Tipping

[bigrigross]

In the US food service folks are paid less per hour because it is assumed they will get more through tips and minum wage laws allow this. Without tips, in Florida , those who are jobs where tipping is the norm would only get about $5.25 an hour, roughly 2.50 pounds per hour.

Incorrect. Tip based jobs get at least 7.25 an hour which is federal minimum wage. If they receive tips and its enough to cover that federal minimum then their employer can pay them at the lower rate which I believe is 2.13 an hour. If they do not make enough in tips, the employer must cover their amount. The IRS assumes you are getting tips because back before credit and debit cards were common in restaurants, tax evasion was quite high from wait staff and other tipped based industries. With the advent of heavy digital transactions, everything can be tracked.

Waiters are the reason we are a tipped base economy for those job roles. Some waiters makes 400% more than chefs do at restaurants. Even at lower end places like outbacks and such, waiters will make significantly more than minimum wage on average.

I am just leaving the corrective information here. I am not replying on what my opinion on what tipping is as these threads go off the rail pretty fast.

 

[jaklgreen]

Incorrect. Tip based jobs get at least 7.25 an hour which is federal minimum wage. If they receive tips and its enough to cover that federal minimum then their employer can pay them at the lower rate which I believe is 2.13 an hour. If they do not make enough in tips, the employer must cover their amount. The IRS assumes you are getting tips because back before credit and debit cards were common in restaurants, tax evasion was quite high from wait staff and other tipped based industries. With the advent of heavy digital transactions, everything can be tracked.

Waiters are the reason we are a tipped base economy for those job roles. Some waiters makes 400% more than chefs do at restaurants. Even at lower end places like outbacks and such, waiters will make significantly more than minimum wage on average.

I am just leaving the corrective information here. I am not replying on what my opinion on what tipping is as these threads go off the rail pretty fast.

It is true that some servers make way more then minimum wage. It all depends on the type of place it is. If they are working at places like Village Inn, they hardly make anything. I have seen people leave maybe $2 on the table for a tip. And those servers work very hard too. Tipping is messed up in this country.

 

[bigrigross]

It is true that some servers make way more then minimum wage. It all depends on the type of place it is. If they are working at places like Village Inn, they hardly make anything. I have seen people leave maybe $2 on the table for a tip. And those servers work very hard too. Tipping is messed up in this country.

Yes it is. I would like it switched to it going back to what its for, gratuity and not a means of income. Problem was, it was tried in several cities and failed because many waiters were making less than what they were making on tips even at 16 dollars an hour. And the problem always lays with the lowest common denominator. The people who live in low traffic, non metropolitan areas. They have the most to gain from this system. Waiters in New York have the most to lose.

 

[Otterhead]

is tipping a must?

Yes.
While it isn't legally mandatory, it's absolutely expected, no matter where you're eating. And if your party is 6 or more, it's automatically added to the bill.

 

[rricks26]

Yes it is. I would like it switched to it going back to what its for, gratuity and not a means of income. Problem was, it was tried in several cities and failed because many waiters were making less than what they were making on tips even at 16 dollars an hour. And the problem always lays with the lowest common denominator. The people who live in low traffic, non metropolitan areas. They have the most to gain from this system. Waiters in New York have the most to lose.

Also waiters at Disney. Being a server at Disney is a career for most of them. That’s how you end up with servers that have been working in places for 15+years. It’s a professional job. It’s not like they are college kids working at a bar on the weekends, most are older with families. Serving works just like any commission based job. The higher volume and higher sales, the more money you make. Imagine if people demanded that real estate agents selling million dollar listings made the same as ones selling cheaper homes. Or, if a car salesman selling a Lexus made the same as one selling a used old Honda. Same concept.

In regards to the IRS, they assume that you make 15-20% of your total sales. They can come after you saying you aren’t claiming enough tips. For example, if a server sells $1000 dollars in a shift and only says they made $50, the IRS can say that must be a lie and audit them or, forcibly add the missing amount to their w-2 to make sure the server is getting taxed off of making $180 and not $50.

 

[st3v3d]

In the US food service folks are paid less per hour because it is assumed

I too am English, and I think the confusion / problem comes from this sentence? In England it is considered arrogant and extremely rude to expect (assumed) to be given anything, and any tip is to be given at the complete choice and discretion of the diner and to be accepted with gratitude on the part of the recipient / server. So whilst we do understand and I do personally leave tips when in America, it is still seen as being ignorant for a tip to be assumed / expected. Especially when in a lot of cases the serving staff just do the minimal required by their job. However those that go about their work with exuberance and a genuine joy and helpfulness usually not only get the regular pre-calculated tip on the bill, but also perhaps an extra 20 dollars or so for their own pocket too. But to be served by someone who barely smiles, hardly says please or thank etc, in my eyes doesn't deserve a tip and I pay it begrudgingly because it is the done thing, which is where the "being rude" comes into it and is actually taken as offensive in countries outside of America.

