Are you a tipper? A big tipper? A generous tipper? Or are you a very scrutinizing, begrudging tipper? Who even understands tipping etiquette anymore? You know - who to tip? when to tip? how much to tip? Allow me to share some thoughts on this tipping practice....
First and foremost, it is my personal feeling that tipping should be completely optional! I think we have been societally conditioned to tip workers in certain industries because we are expected to. And they have come to rely on - and expect - our tips. Unfortunately, the bosses, the guys upstairs in the big corporate offices, have felt the wages of these certain employees do not need to be a livable wage because of the 'extra' (AKA expected) wage from tips.
Would we feel as obliged to tip a restaurant server if we knew they were being paid a decent wage? Would service improve or suffer if servers didn't feel they were working for the tip? Anyone who's worked in the restaurant industry can probably tell you a few horror stories about the customer who stiffed them, or tipped way over the 'prescribed' amount. They most likely have stories, too, about their base salaries, or more likely, the lack there of, and how the tips are crucial to their survival. I know I've heard a few doozies!
I work in a wine tasting room at a winery. Yes, we do sell wines by the glass and by the bottle and have seating available for our guests. Are we a bar? A restaurant? No, we are, first and foremost, a wine tasting room. The other stuff is part of the perks of visiting us. Do I work in a tippable environment? That's open for debate, probably going back to the theory that tipping is optional. Do I work in the hospitality industry? I'd say yes, without a doubt. Who typically gets tips? The hospitality industry (think about who you tip - servers, bell boys, valet drivers, cab drivers, hairdressers/barbers, bar tenders, etc.). Do I expect tips? Not typically. Do I appreciate tips? You bet I do!
Maybe we've gotten so used to tipping that much of our population doesn't even realize who is getting tipped. Or if the people who deserve the tip are getting it. Think of the behind the scenes people in a restaurant - the food preparers, the dishwasher, the bus boy...without them, the 'back of the house' people, the face of the restaurant, the 'front of the house' people, don't function well. Yet, those are the ones we tip. We can only hope the rest of the crew is getting paid what they ought to be, or that the servers and host/hostesses are sharing the "wealth" at the end of their shifts.
Does the bell boy/girl or parking valet make a livable wage, or are they relying on tips to make ends meet? How do we know? Do we tip them because they managed to park our car without scratching it? Because they loaded our over-packed over-weight bags onto the trolley and brought it to our room? Are we tipping them because they did an exceptional job, or because we are expected to? Aren't they just 'doing their job' and doing it well? OH! So many questions!
Go to www.emilypost.com for the general and quick answers to tipping etiquette, but as you read it, ask yourself two questions: first - what is in the job description and what is above and beyond?, and second - are you doing it because you WANT TO or because you THINK YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO?
Tipping, as I see it, should be because you want to and because you think it is deserved.
Ideally, all employees are paid at least minimum wage (see that word - minimum? - hello?) and what ever they earn in tips is an unexpected, unnecessary, much appreciated bonus. Workers in the tippable industries should all know their jobs duties and do them well, and treat all customers equally well (remember, this is in my perfect work environment!). Would the world be a better place if we could just interact on a level playing field and not have to worry about if we're supposed to shell out an extra buck or five because you treated me better than that table over there?
So much still up for discussion here on the issue of tipping. Surely not our most pressing issue, but maybe worth having a conversation about.
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