2 ms·

Tips are not begging any more then putting a price on a menu is begging; just because a price is not fixed up front doesn't make it begging. I think restaurant

Tips are not begging any more then putting a price on a menu is begging; just because a price is not fixed up front doesn't make it begging. I think restaurants are different in that the interaction is more frequent and personal than most other industries. It also seems like a very fluid job market where servers can change employers with minimal cost to themselves.

antr 12y ago
I can list dozens of jobs that are "more frequent and personal" than waiters: cashiers, nurses, bus drivers, cleaners, etc. So again, I don't understand how a restaurant employer-employee relationship differs from any other job. > It also seems like a very fluid job market where servers can change employers with minimal cost to themselves. I've never heard servers talk about the fluidity of the job market, I don't know where this oberservation comes from. I'm trying to be objective here, but I don't understand how the rest of the world (Europe is a great example) can work without a tip system, and in the US this tipping system is indispensable. As a university student I used to work at a pub, I did this for two years. I did it because I wanted to make some extra money. I think I was paid £5.20/hour (this was back in 2003-04). I never got tipped, and never felt I should have. I did the job to the best of my abilities (pouring pints, cleaning tables, and washing dishes) and tried to have fun with everyone. The pub ran like clockwork, half of all customers I would consider regulars, and service was superb (I might be biased). The same as any other regular pub. I couldn't have taken the job if I wasn't sure that I was going to get paid X/hour, I didn't want a "fluid job market", but I wanted a steady regular income for the job they hired me for.
- KevinEldon 12y ago
  My cashier, although I do recognize them and enjoy a short conversation with them occassionally, cannot offer me any real benefits. They ring me up, take my money and let me go. Nurses? I (and my insurance) pay a hell of a lot whenver I visit any sort of medical professional... so no tip (frankly, I wish I could visit a medical professional more frequently and get their insight and reward them for helping me and my family live longer and better). I don't take public transit (it's not available/convient for where I live) and what would they offer me over the fare? Cleaners... I don't use those either, but I can see how a relationship based business transaction may be useful there too. I'm not saying "tipping" is the only way to run an economy, only that in my experience I've found that it can be a very useful way to get a very nice experience in a way that doesn't exploit anyone; me the customer, the server, or the business owner. I'm sure many people take advantage of this either as customers, servers, or business owners... which is shameful in my opinion... but, for me it's worked out ok enough to be something I prefer enough to now want to give it up.

antr 12y ago

I can list dozens of jobs that are "more frequent and personal" than waiters: cashiers, nurses, bus drivers, cleaners, etc. So again, I don't understand how a restaurant employer-employee relationship differs from any other job. > It also seems like a very fluid job market where servers can change employers with minimal cost to themselves. I've never heard servers talk about the fluidity of the job market, I don't know where this oberservation comes from. I'm trying to be objective here, but I don't understand how the rest of the world (Europe is a great example) can work without a tip system, and in the US this tipping system is indispensable. As a university student I used to work at a pub, I did this for two years. I did it because I wanted to make some extra money. I think I was paid £5.20/hour (this was back in 2003-04). I never got tipped, and never felt I should have. I did the job to the best of my abilities (pouring pints, cleaning tables, and washing dishes) and tried to have fun with everyone. The pub ran like clockwork, half of all customers I would consider regulars, and service was superb (I might be biased). The same as any other regular pub. I couldn't have taken the job if I wasn't sure that I was going to get paid X/hour, I didn't want a "fluid job market", but I wanted a steady regular income for the job they hired me for.

KevinEldon 12y ago
My cashier, although I do recognize them and enjoy a short conversation with them occassionally, cannot offer me any real benefits. They ring me up, take my money and let me go. Nurses? I (and my insurance) pay a hell of a lot whenver I visit any sort of medical professional... so no tip (frankly, I wish I could visit a medical professional more frequently and get their insight and reward them for helping me and my family live longer and better). I don't take public transit (it's not available/convient for where I live) and what would they offer me over the fare? Cleaners... I don't use those either, but I can see how a relationship based business transaction may be useful there too. I'm not saying "tipping" is the only way to run an economy, only that in my experience I've found that it can be a very useful way to get a very nice experience in a way that doesn't exploit anyone; me the customer, the server, or the business owner. I'm sure many people take advantage of this either as customers, servers, or business owners... which is shameful in my opinion... but, for me it's worked out ok enough to be something I prefer enough to now want to give it up.