To not want to leave a tip ?

[cookieswirls]

Went for a meal tonight nothing fancy just pizza and my friend seemed mortified that I didn't leave a tip. I was paying for our meal and I generally don't leave tips. Ive never left a tip for anyone actually not taxi drivers, hairdressers, waiters is that mean of me ?

YANBU unlike in America the servers get at least minimum wage, which isn't your fault, but many will say you are

When I was a waitress we had to give 'plate money' - i.e. a set amount per person we'd served - to be shared among the chefs and pot washers. We'd tip the bar staff and commis too but that was discretionary. We kept the rest of our tips.

I always tip unless the service is bad. I can't believe people don't. Hairdresser gets a fiver, waiters minimum of 10%, delivery drivers a couple of quid. It's just the done thing. I'm a Brit.

I almost wish tipping could be banned. But maybe I am just bitter. DH is a chef who works unbelievablely hard. The restaurants in which he's worked have nearly always been excellent and he has certainly played a key role in customers being happy and coming back. Who "earns" (wages and tips combined) the most money? It's the pretty waitresses. In one place some waitresses could pay their rent with the tip money. They were supposed to share their tips with the kitchen staff. DH would maybe get a quid while they could get up to a hundred and over in one night in tips. Strangely DH always tips, but I refuse to. Also I'm in a "caring" profession that is essential for the functioning of society and all I get are complaints

I don't think it's good form to be mortified if the person who just paid for your meal didn't tip. She could have just added the tip herself.

On a thread like this before someone once said you tip because of the personal service. Well there many many thousands of people in this country providing the most personal service possible... Caring for others when they can't care for themselves. They are largely doing this for minimum wage, at unsociable times and often meaning they are away from their own families during Christmas/birthdays etc. Not only is tipping not customary for these people, it's actually banned by most healthcare providers policies.
Care work is back breaking hard work at times. It's leaves you physically and emotionally exhausted. Burnout amongst care workers is almost a given if you work in the industry for more than a few years.

So people who tip those that society deem worthy (wait staff, hairdressers, taxi drivers seem to be the top 3)... Why do you value the work they do over others?

Rufus...... Of course I know Google isn't right about everything....... There's no need to be sarcastic.

I was just using it to prove a point. As its common knowledge that bus drivers are usually paid an OK hourly rate. There are recruitment posters on the back of many different companies vehicles advertising the wages.....

YABU and tight. Seems you have company here too.

The problem is a lot of people in the catering industry are getting shit wages because their employer is counting on their wage getting topped up by tips. It's wrong. Full stop!!

To add to my bitterness. By tipping you are allowing the restaurant owners to get away with the shocking working conditions in the service industry. If the wages weren't subsidised less people would work under such badly paid and explotative working hours and the owners would have to sacrifice some of their profits. How often do you see an older waiter or kitchen staff?

Smellslikeoranges I was just about to say the exact same thing. My DW is a chef and is lucky to bring home a couple of quid a night in tips. The kitchen staff working longer hours than front of house as they have to get into work early to prep, but the servers get a 90% share of the tips. And unless you're at least a sous chef, chefs don't earn more than the waiters.

I don't know why I should be expected to pay a waiter because their job is kind of sucky. They don't HAVE to work that job!

Plus, I reject the premise anyway. There are lots of low-paid jobs that are MUCH less pleasant/enjoyable and much more difficult/stressful, but we don't tip them. And I say that as somebody who waited tables for a while when I was younger.

Repent it reminds me of friends Rachel's dad " I spent $200 dollars on lobster yet he's mr generous for putting a 20 down" or something like that

19

Wasnt meaning to be sarcastic but that is obviously how it came across

I always tip between 10% and 15%, unless the service wasn't good. If people refuse to tip, I tip extra to make up for their stinginess and then don't eat with them again. I have no wish to share a meal with people like that!

I do tip but it's typically only about a pound or whatever silver change i have on me. I certainly can't afford to tip notes. AS for a previous poster who suggested if you can't afford a tip don't eat out, it's a infrequent treat to have a nice meal out, if i save up to afford that one nice meal a month, why do i not deserve it because i can't tip someone who just asked what i wanted and brought it to the table?

I do tip unless the service charge is included. I do tip hairdressers. Not loads but I do. I thought tipping in this country was normal.

Never tip unless a massive party where I feel forced to. Hate it. I don't get tipped in my job. Don't understand why we should feel like we have to. (Unless the service is extraordinarily amazing that is)

My partner has worked in the hospitality trade for a decade.

On one hand, despite "minimum wage", due to being salaried rather than hourly, he was getting paid £12000 per year (before tax) working on average about 70 hours per week at age 27 (at the time). So any tips that did come back were greatly received! I had to pull some serious rabbit out of hat lark to cover paying full bills, plus food, his kids, csa, my child and living costs etc

However, he even resents leaving a tip, as he knows full well you are very rarely tipping the staff member that has provided the good service, they usually get collected and divvied out. Also managers/owners can dip their hand in and take what they please, either on the sly or to punish the whole team for not changing a loo roll (actually happened).

What I'm saying is, no one should feel like they have to tip, but anyone that does should possibly consider that their tip may not be going to the staff you really want it to.

YANBU. We tip if the service is above average or the food has exceeded expectations. That's the point of tips in the UK. Now we're in canada we tip more often but then I've found the service so much better over here. In the US I'd tip regardless unless the service or food was extremely poor.

Pringlecat, I could debate with your thinking but its much more satisfying to just say you sound like an absolute dick!

I don't tip, but I made an exception today after the waiter(s) had found and tried 2 different high chairs and then my DD decided to bawl uncontrollably so didn't end up sitting in either. She ended up being put back into her pram with the cloth down and fell asleep about 5 mins later.

"Also managers/owners can dip their hand in and take what they please, either on the sly or to punish the whole team for not changing a loo roll (actually happened)"

Well said. People may not be so happy to tip if they realise the nasty characters that they indirectly giving their money to. I can easily believe the loo roll story. I worked as a waitress and the owners put locks on our previously unlocked lockers and charged us 5 quid so that we could get our stuff back! (They owned half the pubs/restaurants in the city so weren't short a bob or two).

Staff shouldn't have to rely on tips to live. they should get a decent wage. It was just a pizza, not a fancy meal.

Hairdressers only get all of the money from your cut/style/whatever if they OWN the salon - and even then they've got overheads to pay. If they don't own the place, then chances are they are on minimum wage.

The only time I don't tip is if the service has been atrocious.