The argument is that minimum wage for these workers (federally set at a measly $2.13 per hour for staff that receive tips) is so low that they depend on tips to make a living wage. I have heard of incidents where the lack of a tip, or too small a tip, have resulted in staff chasing customers down the street. Whether this is widespread or even true, I don't know, but what I do know is that there is definitely a strong social stigma attached to not tipping, or not tipping enough.
This infuriates the hell out of me. Why should it be up to me to help give these people a living wage? This should be the responsibility of their employer, no? Leave it up to the customer and your wages might be a simple factor of how attractive you are, your breast size, or the colour of your skin. And what about the guy or gal who cooks your food? Why should the person simply carrying it out to your table get the tip?
For tourists, it can also be confusing when and how to tip. When you sign a check (pay the bill) it is fine, but what about at a hotel? The valet guy who parks your car, the guy who helps you with your cases from the car, the guy who takes your cases to the room... We usually avoid the uncertainty by trying to do self parking and dealing with our luggage ourselves!
I believe the whole concept of tipping should be a means of incentivisation and rewarding service above and beyond what is expected. The number of times we have received surly, slow or incorrect service on this roadtrip and I have begrudgingly given a tip (primarily at the behest of Sam) is so frustrating. If you always expect 18% as a base and then more if you do an outstanding job, then your employer should just raise prices - and your wage - and publicise the fact.
One bar we went to - Optimism in Seattle - is doing just this. They very publicly set out what they are doing and why. Rather than just parrot out their thinking, their ethos is laid out in black and white here:
I really do hope this catches on, but fear that this is so heavily engrained in US culture that it will take a long, long time - if at all - to become the rule rather than the exception. In the meantime, I will have to grit my teeth and add a gratuity* irrespective of what my service was like.
* I usually tip $1 per drink when drinking at the bar, and then about 15-18% of the pre-tax bill when getting food. The valet guy gets $5 when he returns Fin's keys. We are probably being cursed for not leaving housekeeping tips in hotels and motels. I'm not saying any of this is correct or meets expectations, but it is what we are doing on this road trip.
I do so very much agree with you Lee. Employers should pay their staff a decent wage for a good days work. But if that employee goes out of his way to provide an above average service for a customer it should be up to that customer to show his appreciation with a tip.
ReplyDeleteIn Switzerland there is no obligation to tip because Swiss Federal Law states that all published prices include service charge! Maybe US should take notice.
I have to say, I am glad we don't have the same tipping culture here in the UK as for the reasons you state, the practice seems flawed. I like the notice that Optimism have as it does seem to address the many flaws with the tipping culture in the US. That said the tipping levels you've employed don't look that bad in isolation but I bet they add up on a trip like yours. At the risk of making you more annoyed you should tot up how much you think you'll have tipped on your entire trip.
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