 

[scritchell]

I too am English, and I think the confusion / problem comes from this sentence? In England it is considered arrogant and extremely rude to expect (assumed) to be given anything, and any tip is to be given at the complete choice and discretion of the diner and to be accepted with gratitude on the part of the recipient / server. So whilst we do understand and I do personally leave tips when in America, it is still seen as being ignorant for a tip to be assumed / expected. Especially when in a lot of cases the serving staff just do the minimal required by their job. However those that go about their work with exuberance and a genuine joy and helpfulness usually not only get the regular pre-calculated tip on the bill, but also perhaps an extra 20 dollars or so for their own pocket too. But to be served by someone who barely smiles, hardly says please or thank etc, in my eyes doesn't deserve a tip and I pay it begrudgingly because it is the done thing, which is where the "being rude" comes into it and is actually taken as offensive in countries outside of America.

Exactly what I meant, but worded better lol, thank you

 

[Minthorne]

Exactly what I meant, but worded better lol, thank you

I wonder if these preconceived notions of rude waitstaff are what also flavor some waitstaff reactions when they get guests from England who they may assume will not be tipping well. Sounds like a vicious cycle.

 

[jimbojones]

Incorrect. Tip based jobs get at least 7.25 an hour which is federal minimum wage. If they receive tips and its enough to cover that federal minimum then their employer can pay them at the lower rate which I believe is 2.13 an hour. If they do not make enough in tips, the employer must cover their amount. The IRS assumes you are getting tips because back before credit and debit cards were common in restaurants, tax evasion was quite high from wait staff and other tipped based industries. With the advent of heavy digital transactions, everything can be tracked.

Waiters are the reason we are a tipped base economy for those job roles. Some waiters makes 400% more than chefs do at restaurants. Even at lower end places like outbacks and such, waiters will make significantly more than minimum wage on average.

I am just leaving the corrective information here. I am not replying on what my opinion on what tipping is as these threads go off the rail pretty fast.

I double checked on the Department of Labor website and per the DOL that confirms your $2.13 figure.
https://www.dol.gov/whd/state/tipped.htm

But NOLO reports the minimum for tipped staff in Florida as $5.23 as of this year and that is the figure I used
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/florida-laws-tipped-employees.html

The NOLO number is the minimum cash wage listed on the DOL website for Florida.

 

[Hockey89]

I too am English, and I think the confusion / problem comes from this sentence? In England it is considered arrogant and extremely rude to expect (assumed) to be given anything, and any tip is to be given at the complete choice and discretion of the diner and to be accepted with gratitude on the part of the recipient / server. So whilst we do understand and I do personally leave tips when in America, it is still seen as being ignorant for a tip to be assumed / expected. Especially when in a lot of cases the serving staff just do the minimal required by their job. However those that go about their work with exuberance and a genuine joy and helpfulness usually not only get the regular pre-calculated tip on the bill, but also perhaps an extra 20 dollars or so for their own pocket too. But to be served by someone who barely smiles, hardly says please or thank etc, in my eyes doesn't deserve a tip and I pay it begrudgingly because it is the done thing, which is where the "being rude" comes into it and is actually taken as offensive in countries outside of America.

When places in the USA got rid of tips, the increase to cost of food was 20/25% .... SO we either tip 15/20% or get rid of it and the prices increase on the menu 20/25%... Pretty simple stuff....

 

[jimbojones]

I too am English, and I think the confusion / problem comes from this sentence? In England it is considered arrogant and extremely rude to expect (assumed) to be given anything, and any tip is to be given at the complete choice and discretion of the diner and to be accepted with gratitude on the part of the recipient / server. So whilst we do understand and I do personally leave tips when in America, it is still seen as being ignorant for a tip to be assumed / expected. Especially when in a lot of cases the serving staff just do the minimal required by their job. However those that go about their work with exuberance and a genuine joy and helpfulness usually not only get the regular pre-calculated tip on the bill, but also perhaps an extra 20 dollars or so for their own pocket too. But to be served by someone who barely smiles, hardly says please or thank etc, in my eyes doesn't deserve a tip and I pay it begrudgingly because it is the done thing, which is where the "being rude" comes into it and is actually taken as offensive in countries outside of America.

I have traveled outside of the US extensively and lived in Europe for a stretch and understand that outside the US tipping has a different expectation associated with it and would have loved to have read your statement before learning that lesson the hard way while abroad.

