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Post by smalltowngirlie on Nov 7, 2018 12:52:36 GMT
If you are at a restaurant and you know the staff are making minimum wage, if not more, do you still tip and if so how much? Does it matter how much the minimum wage is?
DH and I were having a conversation about this this morning and I thought I would ask the Peas.
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johnnysmom
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,687
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:33 GMT
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Post by johnnysmom on Nov 7, 2018 13:02:18 GMT
I've never been in that position (around here it's expected that servers make $2-something/hr) but I probably would not tip unless the service was spectacular and even then it'd be less than the typical 20-ish% we usually tip.
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Post by Zee on Nov 7, 2018 13:19:36 GMT
I have never not tipped a waiter other than once for extremely rude service. I don't care how much the server makes, I tip.
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smartypants71
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,992 
Location: Houston, TX
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Post by smartypants71 on Nov 7, 2018 13:24:14 GMT
As long as they are providing table service (vs counter service) and the restaurant doesn't have a policy against it, i tip.
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Nink
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,963
Location: North Idaho
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Post by Nink on Nov 7, 2018 13:27:41 GMT
I still tip the same regardless. I’ve waited tables before, $30 an hour still wouldn’t be enough for what you have to put up with from people in my opinion.
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Post by busy on Nov 7, 2018 13:28:35 GMT
My state doesn’t have the stupid different minimum wage for tipped employees, so everyone is making at least minimum wage. And no, I do not take that into account when determining my tip and think it’s very punitive and gross if someone would. I tip based on service received.
The only exception is the restaurants that pay their staff living wages and don’t allow tips. The menu prices are a bit higher, yes, but the total spent for a meal is usually about the same.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:27:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2018 13:28:35 GMT
I'm not clear if you're referring to table or counter service. Despite the proliferation of tip jars at counter service restaurants, I don't tip there regardless of how the employees are compensated. At table service restaurants, I tip 20% routinely unless service is poor and then I reduce to 15%. If service is exceptional, sometimes I go up to 25%.
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likescarrots
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,879
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Post by likescarrots on Nov 7, 2018 13:33:14 GMT
Yes I would still tip someone that is serving me. Almost always 20% if the service was anything more than really bad.
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georgiapea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,846
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Post by georgiapea on Nov 7, 2018 13:42:49 GMT
I would have no knowledge of a server making more than basic server pay. I tip generously. They might be supporting a family or in school to become the owner of said restaurant.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Nov 7, 2018 13:47:30 GMT
I always tip table service. At least 20%.
I've been a waitress. It's not an easy job.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 21:27:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2018 14:04:03 GMT
I tip 20% unless the wait staff was horrible, I then tip 10%, a few times I left no tip and let the manager know why. Exceptional services? 25%
At fancy restaurants, I tip 30%.
No tip for the gal that brings out my food to the car.
No jar tip either. Hate those things
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psiluvu
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,217
Location: Canada's Capital
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Post by psiluvu on Nov 7, 2018 14:08:41 GMT
Server minimum wage here is $12.20 an hour, which IMO is quite high. I tip no more than 15% although it seems that 20% is becoming the new normal
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Post by malibou on Nov 7, 2018 14:27:03 GMT
I always tip. It's not my business what their base salary is.
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Post by ntsf on Nov 7, 2018 14:36:12 GMT
Ca pays minimum wage to all... and yes I tip 20% the wait staff are not paid a living wage.
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Post by AN on Nov 7, 2018 14:40:56 GMT
I haven't ever been in that situation, but if I lived in a state with full minimum wage for servers, to be honest - I could see myself tending more towards the 15% average tip than 20%+ that is my standard now. It wouldn't make me not tip.
On that topic - we were out with a new couple this past weekend, and when all the bills came, it came out that one of the husbands does not tip. Ever. For anything. The wife was MORTIFIED, and they've solved it in their marriage by she just handles all the checks or tipping situations when they are together. But I've never met anyone who will outright admit they don't tip and DEFEND THEIR POSITION. They were otherwise totally normal, nice people. They were generous with sharing the drinks and snacks they brought (we went on a boat tour before dinner). It was crazy.
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Post by smalltowngirlie on Nov 7, 2018 14:49:37 GMT
I was a server when the rate for tipping was 10%, so quite a while ago, that 20 cent tip on a 80 cent cup of coffee was huge. I do have an issue with tipping, not the actual tipping but how it is figured. Often when DH and I go out to eat we order water, in some places that could reduce our bill by $5, which would reduce the tip. The server did not do any less for us, but if we follow the 20% rule, would get less of a tip. Also, if we order smaller menu items our bill would be less, again, the server is not working less for us but the tip would be less. I certainly do not think I automatically get better service at a place that charges me $7 for a burger compared to $15, but the expectation is the tip would be twice as much.
We tip every time we go out unless the service is that bad, and we have had some service that bad, and yes we do talk to the management at that point.
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Post by annabella on Nov 7, 2018 16:05:52 GMT
In my state minimum wage is $13.25 an hour and it goes up next year. It will be $15 by 2020. There was a recent initative on the polls in June to require restaurants to pay their staff minimum wage, it was supposed to go into affect last month but there was a fight to repeal it and I think the Mayor was going to repeal it, but not sure exactly where it stands now. So yes when that goes into affect, I will no longer tip waiters 20%. The whole point of tipping 20% is to supplement someone's $3 an hour salary.
