To not leave a tip on principle

[MyNeatLimeCat]

Had a pub meal with a group, main courses (burgers, curries etc) cost £20. An 'optional' service charge is listed on the bill.

£2 or £4 isn't going to break the bank. But I just don't want to support the system, on principle.

I don't want to cause group drama either. What should I do in this situation?

I used to be a waitress. I always leave a tip. If you were in my group and you didn’t, I’d pay more to cover yours. But I’ve never been out with anyone who refused to tip.

I'm not convinced that you are going to change the system by not tipping.

What system are you not supporting?
Would you have tipped anyway?

I don’t see the problem here personally.

If you’ve had shit service, then yes, by all means don’t tip.
But if you haven’t, then tip. Be that via an ‘optional’ tip or leaving your own amount.

Ultimately you can do whatever you want. I'd think less of you for not paying it however, especially if there were no issues with the service.

Always tip.

I don't think the service charge has to be paid to the staff anyway, so can understand your position. I've seen waiting staff complain that the service charge mainly goes to management and a small percentage is split between the other staff, (waiting staff, kitchen staff etc) who are then taxed on it.

Can you explain your problem with the system? I tip in pubs (unless it's all been terrible, of course) as the staff have still had to prepare the meals, take them out etc

I also have worked in a pub/restaurant. Dish washer, cleaner, bar staff and wait staff.

Dish washer is the hardest one. Would you leave a tip for your dish washer too?

Are you talking about leaving an additional tip or not paying the “optional” service charge?

I don’t tip if there’s a service charge added, but wouldn’t ask for it to be taken off the bill unless service was appalling.

Never tip unless in a group like this and I do to make things easy. You pay enough for the meal as it is, I can't afford to pay an extra amount on top when most of the time they just bring you your meal as expected which is already included in the cost. Plenty of jobs are minimum wage without a tip system.

Two systems, first the expectation of getting a tip for doing your job adequately well. But only certain jobs! No tips for McDonalds staff. Do they work less hard?

Second the practice of adding 'optional' tips to bills.

Additional tip?! Good grief, are we now expected to pay tips on top of a service charge?

I mean the 'optional' service charge.

Yeah, you’re really sticking it to the man and standing up to capitalism by not tipping hospitality workers. Karl Marx would be proud.

(many restaurants split the tips between everyone in shift, including dishwashing staff)

That’s what I hoped you meant - I saw a thread on here a while back that said you should tip on top of the service charge. Which is a definite “no” in my book!

Don’t pay service charge and leave a cash tip maybe. In Australia the service charge is a percentage(I think, I don’t go out that often) on Sundays and public holidays. It’s expensive to eat out so rarely do. Most people don’t tip in Australia. Is tipping a thing in the UK?

"Optional charge"? (they don't ask you about it they just add it!) - don't expect me to pay an extra amount of money on top. No way.

You are almost certainly correct there.

Where I worked, the dishwashers were paid more than the waiting staff.

I believe in tipping, unless the service was absolutely dire.

I would say tipping has always been a thing in the UK, but mainly at more expensive restaurants, not pubs.

I suspect we consume so much American media that some people think the US tipping system is normal in the UK (it is not; we have a minimum wage).

My sister caused a lot of work at a meal ( sending her steak back 3 times because it wasn't cremated enough) and the server was unfailingly polite and obliging. She loudly refused to contribute to a tip "because I don't get tipped in my job". She was so embarrassing I haven't eaten out with her since.

Your sister should definitely not be cremating steak, or being loud about not tipping.

Her server was doing their job by being polite and obliging (and getting paid for it). I really don't get why people defend this system of giving certain professions extra money for merely doing their job.

The practice is for tipped staff to tip out kitchen staff, or for the restaurant to operate a % split across front and back of house. Is your principle that nobody should be tipped?

If they put on a service charge, I don't leave extra (when in the UK). Where I live, there is no tipping.

@Guest100 it’s not a service charge as such. Wages have hourly loadings for public holidays - the increase is to cover the additional wages the employer pays on these days.