Business

Guess How Much Some Servers And Restaurant Owners in San Fran Think You Should Be Forced to Tip?

According to a recent report from California, some members of the San Francisco restaurant industry don’t think that the average 15 percent gratuity is enough of a tip for servers.

There is a movement to make 25 percent the mandatory tipping amount in San Francisco restaurants, reports the Contra Costa Times. According to the same report, the motion is being spearheaded not only by restaurant workers but also by some high-end restaurants in the area.

“They have to be kidding. The whole purpose of a tip is to reward service. If the price is dictated it’s not a tip. If they‘re serious they’ll meet a lot of resistance. It seems like everyone is trying to squeeze another buck out of us,” Mike Alexander of Antioch said to the Contra Costa Times.

Although the Contra article does not list which restaurants are on board with the proposal, and it does not clearly state how they intend to impose it, Newser points out that they will most likely adopt the method employed by some New York city restaurants: just automatically add the gratuity to the bill.

Currently, in most restaurants, when a gratuity is automatically included on a bill, it is for parties of a certain size (and it is usually “conspicuously” posted on the menu or elsewhere in the restaurant). However, as it is practiced by some New York dining establishment, San Francisco may just try to add the gratuity regardless of the number of patrons per table.

“I‘ve never heard of auto gratuity at a bar when you’re a party of two,” said Sarah Riley, a 29-year-old web designer who was shocked when a restaurant in New York automatically included the gratuity on her bill.

“It was only when I went up to close my tab that the bartender said gratuity was included. I won’t be coming back to pay $18 for a $15 glass of wine where I have no discretion on how much to tip,” she said in a Wall Street Journal report.

Auto-tips are “kind of seeping through the industry,” one New York bar owner explained to the Journal. “It started with restaurants for groups of six or more. And now it kind of goes on at all the big clubs.”

The article adds that some bars in New York have already abandoned the practice after the obvious customer reaction

But will San Francisco abandon the practice if customers react as they did in New York?

“If they try it, people will vote with their feet,” said Candel Garcia in the Contra Costa article. “Tips should be earned, not expected. I usually tip 10 percent or 15 percent, which I think is fair. If they really want a bigger tip they might try to increase their service to justify it.”

Martha Haider is another dissenter. “I don’t mind tipping for good service, but 25 percent is going too far,” she said. “There might be some well-heeled people who will do it, but not me,” she told the Contra Costa Times.

To clarify, restaurants in San Francisco and New York are legally allowed to include gratuity on the bill so long as they “conspicuously post” any mandatory policy prior to the consumer ordering, a spokeswoman for the city Department of Consumer Affairs told the Journal.

It just may not be the best business model to follow.

Comments (216)

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  • Talmid of Yeshua
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 12:36am

    I used to tip a lot, but lately, service in most places suck. Your lucky I even visit your stinking hell hole of a business in the first place.

    Report Post » Talmid of Yeshua  
    • Lemon Party Patriot
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 2:28am

      Yes, I‘m sure Denny’s and Bass Pro Shops feel lucky.

      Lemon Party Patriot  
    • jb.kibs
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 3:29am

      Lemon, I bet you feel sad that The Gap and Old Navy are closing a bunch of stores.

      Report Post »  
    • RockinChuck
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 6:10am

      loose the rebel flag. It belongs in a museum. we r The United States Of America. 50 stars and 13 strpes

      RockinChuck  
    • wolverine
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 6:37am

      @Rockinchuck
      How about you take your yankee attitude and put iot where the sun don’t shine. Those that fly the rebel flag also fly the Stars and Stripes and have sacrficided more than most for it, Check the demographics for Medal opf Honor winners

      Report Post » wolverine  
    • loriann12
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 6:38am

      I usually tip 10% unless I feel I got really good service, then I tip 15%. If I were FORCED to tip 25%, I would boycott that establishment. Like the article said, if it’s mandatory, it’s not a tip, and I‘d add it’s a tax. Just another way to tax people.

      Report Post »  
    • MARCH4HIM
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 7:18am

      @rockinchuck
      Next year that might be what .. The Pres…. says about…
      THE AMERICAN FLAG….
      he’s probably having one made -up with a… hammer and sickle

      I hope you hold to that belief when talking to a ….
      african-amercam.and all the..“pick a nation”-american…
      And their ….More proud of where they came from.
      than being here in the U.S.A
      I only wish I could move south and
      get out of this politicaly correct city.