But WDW is in America and that is what is expected in American society and our employment laws are built around that expectation. By not tipping in Florida you are saying you think that server deserves to make 2.5 quid (possibly 3.5) for an hours work.

Regardless of where you come from or where you travel to, if you are not cognizant of the cultural norms and expectations in your host country you risk being seen as rude at a minimum and possibly offensive or even criminal. In some places that means adult men can't wear shorts, or that women are expected to cover their hair, in the US it means that tipping is an expectation and part of the cost of eating out.

Although England and the US both are English speaking countries we have very distinct cultures and social norms. It can be easy to forget that fact when traveling or chatting online. This is a lesson I learned the hard way while in Australia, we may speak the same language but I was still the foreigner there. The same goes for an English visitor in Florida.

 

[scritchell]

Hi All,

My intentions weren't to start a heated debate lol

I just simply wanted further info

 

[MisterPenguin]

Hi All,

My intentions weren't to start a heated debate lol

I just simply wanted further info

This thread is a Princess Tea Party compared to the last tipping thread.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

But WDW is in America and that is what is expected in American society and our employment laws are built around that expectation. By not tipping in Florida you are saying you think that server deserves to make 2.5 quid (possibly 3.5) for an hours work.

That's not actually true. If an employee doesn't make enough in tips to at least bring him- or herself back up to minimum wage, the employer is obligated to make up the difference.

 

[lazyboy97o]

By not tipping in Florida you are saying you think that server deserves to make 2.5 quid (possibly 3.5) for an hours work.

In Florida the minimum employer payment is $5.23 (£3.71), but they always make a minimum $8.25 (£5.85) per hour.

 

[Bartledvd]

In disney the servers always point out the tip on the bill we always pay the 20% but the staff often have to many tables to look after they are pretty poor at there job compared to staff at any restaurant we have visited outside the bubble and being from the UK i would prefer the staff got paid properly and tip was not for making up a shortfall in the wages but because they made our experience better.
On the main topic we charge tips back to the room as its easy and much quicker than waiting for server to bring back change from $100 bill

 

[King Panda 77]

In disney the servers always point out the tip on the bill we always pay the 20% but the staff often have to many tables to look after they are pretty poor at there job compared to staff at any restaurant we have visited outside the bubble and being from the UK i would prefer the staff got paid properly and tip was not for making up a shortfall in the wages but because they made our experience better.
On the main topic we charge tips back to the room as its easy and much quicker than waiting for server to bring back change from $100 bill

That annoys me when the server points out the tip. If they do that then they are getting bare minimum. Mostly i tip well over the 20% mark though.

 

[st3v3d]

But WDW is in America and that is what is expected in American society

I absolutely agree. "When in Rome" and all that. Which is why I do tip when in America.
Having said that, I do still also think it is rude that someone who provides a minimal service (at best) expects a tip and is prepared to be rude and even confrontational if they do not receive one. If the server wishes to receive a tip, then in my eyes they could be at least be prepared to offer service with a smile to get that tip
This is based on one occasion where we had a bad experience and didn't leave a tip (Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs/Downtown Disney in 2015) where we had bad service from all aspects. Right from getting in, for which we were slightly early and was asked to wait near the bar, then was rudely told we'd have to wait for another table because we were late (?) so they'd given our table away. Then our order arrived wrong after we were seated an hour later, our server lacked any manners or a smile, the food was cold on some plates and over cooked on others, then at the end of the meal they demanded to know why we left no tip?
Needless to say that not only the lack of good service left us not really wanting to go back (but may have chanced it, as places have off nights), but the attitude of the server absolutely sealed it so that we will never go back!

 

[Jedi Stitch]

Last time I was there with the DDP and at a TS restaurant, every check had an 18% on it. Remember the alcohol is not included in the DDP so at the end of the meal even though they did your MB at the beginning of the meal, you will still get a bill for the alcohol and the gratuity of 18% should be on there factored in. I just charged everything to my room, this way you don't see the bill until after the check out.
Don't make the mistake of thinking they scan you at the beginning and everything is taken care of. On my first day at the first meal, I thought that. The waitress made a scean thinking we were dining and dashing, and then publicly shamed us. Oh, and is you don't get anything else, and you just dine using the DDP credit, you still get a bill for the 18% gratuity that still has to be paid either by Room charge or the normal method.

 

[Jedi Stitch]

My favorite restaurant here in Seattle is Ivers. Seattle Passed a $15/hour min wage. It is staggered and and over a couple of years it fully take effect. Iver's, is a front runner in the policies many of the higher end places have gone. They went ahead and started paying $15/hour. They raised the menu prices to reflect the cost, but most importantly they have taken the TIP line out from the bill, and post signs and notes on the menu, Tipping is not required at the restaurant and the servers are not expected to be tipped.