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Post by scrapmaven on Nov 7, 2018 16:26:28 GMT
If i have a server who is making minimum wage and the service is excellent I tip more. Servers work hard and minimum wage is barely livable.
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cycworker
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,556
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Post by cycworker on Nov 7, 2018 16:36:00 GMT
Server minimum wage here is $12.20 an hour, which IMO is quite high. I tip no more than 15% although it seems that 20% is becoming the new normal When did that happen? I say that as someone who remembers when 10% was the minimum and if you gave 20% you were considered generous. as to the original question: I always tip unless the restaurant has a no tip policy. |
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Post by holly on Nov 7, 2018 16:36:34 GMT
We are in the land of high min wage (WA state) $11.50 soon to be $12 and we still tip 15-20%. Idaho has low min wage and I tip the same there. I think that Idaho pays waitstaff less even.
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Post by busy on Nov 7, 2018 16:40:38 GMT
Server minimum wage here is $12.20 an hour, which IMO is quite high. I tip no more than 15% although it seems that 20% is becoming the new normal When did that happen? I say that as someone who remembers when 10% was the minimum and if you gave 20% you were considered generous. as to the original question: I always tip unless the restaurant has a no tip policy. I'm 45 and 20% has always been the norm since I've been tipping people. |
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Rhondito
Pearl Clutcher
MississipPea
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Post by Rhondito on Nov 7, 2018 16:47:09 GMT
I was a server when the rate for tipping was 10%, so quite a while ago, that 20 cent tip on a 80 cent cup of coffee was huge. I do have an issue with tipping, not the actual tipping but how it is figured. Often when DH and I go out to eat we order water, in some places that could reduce our bill by $5, which would reduce the tip. The server did not do any less for us, but if we follow the 20% rule, would get less of a tip. Also, if we order smaller menu items our bill would be less, again, the server is not working less for us but the tip would be less. I certainly do not think I automatically get better service at a place that charges me $7 for a burger compared to $15, but the expectation is the tip would be twice as much. We tip every time we go out unless the service is that bad, and we have had some service that bad, and yes we do talk to the management at that point. I don't understand how this relates to your original question about minimum wage?
I over tip when I go out. I waited tables through college; My daughter is a server at one of the top restaurants in our city. It's hard work and I acknowledge that and good service with my tip.
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bklyngal62
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,227
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Post by bklyngal62 on Nov 7, 2018 16:59:15 GMT
I always tip table service. At least 20%. I've been a waitress. It's not an easy job. Same here. |
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Post by gmcwife1 on Nov 7, 2018 17:06:28 GMT
If you are at a restaurant and you know the staff are making minimum wage, if not more, do you still tip and if so how much? Does it matter how much the minimum wage is? DH and I were having a conversation about this this morning and I thought I would ask the Peas. I don’t pay attention to what each areas minimum wage is so I tip the same no matter how my server is paid  |
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tracylynn
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Post by tracylynn on Nov 7, 2018 17:26:16 GMT
Not even a question - you tip normal. Even minimum wage of $8 or $9 is not living wages.
I tip around 20%. If the service is awesome, I'll go a bit higher maybe.
If it's bad, I still tip 15%, because typically bad service isn't just the wait staffs fault.
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marimoose
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Post by marimoose on Nov 7, 2018 17:29:55 GMT
I don't even know why it matters what they make hourly. If you go out to eat in a restaurant, you tip. Everyone knows (or should) that the staff works for tips. If people cannot afford or want to tip then they shoudl go to a fast food restaurant. I do not tip at places like Dunkin Donuts that always seem to have a prominent tip jar on their counter.
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Post by mrst on Nov 7, 2018 17:30:39 GMT
This is very much an American 'thing. Most if the rest of the world only tips for very good service and then not very much. It doesn't matter how much the waiter earns, it's their job and should be done well. Ive even seen tips on cruises before service! It's a bribe,not a tip! I think this is one of the biggest problems w8th traveling and cruising. In some countries tipping is never done and in others it 20%  We never quite know what to do! |
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cycworker
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,556
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Post by cycworker on Nov 7, 2018 17:33:42 GMT
When did that happen? I say that as someone who remembers when 10% was the minimum and if you gave 20% you were considered generous. as to the original question: I always tip unless the restaurant has a no tip policy. I'm 45 and 20% has always been the norm since I've been tipping people. I'm 48. Been tipping people 30 years (since I started driving - that's how I remember). wonder if it's regional? Or a Canada/US difference? I know the restaurant I'm thinking of where 10% was acceptable 30 years ago was, and still is, unionized. So they've always paid over minimum wage. |
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cycworker
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,556
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Post by cycworker on Nov 7, 2018 17:36:26 GMT
This is very much an American 'thing. Most of the rest of the world only tips for very good service and then not very much. It doesn't matter how much the waiter earns, it's their job and should be done well. North American. Canadians expect tipping, too. |
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Post by auntkelly on Nov 7, 2018 18:24:19 GMT
On that topic - we were out with a new couple this past weekend, and when all the bills came, it came out that one of the husbands does not tip. Ever. For anything. The wife was MORTIFIED, and they've solved it in their marriage by she just handles all the checks or tipping situations when they are together. But I've never met anyone who will outright admit they don't tip and DEFEND THEIR POSITION. They were otherwise totally normal, nice people. They were generous with sharing the drinks and snacks they brought (we went on a boat tour before dinner). It was crazy. So how did he defend his position? I just can't imagine anyone thinking it is okay to not leave a tip when the service is good. |
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We never quite know what to do!