      Not to mention…. if things keep going the way they are…
      It might come in handy…and we might need it again…

      Report Post » MARCH4HIM  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:18am

      “some members of the San Francisco restaurant industry” = UNION

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:24am

      It is unfair that the lousy servers with crappy attitudes get less than the pleasant, efficient servers.
      Of course a union would contend that a lazy, belligerent employee would be “entitled”.
      Isn’t Communism great.

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • MR_ANDERSON
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:30am

      I enjoy living in Japan. Here it is disrespectful to give someone a tip, because by doing such you are saying they are belittling themselves in the job they are doing.

      Before you say their living standard is designed to not live off of tips in Japan where America isn’t, let me tell you that you are wrong. Their living standard is just as difficult. It is just their society teaches people to live within their means.

      I could explain all the differences, but people don’t like reading walls of text. However, if you don’t believe me, a wall of text will not change anything. It would be like me trying to teach a die-hard communist why capitalism is better.

      Report Post »  
    • hidden_lion
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 9:06am

      “50 stars and 13 stripes”
      Pretty soon the American flag will be considered inappropriate and offensive as well. It is already happening in places across the US. I think it is time to drop the U from USA. We are now just States of America, nothing united about us.

      Report Post » hidden_lion  
    • NHwinter
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 9:15am

      I’ve never understood tipping anyway. The restaurants should pay their employees better and eliminate tipping. We don’t tip for any other service we get. If your business is to provide food, how could the food get to the customer unless you bring it to them. When you go to buy clothes you don’t tip the salesperson. When you have your oil changed you don’t tip the mechanic. If restaurants paid their servers 15% more we wouldn’t have to tip and dinner would cost exactly the same as if we tipped with the price of dinner reflecting the increase in salary. Tipping a cheap way for the restaurant to have the customer pay part of the salary of their employees. Only problem is you might get lousy service, which is more likely to happen today tipping or not.

      Report Post » NHwinter  
    • Sheepdog911
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 9:16am

      This is simple. Next time that I’m forced to go to San Francisco, I’ll stick to IN & Out Burger, Chick-fil-a or someother worthy, Christian morals-based locale. I’ve bought my last over-priced, undersized meal served by some snooty, flaming queen who thinks that I “owe” it anything just because he took and delivered my order for that over-priced, undersized meal … even if it is nicely presented on the finest, faux china dishes.

      Report Post » Sheepdog911  
    • mikem1969
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 9:17am

      First off, I tip based on the quality of service and food. If the service sucks, you are lucky to get a tip, if the service is good, the tip will be good, if the food sucks but the service was good there will still be a tip for the wait staff.

      Second, could you imagine being forced to pay a 25% tip no matter the service you got. What incentive would the wait staff have to give you good service at that point?? None. San FranCommie along with the rest of commiefornia needs to be booted out of the USA once and for all.

      Report Post »  
    • biohazard23
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 9:56am

      I think this scene from Reservoir Dogs sums up what a lot of people are thinking about this whole tipping thing:

      Nice Guy Eddie: C’mon, throw in a buck!
      Mr. Pink: Uh-uh, I don’t tip.
      Nice Guy Eddie: You don’t tip?
      Mr. Pink: Nah, I don’t believe in it.
      Nice Guy Eddie: You don’t believe in tipping?
      Mr. Blue: You know what these chicks make? They make s***.
      Mr. Pink: Don’t give me that. She don’t make enough money that she can quit.
      Nice Guy Eddie: ….Let me get this straight: you don’t ever tip?
      Mr. Pink: I don’t tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I’ll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it’s for the birds. As far as I’m concerned, they’re just doing their job.

      Report Post » biohazard23  
    • frodis
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 10:47am

      I always tip 20 to 25 % if the server is good. A lot of servers look at a table though and think oh it’s just 2 people, I want a bigger table. Sometimes it’s better to get the 2 people than the 6. But when they ignore my beverage, don’t smile and seem to not care then I do 10-15% just because I feel I should. There have been times when the service really stunk and they got one dollar. San Fran servers probably get stiffed by cheap liberals so there looking for more income to live in such an expensive city.

