Discussions

My thoughts on this, and they maybe aren't important. I would think that if it wasn't posted on the menu, or someplace where the customer would be aware of the policy, then a customer should not have to pay. I wonder how the owner of the restaurant would feel if the company who delivered supplies added a tip charge to his bill. If the policy is known and a person wants to eat there that's great, but no one likes surprises like this, especially if it is a night out to enjoy life.

I had better be told that before I dine there. Then I can leave, get good service before I decide on a tip elsewhere.

Tipping should never be mandatory, I've never been sure why the serving industry has felt like it is their right to receive a tip but if they want one they should be going above and beyond to earn it. The firefighters running into burning buildings or responding to accidents in -40 weather don't receive tips. The truckers driving across the country away from their families in all kinds of road conditions don't receive tips. The soldiers fighting for their country in the worst places on earth don't receive tips. Why should the people who bring me a plate of nachos get one without even putting in an effort?

I understand that a firefighter doesn't get a tip and the other examples above. But who says you could show appreciation? Give them a gift etc.  
As for servers/hair stylists/gas attendants you tip them because you are happy that they gave you great service and only get paid minimum wage or a little more.  
Did you know that at most restaurants servers have to "tip out" the kitchen, expos and hosts, this is based on the total sales not the amount of tips they receive. So if you don't tip, it actually costs the server money. The same server who got your drink, brought your food, cleared your dishes, wiped your table, and made your night out/dining experience a good one.  
This server who could be a student earning money to go to university, a parent working a second job to save for their children's future, a person who loves meeting me people and enjoys giving exceptional customer service or all of the above.  
Next time you dine out, get your hair cut, get gas in -40 consider who much that person has done for you.

Positive Pants said "I understand that a firefighter doesn't get a tip and the other examples above. But who says you could show appreciation? Give them a gift etc.   As for servers/hair stylists/gas attendants you tip them because you are happy that they gave you great service and only get paid minimum wage or a little more.   Did you know that at most restaurants servers have to "tip out" the kitchen, expos and hosts, this is based on the total sales not the amount of tips they receive. So if you don't tip, it actually costs the server money. The same server who got your drink, brought your food, cleared your dishes, wiped your table, and made your night out/dining experience a good one.   This server who could be a student earning money to go to university, a parent working a second job to save for their children's future, a person who loves meeting me people and enjoys giving exceptional customer service or all of the above.   Next time you dine out, get your hair cut, get gas in -40 consider who much that person has done for you. "

Most people have no problem tipping when the service is as you described. But if the service is poor, the waiter disinterested, food cold, mandatory tipping leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

I do tip pretty much every time I eat out at a bar or restaurant providing I receive good service. I don't believe in mandatory service charges being pre-applied. There is a place in town I refuse to go to purely for that reason.

I used to work at a restaurant here in Brandon that did this. I can guarantee you the tips aren't being dispersed correctly, if it's anything like where I worked. The owner kept most of them.

What the gas attendants, and hair dressers, and servers do for me really doesn't make me want to tip them anymore. I do tip when I go out but that is because of social norms and not because I think it's right. There are so many other professions that do much more for us than they do that we never think about tipping. When your job requires you to wait tables and you get paid a wage to do so anything above that should be considered a generous privilege never a right. If this was the US and servers were being paid next to nothing to be a server and require tips to even make a wage it would be different but here in Canada we have some servers getting paid more than people doing hard manual labour. The bottom line should be if you want a tip, earn it.

Positive Pants said "I understand that a firefighter doesn't get a tip and the other examples above. But who says you could show appreciation? Give them a gift etc.   As for servers/hair stylists/gas attendants you tip them because you are happy that they gave you great service and only get paid minimum wage or a little more.   Did you know that at most restaurants servers have to "tip out" the kitchen, expos and hosts, this is based on the total sales not the amount of tips they receive. So if you don't tip, it actually costs the server money. The same server who got your drink, brought your food, cleared your dishes, wiped your table, and made your night out/dining experience a good one.   This server who could be a student earning money to go to university, a parent working a second job to save for their children's future, a person who loves meeting me people and enjoys giving exceptional customer service or all of the above.   Next time you dine out, get your hair cut, get gas in -40 consider who much that person has done for you. "

From your post it seems that the responsibility of those people is do nothing while getting paid minimum wage, and if they wipe the table they deserve tip, if they bring your food, they deserve tip, if the food is not cold they deserve tip. Their wage is for them to do what they are responsible for and do it perfectly. However if customer think they have gone above and beyond they deserve tip. Very simple. Tip should never be mandatory.

