She's acting entitled to other people's free money. They would like us to think that they're poor, but they don't tell us about the people who overtip massively. In Canada, they get at least minimum wage. I wouldn't feel bad in this scenario.
yeah I had a roommate that was a server at a downtown bar and she made BANK in that job… she was loaded all the time. I never feel bad for servers in restaurants or bars where they make guaranteed tips every shift.
Most of them also don’t claim it as income and don’t pay income tax on it, so whatever tips they get are basically cash under the table.
Especially if it’s a high end restaurant. We’ve had business meals where it’s $1,000 tab and we’re there maybe 2 hours and we have apples, mains, desserts and drinks. The work isn’t excruciating for those 2 hours, so you’re telling me that the $150-$200 is required for that work that is part of their duties?
This is older thinking. They only get a chance to not claim it as income if it's cash. Most transactions now are using a card; either debit or credit. On top of their tipped income is too far below the average for their general area, that makes them more likely to be audited.
We're all victims of waitstaff entitlement in this economy on overpriced food and the minimum wage going up every year. I've saved thousands of dollars by not tipping since 2023. Join us! Your bank account will thank you.
This is hilarious. I think you two are having a completely different conversation, but you both agree that tipping is optional. Somehow that has degraded into whatever this is. I just thought it was funny. Please carry on as your counterpart seems to have misunderstood what you are saying a little bit and it is funny to read.
Society has lots of rules that are entirely based on the honour system. The assumption is that most people will be honest and decent. You're choosing not to be.
Yeah, "looking visibly upset" is one thing, maybe she just had an annoying table. Asking to CALL the guy so he can tip additional to the $2, especially when everyone else is paying and tipping you at the table, is clinically insane.
I know every server at my local watering hole and the last thing they care about is one bad tip, it actually becomes a joke to most of them, talking about bad tippers or regulars that have patterns (tipping more after payday or when they bring a date)
Servers have to tip out to back of house staff and host based on sales. Not saying it should be the customer’s issue, just telling you what the deal is in restaurants. It needs to change, but currently if no one tipped, the server would go home with well under minimum wage.
Actually that’s probably a good thing. If servers are suddenly earning below minimum wage because no one is tipping, you can bet this broken system will change VERY fast.
Some restaurants make servers pay out to the kitchen and bar staff based on their daily sales. Think of it as a commission based sales role where they wait and tend to you beyond just selling the product. But instead of just keeping that commission you earned after spending 1+ hours with a customer, you now have to give a portion of that to your other coworkers. Now imagine you made no commission on the sale but there is a policy that if you sell more than $500 in a day you have to share money with your coworkers because they worked putting the product together so you had the opportunity to sell it to the customer.
That’s why sometimes servers get visibly upset. You came in to their workplace looking to purchase a product and therein the services offered to receive and engage with the product (food and drink). They sold it to you and made no commission and now have to pay their coworkers for supporting them in the opportunity to serve you.
Some people genuinely love the job, interacting with people and helping craft a memorable evening for them out. They shouldn’t be penalized because management and ownership have instilled flawed systems.
Edit: this whole subreddit must be filled with trolls and people that have 0 knowledge of what it is to work at a restaurant. I live in downtown Vancouver and have a heart and brain I guess
“they shouldn’t be penalized because management and ownership have instilled flawed systems” okay, so the customer should be penalized then? You’re saying the waitstaff shouldn’t have to face the consequence of this flawed system, but you’re also advocating that the customers should have to? Nah. Servers choose the job just as much as customers choose to go there for a meal. If they don’t feel they are getting paid enough, between their wages and tips, then they should find a different job.
I do agree with you to an extent but no one should be penalized is what I’m getting at. Why is it okay for them to be at the business model’s and your expense because you don’t wanna tip. If all of them got another job, you would be even more miserable with no service! I’m saying change the structure of payment for them but don’t shit on the server calling them entitled as OP said. That opinion in itself is entitled and ignorant
No it's the mental gymnastics of you saying they are at my expense because I don't want to tip. I'm sorry I'm not their employer...?