      Report Post » frodis  
    • football lady
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 11:00am

      Keep your rebel flag. It is something to be proud of! Those who use it as an excuse to hate, we don’t care what you think.

      Report Post »  
    • Ruler4You
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 11:22am

      You ‘require me’ to tip and you’ll have to “require me” to eat out. Cause I don’t do good with orders. Especially stupid ones. I can’t believe how the stupid people are always the ones who get the air time.

      Report Post » Ruler4You  
    • NeoFan
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 12:00pm

      They can make it a thousand percent for all I care. I don’t go to the socialist Utopia because it smells like urine and feces and its run by leftists. I don’t even do business with any companies that have a San Francisco address.

      Report Post »  
    • Kidon
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 12:16pm

      Once again San Francisco, is saying the State is the conscience of the individual. These unnamed people believe the State is the answer. The Constitution of the United States of American states that the government or the State is the problem not the solution.

      These demigods desire to rule over all of us with an iron fist of tyranny.

      The death of America is on the horizon. What is dying you ask, the freedom of choice.

      Read my blog Liberalism or Conservatism
      Posted on September 3, 2010 by Mr. Decal
      The State over the Individual
      http://www.decalfactory.com/wp-index.php/2010/09/liberalism-or-conservatism/

      Report Post »  
    • joelack55
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 3:18pm

      I love the Flag. We’ve been going down hill since the the stars and stripes lol

      Report Post » joelack55  
    • chfields62
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 3:18pm

      I tip according to the level of service I receive, great service = great tip, good service = good tip, bad service = little or no tip. If they try adding it automatically, I will not eat there, plain and simple. My money does my talking. Glad I no longer live in Looneyfornia…………

      Report Post »  
    • Professional Infidel
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 4:13pm

      I only tip the car attendant, “To keep my car up-front” tip for what i’m paying for???? here’s a tip “Don’t play on the freeway”

      Report Post »  
    • decendentof56
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:34pm

      Let us see if the SF government gets involved and makes it mandatory.
      Remember, if it becomes mandatory, that the gov will know much closer how much you make, and how much you should pay in taxes.
      Servers should be adamant to not allow this.

      Report Post »  
    • RockinChuck
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:36pm

      i have lived in sc for 48 yrs . and i know history well, young american southerners were suckered into fighting the north for 10% of the people owned plantations. the rebels wrier brave but that was then and now is time to learn from our mistakes and move on. as from yankee attitude git real and git the cotton out of your years boys the war is over. God bless our USA troops

      Report Post » RockinChuck  
    • TRUK62
      Posted on October 16, 2011 at 2:08am

      “Lemon Party Patriot”…… The name sums up the whole attitude of this nit wit. Has to take a sour puss jab at someone that has nothing to do with the issue. Just gotta get a jab in there to feel good about itself. And as far as the Rebal Flag goes….why does that bother some people? I see it as a symbol of the South that has nothing to do with racism. It’s just that certain parties have worked overtime to make it appear that it is a racist symbol. Why don’t you take that fight to the New Black Panther Party? They are pretty much nothing more than the Black version of the KKK. Or go down to the Southwest and take up the issue with those Reconquista Rats and their Azatlan Flag? Because you have no guts…. just go for easy targets. Probably the same type of person who would openly bash a Christian for being against partial birth abortion and not say a word to a stinkin‘ Muslim who wants to establish Sharia’ Law in the United States. Dime a dozen, sour puss, slap shooters.

      Report Post » TRUK62  
    • JLGunner
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 1:39pm

      I’m diggin the stars and bars. I’m glad to be southern born. I don’t look good in a Yankees ball cap (turned ever so slightly to the side) with a puerto rican flag on my shirt. Nope, Bass Pro Shop cammo hat for me is just fine. God bless my America.

      Report Post » JLGunner  
  • manjodad
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 12:29am

    If they feel the servers deserve a 25% tip, then just raise the prices by 25% and pay the servers the money. That way, the servers will get more money and the amount reported to the IRS will be accurate. I have worked in restaurants and the servers all brag about how much less they report than they actually receive. If the restaurant serves good food and the service is of a 25% tip quality, people will come and they won’t have to feel intimidated to leave a tip that they may feel was not indicative of the quality of the food and service.

