If The Minimum Wage Becomes $15 A Hour...Would You?

sluggercatfan

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Still tip???...I am a very good tipper , but if the minimum wage becomes that high I don't think it is necessary any longer to do so...What say you?
 

UKserialkiller

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For a server making $15 plus tips. The meals would have to be $40 a plate or more.

No, I ain't tipping them one damn cent if that is the case. Matter of fact, I'll ask them how much they are making, compare with my job that requires a master degree, and then quit and go into serving food.
 

BlueRaider22

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Well, you are assuming that the server gets a wage at all? In most restaurants the servers either have to make their wage entirely on tipping......or they get a small wage and have to make the rest up on tips. Soooo, in most cases I will continue to tip.



However, as a side bar, after having dinner at Bonefish last wkend I noticed that at the bottom of the ticket it said, "Suggested gratuity 18%, 20%, and 22%".....with the cost alongside. Wow. I've always been a good tipper, but seems like it was only 10 yrs ago that the tickets used to say 10% or 12% as a suggestion. My wife and I started to talking about whether or not tipping is still a practice that needs to remain? Perhaps it would be better if they just stop the tipping practice all together.......I know some restaurants have already started this and have been doing fine.
 
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sluggercatfan

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Well, you are assuming that the server gets a wage at all? In most restaurants the servers either have to make their wage entirely on tipping......or they get a small wage and have to make the rest up on tips. Soooo, in most cases I will continue to tip.



However, as a side bar, after having dinner at Bonefish last wkend I noticed that at the bottom of the ticket it said, "Suggested gratuity 18%, 20%, and 22%".....with the cost alongside. Wow. I've always been a good tipper, but seems like it was only 10 yrs ago that the tickets used to say 10% or 12% as a suggestion. My wife and I started to talking about whether or not tipping is still a practice that needs to remain? Perhaps it would be better if they just stop the tipping practice all together.......I know some restaurants have already started this and have been doing fine.
Like I said earlier, I am in the 20-25% tip range , but if someone is making $15 an hr I see no need to tip...Recently my wife and I were at one of the restaurants we frequent and the waiter told us he average $18-22 with tips ...That is more than enough ...
 

UK_Memphis

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Well, you are assuming that the server gets a wage at all? In most restaurants the servers either have to make their wage entirely on tipping......or they get a small wage and have to make the rest up on tips. Soooo, in most cases I will continue to tip.



However, as a side bar, after having dinner at Bonefish last wkend I noticed that at the bottom of the ticket it said, "Suggested gratuity 18%, 20%, and 22%".....with the cost alongside. Wow. I've always been a good tipper, but seems like it was only 10 yrs ago that the tickets used to say 10% or 12% as a suggestion. My wife and I started to talking about whether or not tipping is still a practice that needs to remain? Perhaps it would be better if they just stop the tipping practice all together.......I know some restaurants have already started this and have been doing fine.
I've seen restaurants do the 18-22 thing. But I've never seen any recommend lower than 15%. That has been the standard for at least 35 years.
 
Mar 26, 2003
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If the min wage goes to $15/hr, we will probably see a significant change in business practices. The first that comes to mind is reducing or eliminating the server. You will order on tablets or some other way, then have a runner bring your food out. The trend is already starting and will probably continue to grow. Fast food places will be the highest growth. I ordered this way at a place and Florida and loved it.

As a side note, servers that make "less" than min wage, by law, have to make at least the standard min wage. If they don't make it on tips, then the restaurant has to pay the difference. That server probably wouldn't be around long though.
 

WildcatfaninOhio

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Servers are exempt from minimum wage. Most make less talhan half what minimum wage is, and the rest is made up by the tip. Servers will not be paid $15 an hour.

I'd hate to see what might happen if the minimum was ever pushed that high. Lots of low wage workers will be let go. Not sure why we even have a minimum. Let the free market dictate wages. Especially on entry-level and unskilled labor.
 
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Mar 26, 2003
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Servers are exempt from minimum wage. Most make less talhan half what minimum wage is, and the rest is made up by the tip. Servers will not be paid $15 an hour.

I'd hate to see what might happen if the minimum was ever pushed that high. Lots of low wage workers will be let go. Not sure why we even have a minimum. Let the free market dictate wages. Especially on entry-level and unskilled labor.