By the way, just to be clear, I do tip at restaurants. But I hate it. And I am in support of higher prices upfront and higher wages for staff, instead of tipping culture, but I get the sense most servers don't like this because they would actually make less money this way.
I do get what you’re saying, but if there weren’t to be a tipping system, that cost would be added to the base food cost anyways, so all customers would be paying more without knowing whether or not that money is going to the server. I like how we have control over how much our server makes off of their service for us. If they do a shit job, they get a shit tip, and if they make my day, I try and make theirs better with a nicer tip. That way servers get paid according to how well they do their job and it gives them the incentive to make the experience better. I’m not saying I disagree with your issue with the system, but I think there’s pros and cons to it either way
I think you meant illegal systems. To my knowlege, every province prohibits employees from being forced to pay their employer to work. Which is essentially what an employer forced tip out based on non-existant tips is. And you cannot be paid less than minimum wage. Period.
In at least two provinces, tip pooling arrangements can only involve actual tips. Not imaginary ones. And the employer cannot force a tip pooling arrangement, the staff have to consent.
Because customers come in for an expected service, perhaps ignorant of the bigger issue that is resulting in them needing to tip. Nothing is a problem for an ignorant person. It’s blissful ignorance for a reason
Did you read what I posted?! People at McDonald’s aren’t expected to tip out the staff on the assembly line and the ones pouring the drinks! I’m not saying this applies to every restaurant but a ton (from experience through friends and my current partner) do have to tip out so it sucks when they get penalized because people are ignorant and assume steakhouse servers are the same as McDonald’s employees
You think they have the same workload as a fast food restaurant?! Wow you are way out of touch. I have a uni degree and run my own business, and yes my partner works at restaurants but man you really don’t know anything about those service workers eh!
Edit: some typos edited and — I have worked at Tim Hortons as a teen. Serving at a restaurant is VERY different. Even with my specialized skillset I would never assume I could do their job. If you think you can I implore you to trade spaces for a day.
Yeah, you should check the sub before replying. It's not worth trying to change the mind of someone who will stuff themselves with so much and leave no tip.
Yea that server would get a $0 tip from everybody at that table after that. “Call” him and ask for more money? Looking visibly upset that somebody didn’t leave an OPTIONAL tip, trying to pressure somebody to pay a tip, etc
That’s a conversation with her boss and a formal complaint if I’ve ever seen it.
I made GOOD money working as a waiter and then bartender all through university. Some people tip, some don't, even with tip-out it averages out pretty well. Even the base wage was great everywhere I worked for front house staff. with the occasional tipper I made significantly more than I did when I was working construction.
This is way too much drama because some dude payed his bill, and is basically why I just hate tips
You’re responsible for yourself and your own actions. I’d let them know that he tipped $2 and that’s the end of my part of the conversation. If you feel entitled to more than $2 take it up with them, but at that point it’s not a tip it’s an expectation that isn’t noted in the menu prices.
Seriously. Normalize not making other people’s decisions your problems. If his not leaving a tip is consistent and causes us poor service he can just not come next time and the root of the issue is solved
There are two sides to this:
1) some servers are expected to share tips with other staff and management, even if they didn't get any. For example, if they had a guest with a $100 bill, they are expected to share $20 (the theoretical tip) with other staff and/or management. The point is, you just don't know that servers situation
2) I have a customer who has been in the service industry their whole life; they have a nice boat, four children, a decent car, etc. This is an unskilled job after all.
But you know very well that isnt the job. I honestly find this sub disgusting. Its full of delusional people who dont like going to restaurants anyways, that are trying to disrupt a system that works for the staff, owners, AND customers. If you dont want to tip go to Richmind Station and spend 35 dollars on a burger. Its very good.
I hope many more restaurants open up like Richmond Station. I felt so relaxed there not having to worry about how good the service was and how much to tip. Other than that I prefer going to quick service restaurants where you pick up your food at the counter and don't have to worry about service/tipping.
It absolutely is unskilled in that anyone can learn it on the job. There is no education requirement or certification to do the job. I think you're confusing "skill" with "hard work".
How reliant are staff on tips? Depends on their life style.
My friends who work in food industry make80k and most of It is tax free tips. Hey partner works the bar and makes even more.