    Report Post »  
    • pamela kay
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 3:09am

      Sounds fair to me! Call it what it is, …..a charge.

      Report Post » pamela kay  
    • jb.kibs
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 3:40am

      the whole thing is this.
      They provide you dinner, they cook it and serve it. that is part of eating at a resturant, unless it is a buffet.. the whole notion that resturant owners can just skip on paying part of their expense is crazy. tips are not, “me hiring you” , tips are a thank you for going above and beyond what you were hired to do. remembering my name, remember what i drink, etc.. not for DOING YOUR JOB. it would be like the bank teller demanding a tip for counting your money out and handing it to you.. if you WANT to give them a tip, that is great, but a tip, like charity, by definition, can not be Forced.

      Report Post »  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 8:17am

      Exactly manjodad.
      Most people use less than 7% of their brain. That doesn’t even have anything to do with the fact that they are uneducated and Ignorant.
      Should ALL businesses charge an Amount for their product and then add a 25 % “surcharge” that goes to their employee?
      If they are bereft of any logic or business sense, they will.
      They will just price themselves out of a free market.
      “Oh, that haircut was 12 dollars and you owe me more 3 dollars too”
      “Oh, that Cab ride was 25 dollars and 6 more goes to me.”
      “Oh yeah, the laptop was $300 but the salesman gets $75 too, so that’s 375. Oh wait I forgot about local, state and federal Taxes… 600 Dollars please. would you like a 6 month extended warranty for an additional 100 bucks ?”

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • JLGunner
      Posted on October 17, 2011 at 1:44pm

      Wow, they sure are free with my money. If they are feeling so jenerouse, why don’t they just offer to increase the wage of the servers?

      Report Post » JLGunner  
  • nhammell
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 12:15am

    Let start by saying Forcing people to tip is just a way of skating out of paying your employees a living wage. It means you are passing that burdon on to your customers regardless of service. Federal law alows businesses to pay servers only $4.35 an hour if they make at least $30 a month in tips. I dont care where you are at no one can live on wages like that.

    I own a bar and restraunt In a small town in iowa. I work this buisness with my wife doing all positions from bar tender to server to cook thorugh out the week and hire help to fill in the holes. No matter what position i am working I do not take any of the tips(even if I am the one who is directly being tipped). The tips get split evenly among any of my employees working that day(bartenders, cooks and servers) as everyone has a part in the service and product going out. On top of that I start everyone out at the true minimuym wage or higher and move people up in pay quickly if they prove they can earn it. This results in my employess making an effective wage ranging from 15 to 29 dollars an hour(depending on the what days they are working) in a comunity where 10 to 15 dollars and hours is considered doing good for not having a college degree. This creates an envirment where everyone in the process cares greatly about the quality of what they putting out.

    Report Post »  
    • Airgun
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 12:57am

      Um, shared tips is a good idea in theory, but those places I’ve worked where we tried it, we discovered that service actually went down as the more lazy servers realized they were going to get tips whether any money came from their tables or not.
      This also led to the better servers getting tired of giving their money to people who spent more time bitching about cheap customers than putting more effort into customer satisfaction.
      It may work for you, and more power to you if it does, but it sure sounds a lot like “spreading the wealth” to me….

      Report Post » Airgun  
    • scarebear83
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 2:50am

      We usually get pizza on friday nights. 2 larges and we get a discount. Well it comes out to around $23 tax included. We usually pay $25 and let the driver keep the change. Last week they said it came to $24.47 (I think it’s $.47). Anyway we found out they are now charging a $2 delivery fee. So needless to say we aren’t tipping the driver cause it sounds like they are getting an automatic tip out of it. So yeah businesses are already starting to do such :(

      Report Post » scarebear83  
    • Chancelor32
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 4:19am

      Scarebear83

      The pizza guys don’t get the delivery charge, but they do get to pay for their gas, extra insurance, oil changes, tires, breaks, etc… Try googling tipping standard. It will tell you 10 to 15% on the FULL price (not discounted price) and a minimum of $2. I’d also like to point out this was created when gas was under a dollar.

