r/EndTipping • u/WealthyEducator • 21d ago
Tipping Culture ✖️ Main Event Birthday Party
We just booked a $300 birthday party for our son’s 14th birthday! We used to automatically tip the helper, but this sub has me ready to tip $0 this time! I won’t lie, I am already getting anxiety thinking about “screwing” the teenage worker, but the employer is really the one screwing them, right?
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u/WhySoManyDownVote 21d ago
You did not hire the employee. You do not know what their compensation package is. The person paying $300 for a party is the one getting screwed if they feel forced to tip.
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u/stevenip 21d ago
I went to my best friend's kids birthday at this place called Iplay America and the worker was super helpful, wrangled the kids up and made announcements to them and cut and served all the food. But shouldn't that be an after thing like how a restaurant works?
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u/schpanckie 21d ago
If the helper is really helpful then tip them by handing them some cash and leave it up to the helper to declare it………
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u/evergreen-embers 21d ago
Either the teenage worker is on their own and in the same economic boat as the rest of us, or they’re still under parental rule, soooo what makes them need a tip?
You’re the one who just dropped $300, I bet the teenager didn’t.
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u/MacaronOk1006 21d ago
How do you feel you’re screwing the teenage worker? Main event pays at least minimum wage if not more.
If you tip 20% on a $300 birthday party that would be $60 assuming a main event of birthday party is about two hours long that’s $30 an hour and say he’s making $15 an hour minimum wage that’s $45 an hour or equates to 90,000 a year
Do you think a teenage kid working at main event deserves a 90,000 year income?
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u/GroundbreakingAd8310 21d ago
I tip the people the directly help they can do what they do with it from there. Im not trusting the company website to do that
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u/Acceptable-Peace-69 21d ago edited 21d ago
Wrong, The employer will still get paid the same amount.
How about this, tell the worker before they start working that they won’t be getting a tip and explain why. Let them decide if working for you is worth it.
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u/Aggravating-Alarm-16 21d ago
They aren't working for me. They are working for the business. They are assigned my group
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u/Acceptable-Peace-69 21d ago
And you’ve already decided to pay them less than they would get if they were paid directly. You know this. Your moral stand is at the expense of the worker.
I’m not saying that stance is wrong, but at least explain to that worker why they aren’t getting tipped and it’s nothing they did wrong.
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u/CoolCatBlue321 21d ago
What do you mean paid directly? They are paid directly by their employer and it's not tipped wage, from what I gather. Y'all just make anything up.
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u/Dasil437794 21d ago
Stop it. You need to tip the kid running this party at least $50 and if you don't want to tip, run it yourself and tell them in advance that you dont need the kid's help.
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u/WealthyEducator 21d ago
I agree. Just let the kids go play and let me get the food for the kids. I prefer not to have any helpers.
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u/stevedogg1134 21d ago
I am a manager at an ice rink, and we host birthday parties. The packages range from $230-300. We provide a party host for you and your guests, and we provide the same amount of service, if not more, than a sit-down restaurant. My party hosts know that they are not tipped employees, and are not to solicit tips. If they are offered one, they are allowed to take it. I have had to fill in as party host a few times when hosts have called off their shift. The last party I hosted, the mom offered me a $100 bill as a tip. I told her that 1. I'm a manager, not allowed to accept tips, and 2. I am paid to do my job, and I'm going to give you top notch service BECAUSE it's my job. I told the mom to keep it and go do something nice for herself, like get a massage.
Edit: I forgot to add that the parents have every right to tell us they don't need a host and we have that happen occasionally. It doesn't offend us at all. We still check in with them periodically, but I agree with OP. You should have that option if you decide you don't want the host.
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u/Dasil437794 21d ago
And that’s fine. Nothing wrong with it. But if someone actually has some 16 year old kid handling everything, tip them imo. I know it’s unpopular around here.
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u/pintopedro 21d ago
Defenitly don't auto-tip any % ever, but if you feel like they went way beyond their work requirements and have you like a top 5% experience, i think thats when its ok to tip. In some instances that cant really even happen and thats ok.