I hate to say it jonesq, but your examples are far from the norm. Just because the wait-staff in your restaurant made very good money, this is not indicative at all about the rest of the industry. Look at the demographic you were serving -- to quote, "...some tables TIP $250..." When was the last time you went to an IHOP, Applebee's, Chili's, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, or any number of other common high-volume table-service restaurants, and saw someone spend $250 on a tip? Come to think of it, how many people do you know that would even tip $30-$50 on a meal at one of these places? And how many of these places do you think you'd encounter someone who'd been working there, AS A WAITER, for 10 years? Even 5 years?
Like I said before, when my friends and I went out for our prom dinner, the service was EXCELLENT, and the tips reflected this. I think we spent somewhere in the realm of $200 on the tip, NOT INCLUDING the billed gratuity. But to their credit, the restaurant we were at wasn't serving dinner for any less than $30 a plate, and there were 14 of us, with 2 waiters. This comes to a low average of $420 total. Then consider the 15% gratuity that goes to the wait-staff. This comes to $483. So the waiters that night each made at least $130, not including their base pay (which I know for a fact was definitely NOT below minimum wage).
Again, it's all about the demographic. I know a few waiters that make really good money at their jobs -- they are working at high-end restaurants with wealthy clientele. I know far more that make just enough to survive. I personally have a bartender friend who works for a country club back home, and can make between $5000 and $7000 a week, during a good summer week. I also know bartenders who make the equivalent of just above minimum wage, tips included, and they work far harder for their money than my friend. Demographic is king in the world of waiting.
applebees and hojo's aren't the types of operations putting tips on the bills.
Those examples are glorified fast food with table delivery.
Fried egg greasy spoon waitresses do quite well serving breakfast and lunch shifts. Typical take home is $350w/k and they eat free. I could live on that.
"I also know bartenders who make the equivalent of just above minimum wage, tips included"
Never heard of such a thing in any bar anywhere.
I tip for the quality of service....there is NO reason to not tip someone who serves you at a sit down restaurant, they rely on your tips for their income. if you get bad service for no good reason then ask for a managent...
$350 a week on one meal a day? I don't know about you, but $1400/mo is pretty small. Shoot, I make more on unemployment than that. Think of this -- let's add up the bills an average waiter/waitress who may be just out of college (a typical situation for many wait-staff out there trying to find a real job). Rent ($500/mo avg), water and trash ($40/mo), electricity ($100/mo), heating gas ($25/mo), cable/internet ($100/mo), cell phone ($80/mo), student loans ($200/mo), food (for the days/hours you AREN'T working = $100/mo), car payments ($200/mo), vehicle gas ($80/mo), entertainment ($50/mo)...the list goes on. Total? $1475, and I haven't even included the unexpected's -- vehicle repairs, emergency travel, doctor bills, vet bills for a pet, etc...
Perhaps while trying to find a real job, the hypothetical person above should:
1) find a roomate
2) not have a pet
3) apply savings from step 1 and 2 towards emergency nest egg for the unexpected stuff
I was once just out of college making about $1300 / month net and I managed to live pretty well by following the above steps. In a capitalistic economy, workers are paid wages commensurate with the value society places on their job. Most people will give lip service to the idea of higher wages and how waitstaff provide an important service, but when it comes time to open the wallet, it's a different story. I have waited tables before, and empathize with others who currently do that job, but until society has a shortage of waitstaff or that job is lifted to the status of a profession and regarded in high esteem, they will continue to be paid what they are paid. Just my humble opinion.
And, for jobs that do not routinely generate tips for their performance, the minimum wage applies.Minimum wage is called MINIMUM for a reason. If not everyone in this capitalist society deserves to receive this so-called minimum wage, then why is it called minimum? No matter the value that society places upon their occupation?
If the person is unwilling or incapable of performing their job in such a manner as to routinely earn more than min. wage while waiting tables, I think they need to reconsider taking a different job that DOES pay min. wage.So it again begs the question: why do people in this occupation deserve any less guaranteed money? I don't think anyone should have to rely on the mercy of the public to be able to pay their bills or support a child.
So it again begs the question: why do people in this occupation deserve any less guaranteed money? I don't think anyone should have to rely on the mercy of the public to be able to pay their bills or support a child.
And, for jobs that do not routinely generate tips for their performance, the minimum wage applies.
The US Dep.t of Labor is pretty clear about tipped vs non-tipped and the application of minimum wage laws.
(From their FAQs, question #29.)
If the person is unwilling or incapable of performing their job in such a manner as to routinely earn more than min. wage while waiting tables, I think they need to reconsider taking a different job that DOES pay min. wage.
When I was in the food and beverage industry, everyone I knew (including me) were doing that BECAUSE we could earn far more than we could in a non-tip generating job.
Short and to the point.If you work for tips and can't make money, the server/barteneder business is not for you.
wow thats jacked
the shouldve talked to the mgr first ....
needless to say the tips werent earned by the waiter/tress
but they still got thier mandatory tip from us.
I tip busboys all the time as soon as they bring our coffee etc, and almost always get super service, at the least, from them.
That's why ou can choose to stay home, and eat and drink there. Then, you don't have to tip anyone, nor pay for "overpriced food."lol, dont mean to ruffle any feathers, but .....ive got a real problem paying for overpriced food, and then being put on the hook for paying the servers salary as well.......
That's why ou can choose to stay home, and eat and drink there. Then, you don't have to tip anyone, nor pay for "overpriced food."
In Russia, you don't tip waiter, waiter tip you.in australia, they dont tip,
in australia, they dont tip, and a good waitress makes around 25-30 bucks an hour....and a great steak will run you around 35-45 bucks
in the US a waitress makes 3.12 an hour, and a great steak will run you 35-50 bucks
....i dunno, you do the math
im curious, which is it ?...am i a dead beat bottom feeder ?...or have i had waitresses in the past that should be looking for new careers ? by that statement alone your saying i should suck it up and pay for bad service......
maybe i should add an extra 20 bucks to my next parking ticket for the underpaid and under appreciated meter maid !
" those deadbeat, bottom feeders who didn't.
If you work for tips and can't make money, the server/barteneder business is not for you."