      You don’t have to tip if you order carryout….just sayin

      Report Post »  
    • beebacksoon
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 7:12am

      scarebear83
      Everyone should check their tab before leaving a tip. Many places don’t tell you gratuity was added to your bill (or it’s printed in tiny font somewhere) or, in your case, new delivery charge added. If you don’t check it, you may end up tipping again!

      Report Post »  
    • Jayderaven
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 2:14pm

      @Chancelor32

      As far as pizza delivery goes, that $2 delivery charge does NOT go to the driver at all. That is just something that the Pizza places charge so they can get extra money. The drivers are not compensated for gas or the insurance needed to use their vehicles for a business, and do not receive a higher wage than anyone else in the store. Please take that into consideration when deciding what to tip your pizza delivery driver.

      Report Post »  
    • Grim Spirit
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 7:23pm

      Jayderaven, Actually that varies from employer to employer. The pizza place I worked for charges a $1 delivery fee. That $1 went directly to me at the end of the night. If I turned in 30 tickets at the end of the night, I got $30, plus my tips, and earned minimum wage (and eventually more) per hour. (Granted, this was over 20 years ago)

      For a guy working his way through college, delivery pizzas is a great gig.

      Two bits of pizza trivia:
      1) The busiest night for delivery is the night before Thanksgiving (everyone has family in town, and is cooking for the next day, so ‘Let’s just order pizza)
      2) The WORST night for tips is Halloween..they just give you candy.

      Report Post » Grim Spirit  
  • Rwbblood
    Posted on October 15, 2011 at 12:00am

    Why would you want to dictate a set price? Seems if you give great service, you might earn more than a set price. Idiots!

    Report Post »  
    • the hawk
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 12:13am

      To Insure Prompt Service = TIPS……….EASY ENOUGH ?

      Report Post »  
    • Ed Brown
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 1:19am

      @ The Hawk

      TIPS = Acronym failure if it‘s TO ’E’NSURE PROMPT SERVICE.

      Report Post » Ed Brown  
  • billybe123
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:50pm

    Tipping becomes Mandate, I stop going to served Restaurants. Go ahead Fools, run yourself right out of business. Tipping is at the Sole Judgement of the Customer. Not the Business. It is the Business right to raise the price, but again, its the customers right not to go there because of the price. SF, your all Fools. Nancy Pelosi… I rest my case. nuff said.

    Report Post » billybe123  
  • Ralleo
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:42pm

    Guess there is always Carryout where you don’t have to pay tips to overpriced servers but still get to enjoy the food.

    Report Post » Ralleo  
  • QuietBeige
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:38pm

    Just up the price of items on the menu by 25% and pay your servers better? That way we will all have sucky service and you will see a decline in the number of people that are willing to eat at your place of business.

    Actually – this will be good for the average American home.

    Report Post »  
  • Depressed_American
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:32pm

    A TIP IS MY RIGHT AS A CUSTOMER TO GIVE OR NOT GIVE!!!. If it is mandated, then it is not a tip, but inclusive of the restaraunts prices. The truth is the resturaunts want this so they can cut the saleries of their employees, and make the customer pay part of it, on top of paying for the food. I would never eat in another resturaunt in San Francisco, if this is passed. The food industry in San Francisco deserves to go out of business, if they are pushing this legistration. This stupid bill will ruin the resturaunt industry in SF.

    Report Post » Depressed_American  
  • PeteHDO
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:25pm

    Pass it, please pass the 25% mandatory gratuity. Let’s see how Gov. Moon Beam reacts to the loss of the restauraunt/bar industry in S.F. Please pass the plastic bag ban, please pass the styrofoam container ban. Pass the no salt ban, pass the toilet paper rationing act. Pass the 1 napkin rule. Let’s show the world how you ruin a great State and the voters keep voting status quo. This past week I harvested 2 wheelbarrow loads of red potatoes, my wife and I canned close to 30 quarts of salsa I don’t need no stinikin restaurant. The “real’ revolution will not be televised.

    Report Post »  
  • THE EQUALIZER
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:20pm

    A tip is a reward for good service. These rump rangers all need to be starved out of their jobs.

    Report Post »  
  • Discord
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:18pm

    I live in SF and have not experienced this.
    Must be at fancy places.