I don't like tipping altogether, and make it mandatory I would avoid that restaurant.  
There are lots of other people  
-make minimum wage  
-trying to bring food to their table  
-provide service  
-and not being tipped  
Not sure why restaurant servers to be any different. It's their job to provide good customer service. Make the food prices 15% higher, at least that way our tax revenue would increase.

JackAzz said "    Positive Pants said "I understand that a firefighter doesn't get a tip and the other examples above. But who says you could show appreciation? Give them a gift etc.   As for servers/hair stylists/gas attendants you tip them because you are happy that they gave you great service and only get paid minimum wage or a little more.   Did you know that at most restaurants servers have to "tip out" the kitchen, expos and hosts, this is based on the total sales not the amount of tips they receive. So if you don't tip, it actually costs the server money. The same server who got your drink, brought your food, cleared your dishes, wiped your table, and made your night out/dining experience a good one.   This server who could be a student earning money to go to university, a parent working a second job to save for their children's future, a person who loves meeting me people and enjoys giving exceptional customer service or all of the above.   Next time you dine out, get your hair cut, get gas in -40 consider who much that person has done for you. " Most people have no problem tipping when the service is as you described. But if the service is poor, the waiter disinterested, food cold, mandatory tipping leaves a bad taste in your mouth. "

If you need to rely on tips because you are a student, perhaps you should look for another job. You cannot rely on tips to live - you may go days without a tip.

Is it common for most establishments to automatically impose the gratuity for larger parties, such as 10 guests or more? Im not sure if this is a widely accepted practice now and if it is in place everywhere or just selected places? I have not been surprised to see this when I happened to be dining with a large group on occasion but I would definately have a problem with it at any other time.

Positive Pants said "I understand that a firefighter doesn't get a tip and the other examples above. But who says you could show appreciation? Give them a gift etc.   As for servers/hair stylists/gas attendants you tip them because you are happy that they gave you great service and only get paid minimum wage or a little more.   Did you know that at most restaurants servers have to "tip out" the kitchen, expos and hosts, this is based on the total sales not the amount of tips they receive. So if you don't tip, it actually costs the server money. The same server who got your drink, brought your food, cleared your dishes, wiped your table, and made your night out/dining experience a good one.   This server who could be a student earning money to go to university, a parent working a second job to save for their children's future, a person who loves meeting me people and enjoys giving exceptional customer service or all of the above.   Next time you dine out, get your hair cut, get gas in -40 consider who much that person has done for you. "

So what do they actually get paid anything for,if it is expected to give them a tip also? I don't think it matters whether they get minimum wage or $20 an hour. They are getting paid to do what they do and should do a good job all the time just like anyone else who is employed, we do our best because we want to keep our job. The person working at McDonalds sliding around on a greasy old floor and working in a faster paced environment doesn't get a tip because of the way the bill is handed out ie: you pay what rings up on the cash register but the so-called fancy restaurants hand you their debit machine with a tip option to intimidate you into tipping.  
 
I pay my barber $18 for a haircut that lasts 12 to 15 minutes, that roughly works out to $72 an hour why does he need a tip also.

don't tip. If a restaurant i:ncludes in their bill then I am not coming back there. You applied for a job, you got it then you do it.

Just to clarify, I've been in touch with the business the OP has been trying to get at. Mandatory tipping only applies to groups of 10 or more and they will generally inform at the time of the booking. I'm not very experienced with the industry but the impression I have is that that isn't out of the ordinary for large groups?

