General Discussion

spinbaby

(15,397 posts) Wed May 25, 2016, 06:39 AM May 2016

Should tipped employees keep their tips? [View all]

I had dinner with a friend at a lovely little ethic restaurant last night. The food and the service were great. We got to chatting with the waitress, who revealed that she doesn't get to keep her tips. At first we misunderstood and thought maybe she had to split her tips with other wait staff, but she said, no, the restaurant kept her tips and paid her minimum wage.

This is probably legal because she is making minimum wage, but it strikes me as profoundly unfair, both to her and to the customers, who think their money is going to the wait staff.

79 replies

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Should tipped employees keep their tips? [View all] spinbaby May 2016 OP

If I went to a restaurant and learned the server does not get the tip, I wouldn't leave one liberal N proud May 2016 #1

This ^ Moliere May 2016 #16

Hand the server a cash tip when you hand back the bill Cash slipped under the bill Monk06 May 2016 #70

Tips are stupid and an excuse for business to not pay a decent wage Drahthaardogs May 2016 #75

I used to eat at a buffet restaurant where the wait staff kept your drinks filled, House of Roberts May 2016 #77

Those are bussers not waiters. They should be paid hourly at least minimum wage and tipping is Drahthaardogs May 2016 #78

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay did an episode of Kitchen Nightmares, closeupready May 2016 #2

I'll have to look it up spinbaby May 2016 #5

sent you PM closeupready May 2016 #6

Could you PM the name of the restaurant avebury May 2016 #14

It was really funny Renew Deal May 2016 #76

That episode was epic! demmiblue May 2016 #10

... closeupready May 2016 #11

I'm going to make a fresh cup of coffee spinbaby May 2016 #13

You may as well go the whole nine yards... the aftermath: demmiblue May 2016 #15

Awesome spinbaby May 2016 #17

Wow, its like they thought emulating the Soup Nazi was a good business model, but forgot they... aikoaiko May 2016 #33

I think the portion starting at 5:00 minutes is reality show PERFECTION. closeupready May 2016 #39

OMGWOW..NT Jesus Malverde May 2016 #64

was this the crazy bakery episode? that one was beyond insane La Lioness Priyanka May 2016 #37

Yes indeed - I watched it again this morning (post #10) and got a hearty chuckle closeupready May 2016 #38

I hope you're doing well too La Lioness Priyanka May 2016 #40

not allowed in California itsrobert May 2016 #3

Doesn't sound lovely to me Egnever May 2016 #4

Pennsylvania spinbaby May 2016 #7

Shame it ruined your evening Egnever May 2016 #8

Seems they can take the tips in Penn Egnever May 2016 #12

PA has a minimum wage for tipped employees which is $2.83, in Oregon that employee would Bluenorthwest May 2016 #20

I think in FL it is illegal titaniumsalute May 2016 #9

Unless the restaurant owner is schlepping the trays, the server gets the tip. Vinca May 2016 #18

That would be a need to know. If they were paying upward $12 an hour or more, seabeyond May 2016 #19

In PA where the OP is, the minimum wage for tipped employees is $2.83 an hour. Bluenorthwest May 2016 #21

I do not know how low Texas is, but low like that. It pisses me off to no end that a restaurant seabeyond May 2016 #22

Texas tipped employees Minimum Wage is $2.14 an hour. Full minimum wage is $7.25 Bluenorthwest May 2016 #24

BTW, I love that your state (clueless) has a high wage and tips. seabeyond May 2016 #23

Oregon. Bluenorthwest May 2016 #25

Correct, Texas is bad. I thought the number lower. My son did a bit of restaurant last summer, seabeyond May 2016 #30

regardless of pay - they would have to post it... lame54 May 2016 #46

Tipping shouldn't be an expected thing metroins May 2016 #26

tipping is expected at restaurants in the US, other countries not so much Demonaut May 2016 #35

When we go out I always give the waitress madokie May 2016 #27

This is why I try to tip in cash TexasBushwhacker May 2016 #28

Some places are putting cameras in to deter that. Lancero May 2016 #34

Tipping should be ended everywhere Lee-Lee May 2016 #29

Sounds like an argument for getting rid of cash altogether Fumesucker May 2016 #31

While that won't happen it would be great for eliminating a lot of tax evasion Lee-Lee May 2016 #32

Bullshit! rusty fender May 2016 #41

The law says different Lee-Lee May 2016 #42

You're pitting the dishwasher against the waiter! rusty fender May 2016 #49

I'm saying why the double standard where some get treated different? Lee-Lee May 2016 #72

I would agree that this is a bottom of the barrel area for addressing tax evasion. HuckleB May 2016 #47

Tipping should be encouraged everywhere Bonx May 2016 #36

it's the best way to get money directly into society - no middle men lame54 May 2016 #44

I agree. ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2016 #48

I see you never worked a job where servers were getting tips. Rex May 2016 #54

I've been a server and a bartender Lee-Lee May 2016 #71

That would need to be posted lame54 May 2016 #43

That's not legal. HuckleB May 2016 #45

^this^ Agnosticsherbet May 2016 #52

The place is probably avoiding paying taxes on tips by doing this. Rex May 2016 #56

If the waitress' story is true, something is definitely amiss. HuckleB May 2016 #57

Depends on how many people work there for how many hours. How many servers. Rex May 2016 #63

I'm already PAYING for the meal Skittles May 2016 #62

Huh? HuckleB May 2016 #68

I am tipping for service Skittles May 2016 #74

Ok, then HuckleB May 2016 #79

Yes. So I give tip separate from credit card charges. tenderfoot May 2016 #50

Mohels keep their tips. Gomez163 May 2016 #51

Snarf .... :D closeupready May 2016 #65

Employer gets a tip credit Depaysement May 2016 #53

You can make a lot in tips or not much, depending on where you work and at what time. Rex May 2016 #55

Yeah, I made middle of the road tips as a waiter/bar back at a typical Italian restaurant. HuckleB May 2016 #58

In my perfect world GulfCoast66 May 2016 #59

that's why I always tip in cash Bucky May 2016 #60

Dominos i worked at kept carry out pizza tips put on credit card. think it's legal but BS. nt TheFrenchRazor May 2016 #61

I'd tell everybody there. Seriously. Let them be embarassed by their practice. nt LaydeeBug May 2016 #66

Welcome!! lancer78 May 2016 #67

I disagree with even tip sharing. moriah May 2016 #69

Except the back of the house is a huge part of service and they get screwed Recursion May 2016 #73