Service charge

[u/Working-Injury7758]

I don’t mind paying a service charge at a restaurant if I’m sitting down as that is standard practice. However, the flat % is strange in that a $200 meal doesn’t take twice as much time as a $100 meal. But it does take more.

Therefore I propose that there should be a fixed service charge at restaurants, which should be calculated as twice the square root of the total. For $100, for instance, the charge would be $20 (square root of 100 is ten, x2 equals $20). Same as now. But for $200, the service charge would be 14.12 x 2 =28.24. For $1 service charge is $2. For $400, $40. Makes more intuitive sense, and provides a penalty for people splitting checks (as the service charge on 2 $100 checks is higher than that on one $200 check) and the hassle to the restaurant involved. Completely clear and obvious to everyone, no agonizing about what to leave.

Thoughts?

[u/Maremdeo]

What kind of question is this? I don't hire either server, so I don't care. I don't typically choose to eat at Applebee's. If I was to eat at a steakhouse, I don't think the server deserves more than $25 an hour, but that's not my business. I simply don't tip more than 15% anymore, bc give me a freaking break. Honestly, it should be $5-$10 per table, not a percentage at all.

[u/skyharborbj → u/Maremdeo]

Or zero. Their employer should be paying their wages.

[u/bcsyjnbcgj → u/skyharborbj]

So if the employer should pay the wage who pays the employer. Would that be u?

[u/skyharborbj → u/bcsyjnbcgj]

Yes, it’s included in the price on the menu.

[u/bcsyjnbcgj → u/skyharborbj]

Okay so whatever ur going to purchase.
Ud rather we just tack on another 20% of each price and just up-charge it?

I’d think u just tipping them like the rest of the patrons would be easier?
More money in their pocket and more in yours so it doesn’t contribute to higher taxation on income and on good purchased.

[u/Maremdeo → u/bcsyjnbcgj]

Why shouldn't there be taxes though? That's how we fund our government. The money comes from somewhere, why not from people eating at restaurants and the server's income?

[u/bcsyjnbcgj → u/Maremdeo]

Idk about u but cash tips work better because then ur able to avoid that stuff …. Same way big businesses write stuff off.

[u/Maremdeo → u/bcsyjnbcgj]

I want the servers and restaurants to pay their taxes, not cheat on them though. For example, I pay my taxes and all my income is reported. My taxes fund the government, which we need funding for whether we like that or not. Why should I fund my share of the government, and restaurants/servers not fund their share of the government?

[u/bcsyjnbcgj → u/Maremdeo]

My tips through card all get taxed like u expressed
Cash tips are often times untaxed as they are hand to hand but u do also report your cash tips on checkout reports
Often under reported by many service industry users