OK then if it is considered a heavy workload for the waitress why not assign 2 waitresses to that table of 10. It still does not seem to be a heavy workload for the cook whether he prepares a meal for 10 people at 1 table or 5 people each at 2 tables. Pretty hard to convince that because a waitress is serving 10 people they deserve a mandatory tip moreso than if they served 8 people.  
 
Another thought...if the service was lousy how do you justify a tip just because there are 10 people at the table.  
 
Edited by Blade, 2016-11-20 18:46:41

I feel that the tip should be left up to the individuals discretion. I'm very choosy who I tip. I only tip if the service is exceptional. I do not tip for mediocre service, or mediocre food. Tipping should be left up to the individual to discern if it's deserved rather than expected.

Many restaurants have policies of automatically charging a certain percentage for a gratuity, if you have a group of eight or more. To legally do so, the restaurant must communicate this policy ahead of time through signage or on menus.

most restaurants require servers to "tip out" a percentage of their total sales from their shift to the kitchen staff, bartenders, + hosts. This is NOT taken from the tips they might acquire, this is taken from the dollar amount in sales accumulated during their shift.  
Restaurants are usually divided into invisible sections and servers are assigned to those tables in their section.  
On a busy day, a server might have a total sales of $1000+ or a slow day where their sales are only $200.  
many places have a 3%-5% tip out. Basic math there.  
If nobody tips you, that percentage comes out of the servers pocket.  
 
If everyone spent a month of their lives serving, people would be much nicer i think lol!  
There is nothing worse than seeing a large group going out to a restaurant, where the mess, cooking, and pretty much everything is taken care of for you, without the intention to tip. Stay home, organize something elsewhere, trust me. Nobody wants to wait on + serve your large party for minimum wage + no tip.  
 
"cold food" is not the servers personal fault. There is no tiny beam of sunshine over your plate keeping your food warm as they walk from the kitchen to your table as quickly as possible. Food can be warmed again!  
 
Edited by mamasnapped, 2016-11-20 23:17:29

Everyone here is correct in their opinion. There are those that do tip just because, those that do based on merit, and those that do not based on principle. To each their own. When it comes to a larger group the law of averages are taken away. If you put one server that is looking after a larger group that takes much more attention, you are also taking this person away from tables that do tip. There's no right or wrong. A table of ten that does not tip, or five tables of two that may or may not. IMO, large tables are an opportunity for a kitchen to show their talent to knock out a well executed meal to a large table while all the while upholding standards to all other customers. I am biased of course. It's not easy. I understand both sides. It's a law of averages in the industry. All customers will receive the best service. At the end of the day the serving staff goes home with their take. People that don't tip will be forgotten by the next shift. Never ending cycle. What's important on the restaurant end of things is that is how it happens.

So if you get your bill and the tip is already on there can you ask to have it removed. I only tip if I get good service.  
I was at a restaurant in Brandon that was a buffet and the tip was already tacked on.

mamasnapped said "most restaurants require servers to "tip out" a percentage of their total sales from their shift to the kitchen staff, bartenders, + hosts. This is NOT taken from the tips they might acquire, this is taken from the dollar amount in sales accumulated during their shift.   Restaurants are usually divided into invisible sections and servers are assigned to those tables in their section.   On a busy day, a server might have a total sales of $1000+ or a slow day where their sales are only $200.   many places have a 3%-5% tip out. Basic math there.   If nobody tips you, that percentage comes out of the servers pocket.     If everyone spent a month of their lives serving, people would be much nicer i think lol!   There is nothing worse than seeing a large group going out to a restaurant, where the mess, cooking, and pretty much everything is taken care of for you, without the intention to tip. Stay home, organize something elsewhere, trust me. Nobody wants to wait on + serve your large party for minimum wage + no tip.     "cold food" is not the servers personal fault. There is no tiny beam of sunshine over your plate keeping your food warm as they walk from the kitchen to your table as quickly as possible. Food can be warmed again!     Edited by mamasnapped, 2016-11-20 23:17:29"

you pretty much make it seem like restaurants & their employees don't realize that people go there because they don't want to stay home & cook, "deal with the mess & everything else". There would be no restaurants if people followed your suggestion.  
As for the part about "if nobody tips you, that percentage comes out of the servers pocket", that's not legal: that would mean the server would be getting less than their agreed upon hourly wage.  
There are many many jobs where "if people spent a month of their lives. . . . . . " doing them people would be nicer, regardless of the "lol" at the end.  
I have never not tipped: the amount however has depended on the quality of service.

