Tipping Poll

[Fincave]

I mentioned the problem we are having at work regarding the splitting/sharing of tips in the discussion at the SWAMP.

Some facts: I work as a chef in a popular restaurant in Finland. A chef and a waiteress/waiter earn the same wage per hour of work. Tipping is not nearly as common in Finland as it is in many other countries but some customers do still tip. We have a major difference of opinion at work as to how the tips should be split up.

The purpose of this poll is to gauge public opinion. I will also print out the results of this poll and show it at work, irrespective of how people vote. Please take the time to vote and feel free to add comments to this thread.


The poll will be public.

[salvasol]

I think is fair to splitt the tip between all staff .... but, I also think that in some cases this will not be fair, because you tip the person who give you a good service, that treat you right. I been in some places (specially restaurants) that the waiter/waitress are rude, so in this case it will not be fair to give any tip because he/she doesn't deserve one; and here is were I think it will not be fair sometimes, because of the actions of the waiter/waitress the rest of the staff that gave you a good service will not receive any tip .....

[Otto]

Then the chef needs to set the wait staff straight on how to treat customers!

[JCD]

Here in the states, quite often the tips are kept by the wait staff. I've never understood that practice as it seems there's far more training needed to be a chef than a waiter/waitress. I do think there is a wage disparity though -- chef's getting more per hour than the waitstaff, but the waitstaff still make more in the end.

JCD

[Fincave]

Come on people! Vote, express your opnion! Started the same poll over on the Finnish forum and so far it has been viewed 600 times and 39 votes, putting the Shack to shame.

On the Finnish forum the breakdown of votes is:

1) 6 votes
2) 0 votes
3) 19 votes
4) 9 votes
5) 5 votes

It would appear that those who voted 5 are of the opnion that tips are not to be given which is kind of missing the point as I am not asking should people tip, but rather what to do with possible tips.

[drf]

there ya, I have voted.

I voted for "just between the waiters and kitchen staff" simply because I am not sure about the dynamics or importance of other staff at a resteraunt. I also don't think that managers or supervisors should be entitiled to a share, hence not voting for "all staff to recieve share"

[salvasol]

drf wrote:

...I voted for "just between the waiters and kitchen staff" simply because I am not sure about the dynamics or importance of other staff at a resteraunt. I also don't think that managers or supervisors should be entitiled to a share, hence not voting for "all staff to recieve share"

Good point!!! When I voted to be distributed among all staff I was thinking kitchen, waiter, bus boy??? (person who cleans table), waiting staff .... but no the manager, office personnel.

It will be fair to share the tip with all the people who give you a service ... not all staff in general.

[Fincave]

Thanks for the responses so far. Just to clear something up: By splitting between all staff I meant kitchen and waiting staff, everyone getting an even share, the 50/50 split was included because there are normally 2-4 waiting staff per day in comparison to kitchen staff. We do not have managers etc, the restaurant manager is also the owner and does not take a tip, our kitchen manager does the same shifts and work as any other member of staff. Sorry for any confusion.

[SteveB]

OK, I voted. Went with split between everyone. Lesser of all evils. I would hate for kitchen people not to get anything because of poor wait staff. I would think that bus boys would have lowest salary so I think they should get something too.
I tip based on service and quality of food. No straight percentage for me. Part of my tip meter is my drinking glass. If it gets empty the tip starts dropping and if I have to ask for a refill the tip really drops.

[Ayreonaut]

I wish there were two tip lines on the bill. One for the kitchen and one for the waiter.

[Fincave]

Just a quick update as to the results of the poll on the Finnish forum.

Option 1: 8 votes
Option 2: 0 votes
Option 3: 29 votes
Option 4: 14 votes
Option 5: 9 votes

It would appear that the majority of people are for splitting the tips, will have to print out the results at some stage and show the girls at work, am not expecting it to make a difference though.

[lcaillo]

I voted for even splitting because the wages are equal. In cases where they are not I would vote differently. I completely agree with Ayreonaut that there should be two tip lines. Many times the food is exceptional and the service sucks or vice versa. I tip generaously when I get good service, and when I don't I tip less. Unfortunately the only way to reward the chef in many places is to pass on a compliment to the manager.

