Tipping in restaurants

Shutting down and reopening in a new location few months doesn't strike me as a good business model.

I just figured they'd covertly hire a whole new staff and then drop the bomb that everyone's fired.

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That still leaves them with the hassle and expense of hiring a completely new staff, and if one of their new employees also decides to report them, having to do the same thing almost immediately.

I'm not saying businesses don't do what you're saying, but they're only able to do it when employees refuse to report them; otherwise they'd just be exchanging one whistle-blower for another.

This make me wonder if big businesses are willing to pull this kind of crap against unions, how likely it is for big franchises to pull something similar against an employee with no union backing?

Also: will this work against employee whistle blowers?

edited 6th Feb '13 11:19:39 PM by IraTheSquire

I tend to tip more that 15, because yeah, waitstaff jobs kinda suck. My wife and I were nice and pleasant regulars at one local restaraunt, so they asked if their trainee-waitress could wait on us. She did alright, so she got a nice tip over and over, and we ended up getting some really nice service from her over the years, even exchanging small-talk and stuff when she had a moment to spare.

Happiness is zero-gee with a sinus cold.

Building a relationship with the wait staff at a place you plan on frequenting is simply good policy.

There's a martini bar/lounge that I go to twice a month; I meet a friend there and we discuss our various writing projects. I always tip the staff very well (25%, sometimes more). Result; I always get a table, all the bartenders know me by name, they mix my drink exactly how I want it, said drink shows up rapidly and they'll chat with me if I happen to get there before my friend arrives. They also extend me courtesies they wouldn't give other customers.

Example: there was a misunderstanding involving the check. *

When my friend and I realized what had happened, I stopped by to pay it (expecting to get a cold shoulder...stiffing the house is a big no-no at bars). They just shrugged and said "hey, we figured you guys just forgot. Don't worry about it."

Basically, a restaurant or bar is required to serve you their product for the listed price. If you want better treatment than that you have to pay for it. While the argument about whether tipping service staff ought to be required is debatable, the old adage about "you get what you pay for" really isn't, IMO.

If I were to write some of the strange things that come under my eyes they would not be believed. ~Cora M. Strayer~

Completely agreed. There's a Dominican bar where I'm one of the few English speakers who's a regular, and there've been two occassions I totally stiffed the bar (and yes, that is a huge violation nearly on par with violating the Prime Directive).

Both times, they simply laughed it off, and let me pay on my next visit.

Even if restaurant owners decide to stop being douches and start paying their waitstaff fair, being extra nice to those who are extra nice to you is as much common sense as looking both ways before you cross the street.

It was an honor

There's a place I order food from, a lot, and I always try and tip well (like today I tipped $5.83 on a $10.17 order) and the person who brought my meal brought a complementary 2 liter bottle of Mountain Dew and drew a picture of the old man from Legend of Zelda in my calzone box writing "It's dangerous to go alone... take this" under it. The guy who delivered told me "Thanks for all the awesome tips" before giving me the Mountain Dew. I was a bit taken aback by it, at first, but I really appreciate what the people did and I shall continue with awesome tips wherever I go.

...I just thought I'd relate that story here.

I don't think anyone in Australia has ever tipped anyone...

You need an adult.

Wish we had delivery drivers that awesome by me.

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Because our fast food franchise actually follow the minimum wage limit, as opposed to enslaving their employees and fire or sue anyone to bankruptcy with libel when they report.

It does happen at really high end restaurants, but it's not really expected apart from big parties. (My sister worked at one for a while).

edited 26th Feb '13 3:00:09 PM by KnightofLsama

I've never actually heard of lawsuits from that kind of thing, aside from the employees suing the employers (though not necessarily winning their cases)..

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Not exactly from a fast food franchise, but I can imagine they can pull something similar against an individual employee if companies can go after unions like this.

So, to thank the guys who gave me a free 2 liter thing of Mountain Dew and the drawing, I ordered from them again (I would've done that anyway, but that's not the point) and gave a 100% tip.