Topic of the Day: Tipping your Servers

While you'll never catch me talking about politics...and while I'll often avoid the religion topic in debates...there are certain topics that light a fire in me and I'll be talking about those every now and then. I encourage all those with opinions to comment them! One issue that I often preach regards tipping your servers.

I, myself, am not a waitress, and can't really say that I ever have been. For about 4 years I was a bartender. Regardless of my current profession, I must say that I really have respect for servers and I think that they should be respected and not dismissed.

Think about it. Servers are there to "serve" you. But I think often times people mistake the word "serve" for "slave". They SERVE you food, they are not there to SERVE you in all aspects of life. So please, don't SNAP (quite literally, with your fingers) to get their attention. That is SO rude. How many times have you yourself said or heard someone say "WELL, there goes THEIR tip!" when something doesn't go exactly as you want it to at the restaurant. While I do believe a tip should reflect a server's service, I do NOT believe the tip should reflect the kitchen messing up your order, your inability to get a parking spot outside, the hostess skipping over your name even though you were there first, or really for any other reason. In my opinion, 20% is the MINIMUM you should tip your server.

Are you aware that waitstaff depends on their tips almost entirely?? Servers in PA typically make anywhere from $2.65/hour to $4 or $5/hour, but that higher hourly rate is very rare. Now do the math on that. Let's say Susan makes $3/hour working at the Melting Pot (btw, I sooo wish we had one of those in Erie!). Susan works 30 hours a week busting her butt waiting tables. At $3/hour, that gives her a $90 paycheck before taxes...and likely $73 after taxes are taken out. Could you survive on $73/week? Doubtful.

What's the problem? Did your server forget to bring you a refill AGAIN? You've asked them TWICE already! How annoying. They must just be stupid. Maybe they should get their head out of their butt when they come to work! Sound harsh?? These are ALL things I've heard, and I'm sure you've said! Did you take into consideration that maybe while they were on their way to get your water that the table behind you stopped them to complain about their food? Then after that a table that wasn't even theirs flagged them down to ask for refills. Then another "gentleman" from across the restaurant SNAPPED his fingers at her because he STILL hasn't gotten his food, so she then had to go to the kitchen to find out why it's been over 40 minutes. These are all things that happen multiple times in one shift for the typical server. And yes, while it is just as important that you get your refill as the snapping guy gets his food, you can understand how throwing multiple issues at one person while they're en route to your water could make them forget!

While 20% of the total bill is the general guideline, there's no rule that says you can't tip more. Granted, the economy...blah blah blah. But don't act like you over-tipped when the economy didn't suck! You're using it as an excuse! If you can't afford to tip, don't go out to eat! I am NOT bragging when I say this, just trying to make a point, but when I am paying for a meal at a restaurant, MINIMUM tip is 20%. That's bottom-of-the-barrel service unless the server flat out called me a name and spit in my food (no, that's never happened). If the server was on top of things, very attentive, friendly, etc, I have no problem whatsoever tipping 30%, 40%, sometimes 50%. If I go to a lower priced restaurant where I don't expect to get any service at all and someone takes good care of me, I'll have no problem leaving a $10 tip on an $11 bill. And you know what? It probably made someone's day. It wasn't much, and $10 certainly doesn't get you very far...but if someone else had sat at that table they may have made 87 cents. Don't get me wrong, servers aren't poverty stricken and shouldn't be treated like a charity case...but they SHOULD be commended for good work.

Ok I'm done preaching, hopefully I've made my point. If you have comments, in agreement or disagreement, leave them below!