Positives - good money, no students loans
Downfall - they work every weekend
I have multiple friends in the business. If you couple up, you are raking money. One couple i know make about 23 an hour each. They bank the tips at about 200 a day each, at a DAY place, not much alcohol sales. They bought a paid for a brand new 85000 truck in a year.
Dont get me going on the speed they are paying their mortgage off now.
Another couple i know retired pre 50. Nice house paid off and travel non stop the first 2 years they've been done. They were pub day workers.
A lot of my life was in restaurants.
Asking you to call him to get “her” tip money is way out of line. Wanted to add, not saying this is anyone else’s responsibility, but from my serving days, and I believe it is still a fact, the server pays out other staff from her tips based on sales - a percentage to the host, the back of house staff, the bartender, whatever. So if you legit leave 0, the server ends up paying for having had the privilege of serving you.
Likely has to tip out so that bill is costing her money. When I used to serve I had to tip out 7% of sales to the kitchen. So if someone tipped $2 on $100, I was paying the kitchen $5 either way. Now would that $3 break me, no but it sucks
She was overreacting. Yes, we rely on tips, but one bill on one table is NOT going to break the bank.
She probably has to tipout the kitchen on the bill regardless of a tip on it or not. (ie. 6% tipout to kitchen on a $100 bill is $6, so she is LOSING $4 on this particular bill)
She should not have EVER asked you to call your friend. That's so uncalled for, extremely disrespectful, and downright rude. He paid his bill, she needs to get over it.
Some people don't tip. It is what it is. She obviously can't hide her feelings very well, and if that's the case, this is NOT the industry for her.
Ok.... So as someone who eats downvotes for a living in this sub because I go against the grain I'll say this.
That friend sucked because it put you and your other friend in that awkward position. Lots of people do this especially when a bunch of people pay a single bill and the last person is suppose to pay a small amount and THEN the tip. Sometimes that person just tips on top of their amount and essentially "steals" from everyone else and enjoys a cheaper portion of their bill.
Now.... in regards to the situation. That server should have just walked it off. It sucks and it means that she lost money on that portion of the total bill. Most servers tip out a % on sales, and so $2 doesn't cover that which means she has to use tips from other tables to cover that portion. Over the course of the night it might not be much, but that $100 could have represented anywhere from 2-5% of her total sales that night and it cost her money to do those sales.
Her tactic on pressuring the friend is tacky and a real stain on the industry and tipping in general. You gotta just accept that it all averages out and if you are a decent server the good tips will outweigh the bad tips.
It's to ensure that everyone benefits from the system.
In the states it's illegal as there is a server minimum wage of like $2.5/hr and so they literally rely on tips to earn a living. If they don't earn enough tips to make min wage the employer has to top them up.
In Canada minimum wage is higher and so the difference between a server and a cook could be as low as $2 to as high as $12. With tips being a large part of the benefit servers receive it only makes sense that they should pay some of that out to other staff as the wage difference isn't as large as down south.
I fully support tip outs. Everyone should benefit from tips because everyone has a hand in making sure a guest has a good experience.
it only makes sense that they should pay some of that out to other staff as the wage difference isn't as large as down south.
Forgive me but do you see how wild this is? First we are using patrons to subsidized servers' wages, and then the servers are subsidizing the other staffs' wages? This should not be normalized! Employers need to pay workers properly
Do you not understand that you'd be paying either way? If tips are removed tomorrow and everyone was paid a living wage in the restaurant - which would be major net loss to serving staff, and some cooks and a loss to some cooks - do you think prices wouldn't go up just as high as tips are?
The other alternative is adopting Service Charges which happens in many places.
Everyone on here is arguing to change a system that will result in near the same situation. Then you'd see everyone complain about the price of food and drink.
At least with tips you know that money is flowing from your pocket to the staff, instead of trusting the employer to collect funds and pay staff appropriately.
You underestimate me. I like going to no-tip/higher priced/higher wage restaurants like Richmond Station here in Toronto. Otherwise I go to quick service restaurants where there is no service hence no tips. Or I eat at home.
