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The usual justification for tipping is the servers make less then minimum wage or they should or however you want to say it. So now if the same server is getting $20 an hour and the price of food is higher because of it, do you tip the same?
I feel like for myself I would tip less by the amount of the price hike or more. Many wait staff at half decent places actually make more than low level software developers. Should how we tip change if we are paying full “liveable” wages at this point?
Here in NY tipped wait staff, even for upstate where I am now get a much higher base wage.
The theory is/was that they spend an average of 20% doing non tipped "side work" (refilling catsup bottles, rolling silverware in napkins, station cleaning, brewing coffee pots, cleaning them, etc), so as NY raised minimum s they increased the tipped vase wages.
To answer the OP Q, YES, I've modified my tip structure and tip less.
I work just as hard, maybe harder (up to70#-74# crates/cartons) as they do.
Ok, so maybe I can't balance 18 plates of food on my arms and toes, but usually they have another server help, and larger parties (defined usually as 6+) are automatically imposed higher tip percentage.
I see no need to pay them more than I earn, just because they took an order, delivered 2 plates and 2 glasses of drink.
I tip what would make them earn approximately what I do (at another job "anyone can do, and serving the public in an essential position), based on time I'm there.
If exceptional service, or bad service I adjust accordingly.
So now if the same server is getting $20 an hour and the price of food is higher because of it, do you tip the same?
I have been tipping much more than usual, trying to give away the stimulus money. Many of these folks have been out of work for a long time, so I figure they can use the extra cash.
At one time, tipping was a reflection of service and low basic wages on reasonable prices. Over the years its become somewhat perfunctory, even to the extent of tip jars etc. on counter pick-ups. It's probably time to re-think the purpose of tipping to more fully reflect today's situation.
Today, it even seems like servers and other service-level jobs seem to think they are doing the world a favor by even showing up. After all, many are making more money sitting at home and collecting unemployment AND stimulus money. Not only is the government welfare state competing with small business for employees, they are encouraging further growth of a 'hand-out' or entitlement mentality.
In NYC, the minimum wage for wait staff is $15 once you include the wage credit via tip (the restaurant has to pay at least $10 an hour and has to make up the difference if tips don't add up to $15 an hour). In Long Island and Westchester County, the minimum wage for wait staff (including wage credit) is $14 an hour. In the rest of NYS, the minimum wage is $12.50 for wait staff once the wage credit is applied.
To the OP's point, I do factor in minimum wage when deciding how much to tip. The whole point about the minimum wage increase push was to provide people a living wage. The reason why many of us tipped as we did previously was because wait staff wasn't making anywhere close to a living wage; at least this was the case with me. If I'm in a jurisdiction where I know wait staff have seen a significant minimum wage increase recently--which undoubtedly is factored into higher menu prices--I adjust my tipping accordingly.
I have been tipping much more than usual, trying to give away the stimulus money. Many of these folks have been out of work for a long time, so I figure they can use the extra cash.
While laudable, I look at it like these people also likely got the stimulus and the generous unemployment benefits and, thus, don't feel the need to give my stimulus funds away. But that's me.
While laudable, I look at it like these people also likely got the stimulus and the generous unemployment benefits and, thus, don't feel the need to give my stimulus funds away. But that's me.
"Giving it away" is exactly what the stimulus money is intended FOR. Stimulating the economy by spending it.
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Stimulating the economy by spending it.
