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OP - if you can’t afford to pay the staff for serving you, you can’t afford to eat out.
This is brought up a lot but is generally irrelevant. The OP said nothing about not being able to afford to tip or eat out. People value different things differently. Don't be naive.
"The United States of America federal government requires a wage of at least $2.13 per hour be paid to employees who receive at least $30 per month in tips. If wages and tips do not equal the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour during any week, the employer is required to increase cash wages to compensate."
I used to work for about $2 an hour 20 years ago, in Texas, delivering food to mostly college kids. For a $5-8 dollar meal, I'd be ok for $1, but would hope for $2. On a typical night, working 8 hours I would earn anywhere from $40 to $80 ($61-$123 in today's money). The main thing that would tick me off was getting stiffed, which happened regularly on a college campus.
I spent most of my money on beer and cd's. I can't imagine trying to support a family earning mainly tips.
"The United States of America federal government requires a wage of at least $2.13 per hour be paid to employees who receive at least $30 per month in tips. If wages and tips do not equal the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour during any week, the employer is required to increase cash wages to compensate."
I used to work for about $2 an hour 20 years ago, in Texas, delivering food to mostly college kids. For a $5-8 dollar meal, I'd be ok for $1, but would hope for $2. On a typical night, working 8 hours I would earn anywhere from $40 to $80 ($61-$123 in today's money). The main thing that would tick me off was getting stiffed, which happened regularly on a college campus.
I spent most of my money on beer and cd's. I can't imagine trying to support a family earning mainly tips.
Like you said, you earn minimum wage. So when you take a tipped job, you earn at least $58/day with the potential to earn more in an 8 hour day. It's not a lot of money, but it's not too bad for a college student. You should go into a tipped job with that mindset. You'll earn the minimum, (which is $58 for an 8-hour day) but if you do a good job (and have decent customers) you have the potential to earn more.
I am certain that a tax PHD knows that employers can pay servers as little as $2.13 per hour if they can show that the tips bring them above minimum wage.
OP - if you can’t afford to pay the staff for serving you, you can’t afford to eat out. Don’t be an ass. These people rely on tips.
My post that you quoted stands as absolutely true. Did you think that you were somehow correcting me, when my statement needs no correcting?
Good service should get 15% to 20%, or more if you had a really good experience.
Bad service -- tip less and make a point.
Terrible service - bugs in your food, etc -- tip nothing.
I pretty much tip the 20%. I'm always find it interesting how the servers usually rate themselves as deserving of the 20%. I was a waitress so I know it's a hard job. I'm pretty forgiving about a lot of service related things except being ignored or rudeness or telling me about how your previous customer stiffed you or you didn't the tip you wanted. If any of that happens, the tip will be low or non-existent.
Even if I'm not feeling the 20%, I may tip it otherwise because of... peer pressure. Those other people you eat with may be be your boss, coworkers, your child's friend's parent, etc. If you come off as unfairly cheap, it may bite you in the behind later on. Basically, I just chalk eating out as a cost of eating out or doing business.
This is brought up a lot but is generally irrelevant. The OP said nothing about not being able to afford to tip or eat out. People value different things differently. Don't be naive.
Ok, then I will restate this: If the OP does not want to pay his servers the culturally accepted norm, then he should not eat out.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TaxPhd
My post that you quoted stands as absolutely true. Did you think that you were somehow correcting me, when my statement needs no correcting?
Your statement did not require correction, but it did require clarification. I’m clarifying that while the servers are no doubt making minimum wage as you stated, their employers can pay only $2.13 per hour and the rest comes in the form of tips from diners. Should a diner choose not to tip them when they are providing adequate service, then they are responsible for the server making less money than they expected.
Ok, then I will restate this: If the OP does not want to pay his servers the culturally accepted norm, then he should not eat out.
Interesting to see how people like you want to play big government. Each individual in the United States has the freedom to do whatever they want with their money. You are in no position to tell them what they should and shouldn't do.
Each individual in the United States has the freedom to do whatever they want with their money.
You are in no position to tell them what they should and shouldn't do.
We aren't. We're just pointing out that some of your choices will leave you open to ridicule.
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