Vasquez on 15/5/2013 at 07:31
Quote Posted by Al_B
Stating the obvious but people have pride in their work and for many people the reason for doing a job goes far beyond simply picking up a large paycheck.
You can't eat pride, though.
Thirith on 15/5/2013 at 07:33
Quote Posted by Al_B
(Simplifying your post). Stating the obvious but people have pride in their work and for many people the reason for doing a job goes far beyond simply picking up a large paycheck. There are
many jobs which attract a minimum wage and I do have sympathy for the argument that waiting staff benefit largely because they have contact with the public that others (e.g. those packing boxes in a factory) don't have. It doesn't stop me tipping good service but I always hope that restaurants who claim to share tips between all staff, including those who actually create the meal, honour their agreements.
No disagreement with you on any of this - but it's somewhat beside the point. I wasn't talking about a *large* paycheck, I was talking about a paycheck that doesn't from the beginning require you to work two jobs amounting to more than a regular, full-time employment just to scrape through. For someone who barely gets enough to cover the rent and still has to find money somewhere for food, health services etc., it'd be somewhat cynical to pull the "If a job is worth doing it's worth doing well" thing. Begrudging those who actually might scrape through due to tips the money they get through them is a shitty move. It's the system where it's perfectly fine to pay wages that low that's to blame, in my opinion at least.
Al_B on 15/5/2013 at 07:45
Quote Posted by Thirith
I wasn't talking about a *large* paycheck, I was talking about a paycheck that doesn't from the beginning require you to work two jobs amounting to more than a regular, full-time employment just to scrape through.
I used the wrong adjective, sorry. I fully agree with your sentiments, but I'll stand by my opinion that there are many other jobs which attract the same low wage as those who wait tables which don't have the same opportunity to attract tips because they're not personally in contact with their customers.
SubJeff on 15/5/2013 at 08:15
Don't get me wrong; I tip and when I tip well I tip really really really well. Like stupid well.
Buy I don't tip just because I think I should, I tip where I think it's deserved.
If you're in a job that relies on tips you should do it really well and being a waiter isn't that hard in the grand scheme of things.
Al_B on 15/5/2013 at 08:30
I'm genuinely interested in how long you were a waiter before starting your current career.
faetal on 15/5/2013 at 09:00
My guess is the tipping thing started thusly:
1) People occasionally tipped in the service industry if their server was exceptional
2) Servers realised that if they worked really well, they could do very well out of tips
3) Employers realised that if they lowered wages, their servers would have to work really well in order to get by
I don't quite get why places like France add a 10% service charge to the bill. Why not just increase all food prices by 10%?
Perhaps it's to make the place look more affordable when browsing the menu.
Thirith on 15/5/2013 at 09:03
Last time we were in London, all restaurants we went to automatically added a 15% serving charge, so it's not just the French.
faetal on 15/5/2013 at 09:04
I was just using France as an example. The bigger question is why does anyone do this?
SubJeff on 15/5/2013 at 10:38
Quote Posted by Al_B
I'm genuinely interested in how long you were a waiter before starting your current career.
Tom Logan, Professor at the Institute of Studies, whilst dressed only in a robe and slippers on his doorstep today told reporters "Yep, its official. Unless you've actually BEEN on fire you really can't say whether it hurts or not."
A long-term study into Other Peoples Experiences showed that despite the relaxed manner in which your waiter delivers your drinks he is in fact as stressed as a human can be.
"I'm, like, really stressed out, man" said Jim Bootstop, yesterday evening. Despite having no customers and finding time to drink an average of 3 coffees and smoke a couple of tabs whilst lolling on a sunlounger Jim insists his job really is very, very hard.
"You just can't tell," said Logan "you. just. can't. tell."
june gloom on 15/5/2013 at 12:03
SubJeff, sometimes your myopia is truly shocking.