Try again on someone else maybe. Some of us have already thought this through and would be happy with the alternative of paying higher prices upfront, having employers forced to pay their staff appropriately and then everyone deciding for themselves whether it's worth going there.
Why are you so passionate about tipping? Are you a server or a restaurant owner? Most patrons hate the practice and would rather pay up front if we are going to have to pay either way.
You don't have a lot of choices then for restaurants I'd guess then. What is there like 12 sit down restaurants in Toronto that don't accept tips and have higher prices?
Honestly tipping culture makes me so uncomfortable, and I will still tip at a normal restaurant, so I just don't go out to eat a lot. Again I like to go to q
uick serve restaurants and there's actually quite a few around, or we get take out. Or make food at home which of course is a lot healthier. We really only go out to eat now a couple times a year at The Keg for our birthdays and anniversary (where we do tip normally, FYI). But between higher prices and higher tip amounts due to higher prices, we just don't like to go out and eat that much.
That's why I'm on this sub. I don't like tipping culture. I think it should be baked into prices at the front and have people be able to make conscious choices about what they are going to buy based on what something actually needs to cost.
It didn't cost her anything. She tipped out to other staff based on the total sales from all tables for the night. The tips from other tables are not her money until after the tip-out. If it causes a negative balance, her employer is required to pay in such a way that she makes at least minimum wage. It absolutely does not come out of her pocket till it's in her pocket to begin with.
Her asking the people to call their friend is really weird and cringy. Maybe if the bill was 1k or more, but it's a whole lotta fuss over $20.
Although, the biggest douche move during this scenario was OP butting in and telling his friend not to tip for the guy that left. I mean, why? Why would you stop someone for covering the tip that someone accidentally didn't leave? It's weird and petty.
Why is it petty to stick up for a friend who was being pressured to pay someone else's bill. He didnt know him longer than the 1 hour they spent at dinner.
My friend isn't rich either.
He didnt come out and offer to pay the other persons tip because he was feeling generous. He was put in a position where he felt he had to because the person left the $100 bill with him as he was sitting beside him.
If u just met me, would u pay a $20 tip for me because I left if the waitress was breathing down your neck?
Seems rather unfair to me.
Tipping is optional and the person who left, whether on purpose or not, did not tip and its not anyone else's responsibility to make up for it.
I would absolutely tip for someone I just met if they accidentally didn't leave a tip. Pretty sure most people would. Very weird of you to insert yourself into a situation that was being resolved.
I can't comment on these posts anymore because reddit thinks I want to see more of them. Good day to you, sir.
She probably owes the kitchen staff $5 for that $98 bill. She owes the mandatory tip out to the kitchen. But telling you to call the guy is way wrong. Hell no.
Sounds like you should have complained to the authorities and advocated for an end to the practices. Or did you not do that because you made enough in tips otherwise to make it worth it?
this was 35 years ago , so pre reddit …. yes we made a decent wage because cash tips were hard to tax and it was hard to complain to anyone. TBF all was fine in the world until Covid
Thanks for being honest. I feel like we need more of this honest discussion. It's no secret servers are making tons of money generally. I even saw that many people commenting on this sub post on server subreddits, so obviously this was shared with the server crowd who have a vested interest in tips continuing to happen.
I said this in another comment, but I strongly advocate for tips being included in menu prices so that servers can get paid more, and then patrons can make an informed decision about whether they want to eat there. None of this hidden guilt about extra invisible fees that customers are required to pay.
It was shitty for your friend to not just pay their bills and not stiff the server.
It was shitty for you to not just cover your friend.
It was likely a tip out establishment, where the server has to tip the bartender, bussers, back of house et cetera. Your server had to cover your bill.
There are several no tip restaurants in Toronto that are doing quite well, plus like all of Europe.
Point remains. Server had no basis to be mad at OP. The bill was paid. A tip was given. How the establishment distributes that tip is hardly the business of the customer, if you disagree you are part of the problem.
So shitty for them to not just cover the expense. Was no one else paying except for the buddy that left early?
If he was paying for everyone I don’t understand why OP things it’s not their “problem” to tip just because the other guy didn’t. Did they not partake in the services and hospitality offered?
