their job, generally above minimum wage. And you don't have to tip them. http://www.oprah.com/community/thread/109598?start=0&tstart=0
http://www.oprah.com/article/omagazine/omag_200212_tipping
Filed under //
Customer Service
Tipping
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