10% is reasonable. If me and 3 friends go to a restaurant in Fernie, we spend $100 for an hour of dining. Our server gets paid $9 for that hour. I think it is more than reasonable to tip them $10, which is MORE than their employer paid them for that hour. They then donate $2 (2% of the sale) to the kitchen staff. I don’t see any reason my server needs to be paid more than $17 an hour. Thats definitely one of the highest paying jobs in this town. I know college graduates that dont’ make that much. If I were to agree that 20% is reasonable, my server would have made $27 an hour. Does that really seem right to you? Add tips from other tables during that same hour and you’re well in to the $30+ per hour range.
As far as job security goes, all you’re doing is blaming the consumer for the server not finding a more secure job. And with the labour shortage going on these days, don’t tell me that serving is all they could find. I do suppose tho that if they did go out and get a 9-5, secure job, they would only make $8-$12 an hour like the rest of us. Poor souls.
I don’t see anyone tipping the garbage man, the paper boy, the people that help you find things at Wal-Mart, the person that pumps your gas, the people sorting your mail…what makes these food and beverage people not only think, but EXPECT that people should just give them free money?
As far as the price of a meal goes, I can not believe that the business charges less because they presume you will tip your server. Relying on other people to pay your staff sounds like one of the worst business decisions anyone could make.