    Report Post » Discord  
  • Dinkiecb
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:17pm

    Have no problem paying the tip but “ I ” will decide what the tip will be. I always tip well if the service is good…25percent??? there isn’t that much good service.

    Report Post »  
  • darski
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:15pm

    When will you stupid peopl.e get rid of the darned stupid pop ups!!!!

    You would think that one add sufferer would be a little nicer to the rest of us.

    I almost never read or watch anything but headlines here because of the STUPID POP-UPS!!!! jUST STOP IT

    Report Post » darski  
  • thomas
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:11pm

    Its simple. They have a right to include a grat. You have a right not to go to that restraunt.
    Its a well placed bet that as soon as your requiured to give any tip the service will suffer accordingly.
    Been in the industry for decades and the servers work very hard and most want to please.

    Report Post » thomas  
  • Red Max
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:08pm

    http://articles.philly.com/2009-11-19/news/24988183_1_college-students-gratuity-moravian-college
    http://www.portlandfoodanddrink.com/2009/11/couple-jailed-for-refusing-to-pay-maditory-gratuity/

    Report Post »  
  • COFemale
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:04pm

    I usually tip 20% provided the service was good. If the service was mediocre I tip the usual 15%. Tipping 20% just makes it easier to figure out.

    Report Post » COFemale  
  • COFemale
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:02pm

    So if 25% is mandatory and I don’t get good service do I get my money back or can I force you to reduce the gratuity?

    Glad I don’t live in San Fran.

    Report Post » COFemale  
  • normbal
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 11:01pm

    If that becomes law, we just won’t eat out any more.

    It’s why we stopped going to diner in DC years ago. 10 percent restaurant surcharge.

    Just didn’t need to spend the extra money after spending the extra gas and time just to get there.

    Kind of like minimum wage, you know? Raise it, employers hire fewer people. Make a 25% tip mandatory, get ready to raise tumbleweeds in the parking lots.

    Report Post » normbal  
  • READRIGHTHERE
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:54pm

    Democrat mentality in action: “Charge a higher percentage! That’s the answer!“ Then business dwindles and they fail to realize that when they were only ”hoping” for 15-20 percent, they had a higher volume of business and everyone made more money in tips. Entitlement Morons.

    Just can’t get it through their heads that money has to be earned not taken from those who earned it first. Let them pursue this course and entitle themselves to closed doors and no work at all.

    Report Post »  
  • NC
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:36pm

    Restaurant owners are required by law to ensure the wait staff receives minimum wage based on a 40 hour work week. If the tips do not bring the $2.13 (?) / hr wage up to minimum wage at the end of the pay period, the restaurant must make up the difference.

    Typically wait staff only reports 1/2 of the received tips thus lowering the amount of FICA and other taxes withheld from the minuscule pay check they do receive.

    As far as the restaurant adding a gratuity to a check automatically, that’s alright with me, as long as it is conspicuously posted. Keep the gov’t out of private business. Let the consumer vote with their feet and their wallet.

    NC (also thinks smoking should be allowed in bars and restaurants, Once again, don’t like it, use your feet and go elsewhere)

    NC (while I’m on this rant, we should abolish the EEOC. There are enough minority owned businesses where there should not be a problem with hiring/firing minorities) rant off

    Report Post » NC  
    • paulusmaximus
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 10:11pm

      If they add a gratuity to the bill the restaurant owners should pay the employer share of SSI and it should be added as revenue for the business. It is not a tip it is a wage.

      Report Post » paulusmaximus  
  • roadhog
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:34pm

    Screw San Fran.

    Report Post »  
  • steveh931
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:24pm

    All part of the Progressive Socialist movement, home cooking is fine with me. Remember you always have a choice not to dine at these establishments and when you do make that choice you will then be blamed for putting them out of business.

    Gratuity; A GIFT of money to a waitress, porter, etc. For a service or favor.

    Report Post » steveh931  
    • lionslayer44
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:00pm

      TIPS= To Insure Prompt Service. bad service bad tip. good service good tip. tip, do not pet a burning dog. do not breath underwater. bad service with an attitude from waiter? tip, of my boot up his @$$. BE PREPARED COLLECT FOOD, WATER (FILTERS), AMMO!!!!! GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!

