r/antiwork Jan 14 '22 Silver 5 Helpful 16 Wholesome 10

So sorry, I'm broke so I can only pay you $77 for my food. You were great though.

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273

u/AlphaOhmega Jan 15 '22

The tip system is so dumb. Waiters shouldn't have to depend on tips, tips should be a nice but unnecessary boost for good service. It's all twisted around.

15

u/[deleted] Jan 15 '22

[deleted]

3

u/Stinky_Cat_Toes Jan 15 '22
  1. The current minimum wage is inhumane. No one should make less than $25/h.

  2. Many (most?) servers should make above a $25 minimum wage because of the knowledge, training, and expertise required.

  3. Every penny of all credit card tips is declared on taxes. In the past, when many tips were in cash, a lot of it was undeclared. The vast majority of tips are on the credit card receipt now, and that's all declared.

  4. I promise that most servers want to abolish tipping culture in favor of an actual livable wage, public health care, and federally mandated PTO and family leave.

4

u/bigdickmagic69 Jan 15 '22

Yes and no.

I am a server, and the occasional horrible tip can sometimes break my night. But on a weekly basis, I make pretty decent money. No complaints there.

What I have noticed over the last 10 years is how tip-out for servers is out of control. I used to tip out 2-3% of my sales. But it used to just be for the bartender and maybe a food runner/busser if you had one. In recent years tip-out is closer to 5-7% of sales. They've started taking servers' tips and giving them to the line cooks and hosts. I have even worked at a place where I had to tip out the dishwasher. And I've never experienced this personally (I would walk the fuck out immediately if I did), but I've heard several instances of servers having to tip out MANAGEMENT.

I think a breaking point is going to come soon and dining out is going to drastically change. Covid has shined a light on a lot of bullshit on the workplace for people on both ends of it. Even though this is how I make my living I have always recognized how bizarre it is that complete strangers are responsible for paying my wages. And now they're suddenly responsible for paying the wages of every employee in the restaurant apparently.

1

u/5LaLa Jan 15 '22

What servers DON’T want is to be hourly drones that make the same amount every week, regardless of how hard they work or don’t. That’s what keeps people in hospitality, the terror of fixed (low) pay, not being able to work & make more when you need it. But, I’d say that problem needs to be addressed in every industry. Every job should offer some profit sharing bonuses. Employees should be included, incentivized & have more share of the value they create. I’m Japan, employees get 2 bonuses a year based on their employers profits. Usually, each bonus is equal to 2-3 months salary. So, imho, servers shouldn’t be the only people fearful of making the same all the time, everyone should want better. Corporations can do this.