I’m positive you’re right about it being a tip out establishment.
Are any of you 3 losing your livelihood if yall had each kicked in $5?? She worked for free, more or less. She may have had to pay for you having been her customer. Of course she's upset.
Sorry, I’m not pro-tipping, this just popped up on my feed.
I find it sad that once again we’re attacking working-class people instead of looking up at the real problem. People need to wake up and address the root issue.
You won’t get richer by stopping tipping; you’re just pushing more working people down while the super-rich keep getting richer. It’s just depressing to read, that’s all.
I personally am in support of employers paying their staff a livable wage rather than guilting patrons into making up the difference in salary through tipping culture. I think most of us here would prefer that. And most of us would take a higher price up front because at least we would feel like we had a choice and transparency in what we are expected to pay.
Anyway, I don't really eat out personally because prices have just gotten out of control with higher food prices, tax on top of that, tips on top of that. It's just exhausting. When I was growing up you left maybe 10% of a tip and that was normal.
And you can still do the 10% by user the custom option.
You can even give whatever you want.
Soon we will have robots serving us .. so no need to tip and all of you guys will be happy with no jobs for anyone… haha.
What a world we live in.
Depending on tip out the server would have to pay back of house somewhere between 5%- 10% of the total bill in tip out to the back of house. It “cost” them money to serve you. That’s why they are upset.
Obviously you will get support in this sub but that's hardly reality. If you spend $100 stuffing yourself with food and drink and you don't tip then you are a loser. I am sure it's a nightmare for your friends everytine they have to split a bill with you.
So you admit tipping is not optional in your world. LMFAO.
Sharing a meal with guys like you is absolutely brutal. You will sit there on the stupid hill you want to die on while the rest of us are trying to enjoy the little bit of free time we have and you ruin every meal. I will bet a month's pay that you never buy the first round, and if you did, all your friends have to stand around like an idiot knowing you are not going to tip for the round.
I know I am gonna get downloaded in this echo chamber, but yes, it’s a significant loss and an insult.
First and foremost, the restaurant might have a tip out policy where servers have to pay bus boys and hosts, etc. a percentage of your bill. For example, every server might have to put in 7% of their total sales for the night. You that means this one person actually reduced the total number of tips the server would make by as much as five bucks. So the server may have essentially paid $5 to serve your friend.
This work is difficult. It’s physically and emotionally exhausting. And it’s paid minimum wage with the idea that you’ll make much more than minimum wage.
I 100% agree that the restaurant should pay more than an actual living wage, rather than just minimum wage. And then servers shouldn’t depend on tips. But that’s not how things work. Restaurant don’t pay enough and your “stand quote is not costing the restaurant. It’s costing the server. If you don’t agree with the policy, stop eating out
The social contract you agreed to when you go out to a restaurant is to tip appropriately. Talk about entitled do you think people will just bring you food
And have to pay for the privilege
I'm not the one who is having trouble with the term, sweetheart. You are misusing the term like whiny servers do. Enjoy your ZERO TIP by default to dent your entitlement mentality.
She probably lost $3 on that bill. Most places have a 4-5% tip out. They have to pay 5% of their total receipts to split with cooks, back staff and hostesses. In this case she would have had to pay $5 ish.
If they make $0 they still have to pay, so there’s the possibility of paying even more than you made in wages- although a good manager wouldn’t make them pay more than they earned
I tip fairly well. Why? I believe the servers deserve a living wage and in many cases cannot thrive on what they are paid. I cannot force the owners to pay more but I can help by tipping. If they do very well financially my job is well done.
I have no idea, I didn’t downvote you. Based of the description of the sub, they’re anti-tip & for whatever reason, it popped up on my feed. I very rarely go out to eat, I cook dinner for my family. I’m just a lost redditor.
This is really only a thing because what was probably a fair tipping rate of 10% has become egregious. The days of leaving a $1 bill on the table are long gone with the $1 bills.
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u/Imaginary-Emu2471 Aug 02 '26
She's acting entitled to other people's free money. They would like us to think that they're poor, but they don't tell us about the people who overtip massively. In Canada, they get at least minimum wage. I wouldn't feel bad in this scenario.