Servers aren't exempt, they still have to make the standard federal min wage:

"What is the minimum wage for federal minimum wage to covered, nonexempt employees. An employer of a tipped employee is only required to pay $2.13 an hour in direct wages if that amount plus the tips received equals at least the federal minimum wage, the employee retains all tips and the employee customarily and regularly receives more than $30 a month in tips. If an employee's tips combined with the employer's direct wages of at least $2.13 an hour do not equal the federal minimum hourly wage, the employer must make up the difference.
Some states have minimum wage laws specific to tipped employees. When an employee is subject to both the federal and state wage laws, the employee is entitled to the provisions which provides the greater benefits. "

http://www.dol.gov/elaws/faq/esa/flsa/002.htm
 

KingOfBBN

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Waiters in California aren't like the servers in Kentucky where you only make $2.13 and basically live off of your tips. They get minimum wage and tips.

If this holds to where absolute morons can get $15 an hour despite being lazy and stupid with no skills, I'll decrease going to restaurants quite a bit, which would be cheaper anyways. No way should someone in the food industry that isn't even a manager, make $15 an hour.

Those jobs were never meant to be full-time jobs to provide for families.
 
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buster3.0

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It's one thing for a $15 minimum wage to be implemented in high cost of living areas like San Fransico, NYC, Boston, etc. But no way in hell could that work in Kentucky or most other southern states. All places in the United States are not created equal when it comes to wages and cost of living. Hell, there are entry level police officers and teachers in the south that barely make over $15 an hour. It would create a domino effect that would change the pay scale for everything.
 

bluelifer

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Sorry gents, but most servers are already making $15+ an hour, or they should be anyway. The first thing that would happen in sit-down restaurants is managers would crack down on their servers claiming tips.

As has been stated, the restaurant is responsible for bringing the server's pay up to minimum wage if they aren't making it in tips. A couple of pay periods with Johnny Bama Bangs not claiming enough tips to equal the min. wage threshold, and he's probably gonna get the boot.

Most of the servers you see running around O'Charlies on a weekend night are only going to be working a 4-6hr shift. If they can't make $60-90 in that time frame, they need to reevaluate their career choice.
 

CatsFanGG24

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Read some articles about Washington state...minimum wage is in the process of being raised to $15 an hour...their tipped minimum wage is the same as non-tipped, so servers will be getting $15.
 

Glochid

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People who don't tip well suck and don't need to go out to eat. Servers deserve to make just as much as a college educated person who has real occupational responsibilities. Plus there is their drug habit to consider. However, the people behind the counter actually laboring in a hot greasy kitchen deserve whatever piddly wage the manager sees fit.
 

bluelifer

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Read some articles about Washington state...minimum wage is in the process of being raised to $15 an hour...their tipped minimum wage is the same as non-tipped, so servers will be getting $15.

Wouldn't surprise me if the servers in Washington state currently averaged $20+ an hr in tips. They probably don't claim it, but I'd bet they make it.
 

KingOfBBN

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I worked at a steakhouse in Kentucky when I was younger and hated almost everyone I worked with because they were the most stereotypical server douchebags. If they did make good money, they pissed it away that night on getting messed up and buying video games. The staff was a mixture of people hooking up and only had friends within the restaurant and the old timers who thought they were still young.

Seriously, there was a guy who would come in on his off days just to drink and hang out and get drunk and he was in his mid 30s. How pathetic is that? Who goes to work on their day off? But yeah, a lot of them would go out and smoke a bowl while you waited on your food and then any tip they got was wasted on jager bombs and probably roofies too. No way do they deserve $15 + tips. Hell, why no sympathy for the ones who work retail and take as much sh. t as servers do?
 

LineSkiCat

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I don't know why I do this, but I NEVER tip at chains (unless it's sit-down like Applebee's) and ALWAYS tip 20% at local restaurants, fast-food, coffee shops, etc..

Question: Servers have always been paid low wages BECAUSE of the tip factor. I don't think the minimum wage thing affects them because they've never made minimum wage. Right? Something will have to change, though. There's no way a waitress is going to make $10-15/hour at some mid-range restaurant, when you can guarantee a steady $15/hour being lazy at WacArnolds.

There are definitely some restaurants where waiting tables nets you $30/hour.. maybe more.
 

BlueRaider22

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I worked at a steakhouse in Kentucky when I was younger and hated almost everyone I worked with because they were the most stereotypical server douchebags. If they did make good money, they pissed it away that night on getting messed up and buying video games. The staff was a mixture of people hooking up and only had friends within the restaurant and the old timers who thought they were still young.

Seriously, there was a guy who would come in on his off days just to drink and hang out and get drunk and he was in his mid 30s. How pathetic is that? Who goes to work on their day off? But yeah, a lot of them would go out and smoke a bowl while you waited on your food and then any tip they got was wasted on jager bombs and probably roofies too. No way do they deserve $15 + tips. Hell, why no sympathy for the ones who work retail and take as much sh. t as servers do?


