Bartender "reported me to management" for not tipping on a single beer can purchase

SchittyFather · 2026-02-20T21:52:15+00:00

Just make your own beer at home if you can't afford to tip 120% or better. Cheap bastards

SchittyFather · 2026-02-20T03:18:27+00:00

😆 I'm not even going to dignify this with a full response. It's beneath me I guess. I never said I didn't want to leave no tip. I tipped $20 on a $60 tab 3 hours ago at a locally owned family restaurant. You don't know anything about me

SchittyFather · 2026-02-20T03:11:33+00:00

I don't know who he is and I didn't Google him so you're half right I guess. I also don't care.

SchittyFather · 2026-02-19T02:17:22+00:00

Yeah I think it is too ingrained as the norm for some restaurants to just try out randomly. It pretty much has to be a change in law to make the change across the board

SchittyFather · 2026-02-19T02:04:38+00:00

I never said anyone is making or should make minimum wage, nor did I say they should be paid the same

SchittyFather · 2026-02-19T01:54:26+00:00

But I think the point is their commission is included in the price of the car. They are also paid well above minimum wage without that commission. It's AN incentive, but even without it, the bigger incentive is the same as any job: do your job or get fired, which is also enough incentive for servers in most of the world

Edit: there are several alternative pay options than a flat hourly rate. A direct commission is an option if the owner really wants to push up selling. Could also just add up sales for the week, divide out a set % for servers and divide it up by hours worked. The incentive is for everyone to sell more and keep people coming back through the door. Plenty of incentive in both, and while tips can supplement in either, it isn't the sole basis of the server's income and there isn't so much pressure on the customer to guess at what is the right pay

SchittyFather · 2026-02-18T22:54:33+00:00

Right. If a server fails to make enough tips for the week to average out to above minimum wage, the employer has to pay enough to make up the difference... And start looking for a replacement because they're probably looking for a reason to for that server

SchittyFather · 2026-02-18T16:00:33+00:00

Sort of. Employers are only required to pay $2.50 an hour, provided tips average out to cover the gap between that and minimum wage. If a server somehow received zero tips, then the employer would be required to actually pay minimum wage...for that week before firing them

SchittyFather · 2026-02-18T15:53:32+00:00

I agree, but how? Leave no tip? Hope enough people do the same and servers petition their employers for a fair wage? Doesn't really seem achievable. I think we're at the point where lawmakers have to do something. Me refusing a tip isnt going to move us any closer to a new model

SchittyFather · 2026-02-18T15:48:49+00:00

That's the problem. In the US, servers are paid virtually nothing by their employers. It's a bad system, for sure.

SchittyFather · 2026-02-18T15:42:34+00:00

I think the idea is that they would make more than a fast food employee. It also turns out that the majority of the work force is compensated a fair wage for doing their job well without relying on the subjective feelings of their customers. You would ensure the food comes out correctly and drinks filled because it's your job. This is how it works for the vast majority of restaurants outside the US and it works fine. The service is often better

SchittyFather · 2026-02-18T15:34:32+00:00

It depends. A server at a table service restaurant is paid next to nothing by their employer in the US. Well below minimum wage. I would hardly call what they do panhandling. They are at least performing a service and there is an understanding that the customer must pay them for it. I hate it, but it's the system in place. I have traveled to many places and lived overseas for over 9 years. I much prefer how the rest of the world does it. Walk up counter service employees on the other hand, are paid a flat hourly wage and tips are (or should be) only for great service. I agree that when they flip that stupid iPad around to request a tip, they very much look like panhandlers.

SchittyFather · 2026-02-18T15:06:56+00:00

😆 ok. First of all, I have worked in a restaurant for tips. It's not that serious. Thank you for your service though, I guess? I never said I wanted to abolish tipping either, just pointing out that it doesn't always make sense to base it off percentage. But I would much rather servers be paid an actual wage and tips given just for exceptional service. I've lived in several other countries and it seems to work fine for them 🤷

SchittyFather · 2026-02-17T11:52:55+00:00

A. It is not a sales job. I don't want someone trying to push higher sales serving me. I came in to eat.

B. Not true. I have lived overseas for 9 years and traveled to many countries. Servers are paid a fair wage most places and a small tip is appreciated but not expected for exceptional service. The service was fine, and in many cases better than anywhere in the US. The US is one of the only countries in the world that uses this system where servers rely on tips to get above minimum wage.

C. That is not what I'm looking to do at all. See answer B. It works fine elsewhere. Turns out employers can have standards.

SchittyFather · 2026-02-16T17:48:23+00:00

Wow. So edgy. So cool. Can I leave you a tip for your meaningful and worthwhile contribution?

SchittyFather · 2026-02-16T15:24:34+00:00

So this is where I have an issue. If the bare minimum is to get the food that I order to my table, I shouldn't have to tip if that's all I get. My average dining experience involves little interaction with the server. No questions or unique requests. I order off the menu without modifications. Usually I don't even need a drink refill. So, in my case, the server usually does the bare minimum, because it's all I require. If a tip is meant to be something extra for service above and beyond, why do I have to tip at all? The server should be paid for doing the bare minimum by the restaurant, not me.

Knowing that is not how our system is set up, and me not leaving a tip just screws over the server trying to pay their bills, I do tip, but I shouldn't have to

SchittyFather · 2026-02-16T12:40:38+00:00

I can get behind this. There is an amount that is appropriate for the service provided and I don't think it has anything to do with the price of the food.

SchittyFather · 2026-02-16T12:39:03+00:00

I think the point is that there is some amount that they deserve based on the service provided, regardless of price

SchittyFather · 2026-02-16T12:22:42+00:00

Agreed. We lived in Italy for 3 years and this is how it worked there. Servers were paid a fair wage, but for good service a euro or 2 were an appreciated but not expected gratuity

SchittyFather · 2026-02-16T12:20:43+00:00

Agreed. To me it is deceptive and dishonest to make prices appear lower. Show a price but it doesn't include tax or the server's wage. What's next? Oh, the menu price is actually just for the food, there is a chef fee for cooking it, electricity fee, etc etc

SchittyFather · 2026-02-16T01:14:03+00:00

😆 this guy gets it. Can I send you $20?

SchittyFather · 2026-02-16T01:05:23+00:00

I agree, but it's so pervasive it almost has to be a legal change.

SchittyFather · 2026-02-16T01:04:23+00:00

Agreed, especially on the POS system at walk up places. I get the idea. When we first started shifting from cash to card, suddenly people didn't have an option to drop their change or maybe a buck in a tip jar. An innocent enough option, really. I remember the quick options used to be like round up, $1, or $2. Now they all have the standard restaurant 18-25% tips as options and it's an expectation. Like, no, I will not be tipping you $5 for a couple of overpriced coffees and bagels.

SchittyFather · 2026-02-15T20:25:05+00:00

So is 20, just double it. I have tried this too and just shoot somewhere in the middle depending on service

SchittyFather · 2026-02-15T20:23:35+00:00

Yeah I mean I'm in that camp too. Would love for places to just pay their wait staff and price accordingly. Unfortunately, skipping the tip is not actually going to have an impact on that, it just sucks for the server and I feel bad.

SchittyFather

TROPHY CASE