      Report Post » lionslayer44  
    • Darla_K
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 11:01am

      I went to a Tony Roma’s one time in WA State and the service was very bad. I decided not to leave a tip and when we got the bill the tip was already included. Never been back and never will. Very bad service.

      Report Post » Darla_K  
  • HisNameWasRobertPaulson
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:19pm

    Of course, most of the people complaining about the tip amount happen to be from California and New York, MASSIVE liberal bastions of cheap skates.

    I tip between 20 and 50 percent of the check, and I am NOT in the 1%, the 10% or even top 50% of wage earners. And when I go out to eat, I frequent the same places and servers that treat me well, and they KNOW I tip well, so they treat me with the utmost service. My servers EARN it, and I never, EVER grumble about it.

    If you can’t afford to tip a great server greatly, then STAY THE HECK HOME!!!

    Report Post »  
    • CottonMPG
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 9:38pm

      I seldom go anywhere I’m expected to tip but when I do I tip 10% if it is a buffet where you serve yourself and the waitress only brings drink refills, 15% at all lower cost restaurants and 20% at upscale middle class establishments. I always round up, if a coupon is involved I tip on the pre-discounted price, and if I get extra good service I tip extra good. I feel like it is taking something away from us to not allow us to tip what we think we should. I don’t mean money, I mean personal responsibility and the feeling you get from tipping well. I agree also that it encourages servers to try harder.

      Report Post » CottonMPG  
    • Gnostyk
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 4:40am

      Well said, HISNAME. I, too, frequent places where I get good service, and the food is cooked to my specifications. I have some dietary restrictions, so, if they won’t allow substitutions, I’m outta there–forever. If an eatery is packed, I give the waiter or waitress some slack. The problem is that the wait staff is most familiar with cheapskates. The waitress serves the customer’s every need, and then finds coins on the table. If I’ve been provided an accommodating and pleasant experience, I normally tip 33%. And my income is well below the median. San Francisco’s mandatory tip would save me money.

      Report Post » Gnostyk  
    • Ex_Masshole
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 9:47am

      @ HISNAME: Exactly. 20% – 50% is my normal range too. I usually stick to just a few places where the food is great and because of my tips, no matter how busy the place is, I get the best service every time I visit and my meals are always perfect. I’m not rich either, but considering the few extra buck I pay, I get big returns in quality and value.

      Report Post » Ex_Masshole  
  • EJinVA
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:14pm

    Maybe restaurant owners should be forced to pay minimum wage instead of getting away with paying less, because employees get tips.

    Report Post »  
    • HisNameWasRobertPaulson
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:20pm

      If they did that, then they could not offer more servers to help you. Don’t bother understanding the economics of having servers stand around waiting for you to show up. Of course, if you EVER ran a business, you would get it.

      Report Post »  
    • EJinVA
      Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:38pm

      Thanks for the “tip” captain obvious….my point was restaurant owners owners don’t have to pay as much as the next business owner, but out of the kindness of their hearts, they pretend to be looking out for the welfare of their employees by backing such a law. I don’t begrudge the service personnel – I know lots of people never tip – especially certain ethnic groups with nappy hair…by the way, I’m NOT one of them (non-tipper or nappy headed cheapskate)

      Report Post »  
    • Kevin J
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 12:40am

      Enjoy your $40.00 hamburger. Are you really that uneducated and clueless?

      Report Post »  
    • jb.kibs
      Posted on October 15, 2011 at 3:23am

      if the business owner wants to “Serve” people, then it is their DUTY to provide service. it’s not an added, extra thing. it should be in the cost of their daily business, raise the cost of your food if that is what you have to do… if you want people to eat there, you will be providing a waitress.. unless you are a self serve buffet..
      The whole tip thing was because people had friendly conversations with you, and maybe went out of their way to provide better service, such as, remember what you always order everday, and having it ready.. etc.. THAT is why people tip, not because you did your job.

      if it really is going to cost them 30$ to walk a hamburger out to you, they should go under.

      Report Post »  
  • smitty1007
    Posted on October 14, 2011 at 8:06pm

    Oh, and they expect a tip on the high tax that is charged too?

    Report Post »  
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