I don't agree with it at all. If there is already a party tip included I make sure to let everyone know NOT to tip on their own individual bills for incidentals. People seem to think they deserve more for serving a large party. To me it should be the opposite. When we go as a party out for staff dinners it is like having 3 tables but now as one. We are there for generally 1.5-2 hours. Mandatory tipping I have been charged is 75-100 dollars. So they are already getting their min wage of whatever it is right now. Plus $35-50/hr minus a 5-7% average kitchen tip out. Please explain what that server did extra to deserve an over $20+/hr personal tip?  
 
Mammasnapped:  
"There is nothing worse than seeing a large group going out to a restaurant, where the mess, cooking, and pretty much everything is taken care of for you, without the intention to tip. Stay home, organize something elsewhere, trust me. Nobody wants to wait on + serve your large party for minimum wage + no tip."  
 
How about this.....I worked fast food growing up in Alberta. Don't know how many ski buses, hockey teams, etc. I had come in....isn't that like a party of 45ish people. All wanting food asap. Now I didn't get tips, we served them hot food in a timely manor, plus cleaned up after them too. How much do you think we got tipped. This happened 2-3 times each day on a weekend. I wish some of these servers that think they deserve so much more worked in places like this. They may appreciate what they get then.

Something for Adam maybe to question a few restaurants? I know no owner wants to come out here and explain why the mandatory tipping occurs, large party or not. I would like to have someone find an honest answer to why there is the automatic tip added to the bill and why it is a standard 15% from what I have seen. It is bad enough when the cost of gas was $1.25/l that places like plumbers, electricians, tire trucks, etc. started adding 10-25 dollar vehicle fees to offset the cost of higher fuel (which by the way didn't get eliminated when gas when down) now in food places we are basically getting charged a serving fee.

mamasnapped said "most restaurants require servers to "tip out" a percentage of their total sales from their shift to the kitchen staff, bartenders, + hosts. This is NOT taken from the tips they might acquire, this is taken from the dollar amount in sales accumulated during their shift.   Restaurants are usually divided into invisible sections and servers are assigned to those tables in their section.   On a busy day, a server might have a total sales of $1000+ or a slow day where their sales are only $200.   many places have a 3%-5% tip out. Basic math there.   If nobody tips you, that percentage comes out of the servers pocket.     If everyone spent a month of their lives serving, people would be much nicer i think lol!   There is nothing worse than seeing a large group going out to a restaurant, where the mess, cooking, and pretty much everything is taken care of for you, without the intention to tip. Stay home, organize something elsewhere, trust me. Nobody wants to wait on + serve your large party for minimum wage + no tip.     "cold food" is not the servers personal fault. There is no tiny beam of sunshine over your plate keeping your food warm as they walk from the kitchen to your table as quickly as possible. Food can be warmed again!     Edited by mamasnapped, 2016-11-20 23:17:29"

actually food quality is the servers responsibility too and i will not tip, or tip less if the server served me obviously burnt or otherwise UN-appetizing food as the server is the last line of quality control, plus there is a magic beem of heat keeping the food warm while waiting for the server to grab it from the kitchen, call a heat lamp so if my food is cold the most likley issue was the server left it way to long under the heat lamp, or on the counter ect so again no tip for cold yucky food  
 
BTW i have been a server before so I know the job and what it entails and while i did enjoy tips i never felt i was entitled to them, the tip out is very minimal and most wait staff come home with way more then the cook even after, the reason its moved to % of sales is too many staff didnt tip out fairly BUT if for some reason you didnt receive enough in tips to tip out then it is illegal to force you to pay, however dont forget the establishment you work at owns all the tips and is being nice by letting staff keep them at all