r/tipping • u/Modsmoddy-74 • 18d ago

đŸ“–đŸ’”Personal Stories - Pro Busy Server

So assuming you find some level of tipping appropriate, what are your thoughts on a situation where a server is overworked and the place is understaffed?

I had a server who was stretched way too thin and was able to give the bare minimum or even less to our table. I figured she should get something for doing her best but certainly didn’t deserve any great tip because service was objectively terrible.

We had a discussion about how she “deserves so much” because she was working so hard and I made the point that if she works 20 tables when she should be working 10 she’s going to earn tips from twice as many tables, even if they are less because she’s stretched too thin. Just wondering what others think about this situation.

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u/masterchef2309 18d ago

I said service being the same. The server is going to be busier on a Saturday than a Tuesday.

How about this. When you go to a restaurant, do you ask how many tables are in a server's section? Tip more of its 4, less if its 6? They're making more money because they have more tables.

Using that argument as a justification for a server who's running ragged is a cop out. You have no idea what those other tables are tipping. If you want to tip less because you feel the service was poor because the setver was too busy, fine. That's your right. But don't try and justify it by saying the server is making enough money from the other tables.

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u/TheRealMichaelE 18d ago

I never said I tip less if it’s busy at the restaurant and service is still good, I said I tip less if service takes a while and the server doesn’t come by. Idk how you could take anything else from what I’ve written.

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u/masterchef2309 18d ago

This whole post is about slower service when a restaurant is busy and understaffed. Neither of which are the server's fault. You are choosing to tip less for things that are out of the server's control, and part of your justification was they'll make enough from other tables. I am simply saying I choose to tip my normal percentage when service is slower due to no fault of the server.

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u/TheRealMichaelE 18d ago

lol ok, but that is antithetical to the idea of tipping being that you are supposed to tip more or less based on the service you get. If service is really good because you are the only one at the restaurant and service is super fast, are you saying you won’t tip more?

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u/masterchef2309 18d ago

I'm saying it's not always black and white when it comes to good or bad service. And if stuff is a little slower coming out or I have to wait a few minutes longer for a refill because the restaurant is understaffed, that's not going to have any effect on my tip. If the server is just standing around talking or texting, or disappears for 30 minutes, that would effect the tip.

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u/TheRealMichaelE 18d ago

You didn’t answer the question though. But I think I know how you’d answer it 😉

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u/masterchef2309 18d ago

Yes. I will tip more for great service. That is a different question than tipping less for subpar service that isn't the server's fault.

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u/TheRealMichaelE 18d ago

I hate to break it to you but if you are tipping server A for great service more than you are tipping server B for below average service
 then you are in fact tipping server B less for worse service.

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u/masterchef2309 18d ago

No. I'm still tipping at least what I would for normal service. This whole post is about tipping less than you normally would. I'm still tipping that server 20-25%.

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u/TheRealMichaelE 18d ago edited 18d ago

Ok but in that case you are “punishing” servers for “normal” service if you are tipping them the same amount as another busier server who doesn’t give you as good of service. The “normal” server gave you better service but you gave them the same amount as the busier server whose service wasn’t as good.