Apparently tipping is the most controversial thing I could write about...who knew?

So for those of you who haven’t seen the debate (on Facebook) about my previous blog post about tipping, well....there was/is a debate. I like debates! But reading some of the comments by my peers has lead me to believe that I’m not as good as a writer as I once thought I was. 

I used to consider myself to be a clear and concise writer, but If my audience isn’t understanding the key points I’m making through my writing, then maybe my writing needs work. Here are some quotes from the post below ladies and gents; I’ll do my best to translate. 

“Now, I don’t “hate” tipping, just the idea of it.”

This means that the act of tipping is okay with me, but the circumstances around it don’t ALWAYS make the most sense. Sometimes. But not always.

“It seems that nowadays you HAVE to tip whether the service is great, good, or terrible.”

Tipping for terrible service is lost on me. Maybe you had a bad day, maybe you had a bad week, maybe you’re not good at your job. How am I supposed to know? I could ask, I suppose....but that seems rude.

“Your tip at the end of the night is a bonus; something you get in addition to your regular pay”

If someone leaves at the end of their meal and doesn’t leave you a tip, you can’t chase them down the street, or call the police on them for stealing your service. 

“The bigger question is, why is it that waiters, waitress, and bartenders are the only people we tip?”

Alright folks, the above quote is the FOCAL POINT of this post. Hence my decision to use the words “The bigger question is...”  I know it’s hard to interpret, but I don’t have the smarts to make this any simpler. I just....I can’t do it. You think a million years of University would have instilled to knowledge in me to be able to break this down so everyone understands it; perhaps I fell asleep during that lesson.

“They didn’t offer me a tip, nor did I expect one.”

I’m not complaining that I don’t get tips at my own place(s) of work. I knew when I took the job that tips weren’t a customary thing that I was to expect from everyone who passes through. But I’m questioning WHY isn’t a customary thing? Not just for where I work, but at most establishments where people work minimum wage. 

“I’m not saying I’m going to stop tipping (it’s “socially acceptable” dontcha know) and I’m not saying that you should stop tipping”

I tip. I’ve always tipped. I’m not going to stop tipping. I tip. I’ve always tipped. I’m not going to stop tipping. I just needed to repeat that so people don’t rudely and inaccurately call me out as a “stain on society.” This above quote is also saying that my point is that everyone shouldn’t stop tipping their servers. Keep tipping. Tip all you want. Want to tip 15%? Go for it. How about 25%? Sure. Interested in tipping 50%? Then by all means, feel free to open up your wallet and tip that 50%, my friend. Do what you want. It’s your money.

“If you’re going to tip one group of workers, why not tip ‘em all?”

 This quote has similar meaning to this one... “The bigger question is, why is it that waiters, waitress, and bartenders are the only people we tip?”

Do some cooks, servers, and bartenders work their asses off? Of course they do? Are they the only people in the minimum wage workforce who do so? Of course they aren’t. Do they have the hardest minimum wage job of all time? I don’t know, I haven’t worked for every minimum wage job out there to draw a 100% accurate conclusion to that question. But I doubt it.

There are tons of minimum wage jobs out there that are hard or stressful to do, and not all of them get a tip at the end of their shift. Tipping is a trend created and carried out by different people in society, and it’s not going to last forever. Will people still be tipping on 50 years? Probably. In 100 years? Maybe. In 150 years? Who knows. Trends change. Trends end. Some have more longevity than others, but things are always changing.

*There have also been comments that if people want to work in a place that has tips, then they’re more than welcome to work as a server. Hmm…if you think of the most common restaurants in Winnipeg, you will notice a certain age category (along with other qualifiers) among the servers who work there. But that’s a different topic.

Tippety Tip Tip

A lot of you waiters and waitresses out there are probably going to hate this post....

....but not as much as I hate the idea of tipping. 

Now, I don’t “hate” tipping, just the idea of it. Every time you go to a restaurant, you’re expected to leave a tip in addition to paying your bill. Once upon a time it was 10%. What is it now? 15%? 20? Whatever the amount, I think it’s ridiculous. Back in the day a tip was only rewarded to those who provided above and beyond service, and by people who had the extra bucks to leave a little extra somethin’ somethin’. 

It seems that nowadays you HAVE to tip whether the service is great, good, or terrible. You wouldn’t believe how many times I hear “Wow, that was the worst service I’ve ever had. She’s only getting a 5% tip from me”.

If the service was bad, THEN WHY WOULD YOU TIP AT ALL???? That doesn’t make any sense.

I know that at some bars and restaurants, if the people you serve don’t leave you a tip, then you (the waiter/waitress) have to pay out of your own pocket. I sincerely think that shouldn’t be allowed, but I question people who agree to work at places with such outrageous terms. Your tip at the end of the night is a bonus; something you get in addition to your regular pay. Bonuses are rewarded for going the extra mile. Not for carrying out the duties of your job description that you’re already expected/paid to do. 

You know what’s worse than feeling obligated to tip, or having someone you're dining with add money to your tip because they felt it was too small an amount? Having the tip automatically added onto your bill! I was at a restaurant with some friend last week, and the establishment added a 25% tip onto the total of my bill. Ridiculous! Then while I was paying with debit, the machine had the nerve to ask me to punch in how much of a tip I wanted to leave. Seriously? I have to tip 50% now? Don’t they know I’m a poor student who’s just lucky enough to enjoy a meal out? Does this mean I have to intentionally order a cheap meal so I have enough money left in my wallet for a tip?

The bigger question is, why is it that waiters, waitress, and bartenders are the only people we tip?

I work in a plus size clothing store, and a few months ago an 11 year old girl came in with her dad to buy some new clothes for school. She was really shy at first, and told me she didn’t quite fit in at school because all of the other girls had nicer clothes. I felt for her, and spent the next two hours picking out clothes she would look adorable in. By the end of it, we were laughing and having a great time as she strut her stuff across the store in pieces of her new wardrobe. Her and her dad continuously thanked me for my time and help, and assured me they’d be back. They were about to leave the store, but before they reached the door, the girl came back and gave me a hug and thanked me one last time. 

They didn’t offer me a tip, nor did I expect one. I spent more time with this customer than I do with most customers, and put tons more thought into the garments I was picking out, because I know what it’s like to be an 11 year old girl; I knew this shopping trip was important to her. 

My point is, I didn’t go “above and beyond” in hopes of getting a tip. I did it because it was something I wanted to do, and hey, it’s the job I get paid for. 

I’m not saying I’m going to stop tipping (it’s “socially acceptable” dontcha know) and I’m not saying that you should stop tipping. But maybe you should consider also tipping the teachers giving your kids an education, or the nurse who makes sure you’re comfortable in your hospital bed at night, or the people behind the phones at 311 who get yelled at everyday by people asking silly questions all day. 

If you’re going to tip one group of workers, why not tip ‘em all?