[lcaillo]

Here is a related question. In a Sushi joint, how should one tip. There is usually a jar for the Sushi chefs and also servers that provide drinks, etc. I usually want to tip the chefs more because they really do excell sometimes, and the wait staff has little to do except pass the order to them and get you a drink. Should they get tipped on the whole amount or just on the drinks if you sit at the Sushi bar? What about at a table or a booth?

[Ayreonaut]

At a Japanese restaurant I'm glad for the opportunity to split the tip as I see fit!

When you get really lousy service, do you tip

• nothing
• a pittance ($1, $0.10, $0.01 etc.)
• ten percent
• fifteen percent

When you get really great service do you tip

• fifteen pecent
• twenty percent
• more...

[lcaillo]

Poor service I tip 10%, unless it was blatantly irresponsible, then I will point it out to the manager and tip something that sends a real message like $1 or $.25. Great service I will tip 20% or more.

[Fincave]

A quick update on the tip situation. I printed out this thread as well as the version that I posted on the Finnish forum. I let the girls read them and basically got no comments though they were of the opinion that the points raised were valid and that I did not mislead anyone. They still have not decided to share the tips which does not really come as a surprise. The restaurant manager/owner was surprised by the results, he was of the opinion that customers only gave tips based on service. He has now started giving kitchen staff something extra at the end of every shift as he realises that the girls will not give up any of 'their' money. His gesture is appreciated but kind of defeats the point and I did tell him this. I had hoped that maybe if the girls saw the comments of potential customers and how people voted that they would realise why people were giving tips.

[drf]

I am glad to hear the manager has tried to give you a bonus because of this situation. Obviously he has seen the threads and is smart enough to understand that most of our comments would be as relavent as his customers and thus wants to do what is right by them, which means seeing that the kitchen staff/chefs are looked after.
I know his actions defeat the purpose, but I ask why is this an issue? is it because the girls opinion on tipping is re-enforced by it? or do you feel cheated because the managers efforts to compensate the kitchen somehow denies you the ability to continue the debate until the girls are shown they are wrong?

[Fincave]

I do appreciate the manager's gesture of giving us a bonus, do not get me wrong. I also do not have any real desire to continue the debate with the girls as it is clear to everyone, them included, as to what would be the correct thing to do. They also are pretty clear as to what I think of them regarding this issue. The girls do not know that we are getting a bonus as the boss/manager does not want them to know so the receiving of the bonus is not enforcing or helping their position. I am of the opinion that everyone is entitled to a fair wage/salary for work done and if someone is not satisfied with the wages they can take it up with the person who is responsible for paying the wages. Bonuses IMO are for basically extraordinary events, exceptional sales etc, it seems ridiculous to me to receive a bonus because someone does not want to share tips. I was also planning on starting a wage discussion with the boss and am fairly confident that I would receive an increase, however now that we are getting a bonus it does make negotiating with him a bit more difficult.

[mechman]

I voted option one as most establishments I'm familiar with, the waiters/waitresses make minimum wage while the rest make double to triple that amount. My cousin owns a restaurant in a small town and only pays minimum wage to wait staff. He knows that they pull in well over $100 a night in tips and considers that part of their salary. I also has a brother-in-law who is a chef. While he's only been a chef for a couple of years, he'll be over six figures within a few more. Until I came upon my current occupation 16 years ago, I was in the food industry. And if I wasn't "pushing tin" today I'd probably be right there with my brother-in-law.

I do recall back in my younger years working as a busboy, that the wait staff always shared their tips with me. But there again, I was making min. wage. It's kind of a cycle I guess. The quicker I cleared the table, the more people they got to serve and the more tips they received. And in my cousin, the owners eyes, leaving part of their salary as tips helps to keep the wait staff motivated to make the customer happy, thereby ensuring future revenue for both.

[alan monro]

In Australia we dont tip at all because due to the good work of the unions . The Waiters are paid a decent Wage as is every one else . Alan .