To tip or not to tip….

[MumWithYOPD]

Went out with colleagues to a restaurant last night and as some people ate off the set menu, some didn’t, some drank alcohol, some didn’t the bill was passed around for everyone to work out their own bill. That went surprisingly well. With the exception of one person everyone rounded up their meal to include a tip for the waitress (it was a really busy restaurant, she worked hard, was attentive and helpful, we didn’t have to wait long, she was great) The one person in question didn’t even guesstimate their bill they gave the precise amount. AIBU to think that if you receive good service in a restaurant the waitress/waiter should be shown this by way of a tip?
And to preempt the question, the person concerned is financially secure.

If i was with someone who tipped then i would tip. Only £1 though. Apart from that I wouldn't tip. I don't care if you think I am tight. I am a single parent. I watch every penny.

I think tipping is completely optional in the UK. It’s not like America where servers are paid below minimum wage with tips expected to make up the difference.

I tip more often than not but I wouldn’t judge someone for not tipping. Servers are paid nmw for a reason, same as many other jobs.

Servers are paid nmw for a reason, same as many other jobs.

And that reason is…..?

I never tip, one I can’t afford to and two people are paid a proper wage in the uk so there’s no need for it and a lot of places add a service charge anyway.

@Precipice

Restaurant salaries are pretty similar to other customer service jobs like retail. Why should restaurant staff in particular be entitled to (on the idea that something who doesn't tip is doing wrong) additional pay for doing their job? Why be so against people who don't supplement the wages of one type of customer service worker?

I’ve worked in retail and in restaurants and my restaurant shifts ended past public transport times so my tips were usually what decided whether I was able to get a taxi home or have to walk late.

@JohnKettleyIsAWeatherMan read my post again. I said GOOD service.

I have never been out with someone who refused to tip, how embarrassing not to. It's not just the money, you're revealing a lot of your character. I'd have to tip for you, and I'm a cleaner...not rich🤣

My Ds is a waiter he is paid £5.24 hr (should be £4.62), he works his socks off, would u non tippers begrudge a couple of quid? Makes all the difference to him.

He worked a table of 14 the other night...they left £2 between them! Shocking!

@19lottie82 I presume his ds's inlaws who are American will have been paying out the tips when with him.
I know we did when we took him out.

@towers14 I presume that, on those rates, he's an apprentice? My ds is also an apprentice (not in hospitality) and refuses to tip on the grounds that he just can't afford to.
I've never been anywhere where service charge isn't automatically added already for a table of 14. Did the customers assume that the bill included service?

@EmmaGrundyForPM he's not an apprentice he's a student and saving his tips for his car insurance. He works in the local pub/restaurant and it was clear to him they didn't assume there was a device charge.
Like your son, I wouldn't expect him to leave a tip either but knowing what it means to waiting staff I expect he would at least leave a small tip.

[quote Satingreenshutters]@JohnKettleyIsAWeatherMan read my post again. I said GOOD service.[/quote]
I can read, thanks. I was asking what you'd do if the service was bad.

@towers14

I have never been out with someone who refused to tip, how embarrassing not to. It's not just the money, you're revealing a lot of your character. I'd have to tip for you, and I'm a cleaner...not rich🤣

My Ds is a waiter he is paid £5.24 hr (should be £4.62), he works his socks off, would u non tippers begrudge a couple of quid? Makes all the difference to him.

He worked a table of 14 the other night...they left £2 between them! Shocking!

Agree, when I waitressed sometimes people were cheeky & left 20p 😂 why bother?! I'd be embarrassed to tip less than €5. If I'm very happy with the service I'd tip €10. That would be a tip from myself & hubby & kids though, I wouldn't tend to go out in a huge group of adults often. When I waitressed though we had to share our tips with all the other staff.

@coodawoodashooda if they were on a low income or a lone parent, I would have no issue at all as it’s completely understandable.
This person is just tight. They ask for lifts to functions and don’t offer to even get the person that gave them a lift a drink. They are the first one to get stuck into cakes brought into the office for birthdays but don’t bring any in when it’s their birthday. I’ve seen them accept drinks and then not offer in return, going to the bar and just order for themselves and at the mere mention of splitting a bill you can see the panic in their face.

[quote MumWithYOPD]@coodawoodashooda if they were on a low income or a lone parent, I would have no issue at all as it’s completely understandable.
This person is just tight. They ask for lifts to functions and don’t offer to even get the person that gave them a lift a drink. They are the first one to get stuck into cakes brought into the office for birthdays but don’t bring any in when it’s their birthday. I’ve seen them accept drinks and then not offer in return, going to the bar and just order for themselves and at the mere mention of splitting a bill you can see the panic in their face.[/quote]
How do you know that instead of just being tight that they don't have financial difficulties? Being on a decent wage doesn't necessarily indicate that they have much spare money. You're a colleague not a friend of theirs, they are unlikely to be honest if they are struggling.

And this isn't America, you don't have to tip because here your server gets paid a living wage. Potentially the same wage as a lot of patrons they serve, so why should they get paid extra for doing what they are already getting paid for? Your cashier at the shop doesn't, the cleaner at your kids school doesn't, the refuse collector doesn't, need I go on?

@Blinkingheckythump tip aside, cakes for the office you can buy a dozen cupcakes for £1 or donuts for the same amount. Don’t accept a drink if you know full well you’re not going to offer to get one in return, you state you’re getting your own. Finally, it’s common courtesy that if a lift is shared as the recipient of the lift you at least ask the person who drove whether they would like a drink. I’ve worked with them for years, yes we’re colleagues rather than ‘friends’ but they are tight, we all know someone that’s like it, whether it’s upbringing or just the way they are I don’t know but it is not for lack of funds.