Hey, I saw that movie.....

 

mashburned

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Whip my pecker out and tell em clean that while they're at it? Yes, of course I would.
 

bluelifer

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I don't know why I do this, but I NEVER tip at chains (unless it's sit-down like Applebee's) and ALWAYS tip 20% at local restaurants, fast-food, coffee shops, etc..

Question: Servers have always been paid low wages BECAUSE of the tip factor. I don't think the minimum wage thing affects them because they've never made minimum wage. Right? Something will have to change, though. There's no way a waitress is going to make $10-15/hour at some mid-range restaurant, when you can guarantee a steady $15/hour being lazy at WacArnolds.

There are definitely some restaurants where waiting tables nets you $30/hour.. maybe more.

The minimum wage increase would effect them, but not directly like the fry cook at McDonalds. If a server doesn't make at least minimum wage in reported tips, the restaurant would be responsible for making up the difference. Which means managers will be strictly enforcing accurate tip claiming to ensure the restaurant doesn't have to pay the server any additional money.

As a matter of fact, if I were waiting tables or bar tending, I would be opposed to the min. wage increase, because it would mean I had to claim more of my actual income, resulting in me having to pay more taxes.
 
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I don't tip coffee shops unless they're walking over to my table and taking my order.

My general rule: unless you're serving alcohol from behind a bar, you need (1) to walk to my table at least once, and (2) take my order if you wanna get a tip.
 
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LineSkiCat

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I don't tip coffee shops unless they're walking over to my table and taking my order.

My general rule: unless you're serving alcohol from behind a bar, you need (1) to walk to my table at least once, and (2) take my order if you wanna get a tip.

Ehh, I do for non-chains. Supports the local businesses, I guess. The two I go to sometimes usually have 1 worker taking the order and making the coffee.

Bars really get me. I'm the sucker who always thinks that a bartender is into me, so it reflects in my all-too-often 30% tip. And being in my late 20's being in several different apartments, I find the closest watering-hole (that isn't a complete cesspool) and tip even better, to ensure good service and lots of buy-backs.

I really need to make more money to support this drinking habit.
 

UKserialkiller

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What's everyone's policy on carry out tipping?

Man, I'll usually throw them a buck or two if I'm ordering carry out. Nothing more.

There was a study that found that if servers touch their patrons on the arm compared to servers who don't. They will receive on avg 22% more tip money. We have nerve endings in our arm that relay to a part of the brain that associates with good emotions. So that means we are may tip more when it happens.

The more you goddamn know.........
 

bluelifer

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Outside of a few of the busiest hours during the week, I'd say most carry-out/curbside duties are absorbed by servers and bartenders that are already on the floor. So, I tend to still tip but it's usually only in the 5-10% range. In most cases, boxing up a to-go order doesn't involve as much work as serving a table start to finish.
 

We-Todd-Did

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I'll wait to see if servers are included. If they are, it's gonna be a little tip unless there is something wonderful or I like them.

Speaking of the chains, I'm a little ticked at the trend of having a guy work his butt off bringing food out to the whole restaurant but the tips go to some 19 year old named Britney who just wrote down the order and brought me a coke once. Applebee's is the worst for this. It's one of my reasons to not go to chains.
 
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CatDaddy4daWin

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I worked at a steakhouse in Kentucky when I was younger and hated almost everyone I worked with because they were the most stereotypical server douchebags. If they did make good money, they pissed it away that night on getting messed up and buying video games. The staff was a mixture of people hooking up and only had friends within the restaurant and the old timers who thought they were still young.

Seriously, there was a guy who would come in on his off days just to drink and hang out and get drunk and he was in his mid 30s. How pathetic is that? Who goes to work on their day off? But yeah, a lot of them would go out and smoke a bowl while you waited on your food and then any tip they got was wasted on jager bombs and probably roofies too. No way do they deserve $15 + tips. Hell, why no sympathy for the ones who work retail and take as much sh. t as servers do?
In other words, nobody liked you. That's what this sounds like. You probably don't get invited to parties either.

How much you can make as a server depends on so many factors. Not only the type of restaurant you work but whether your section has a lot of booths or just tables, whether you're closing or first cut, sometimes just luck of the draw with types of people you get, etc. $15/hr is way too much for any type of minimum wage job. Taco Bell can't even get an order right, like ever. $9/hr is probably about right with places like SF,NY, and other expensive cites able to enact their own minimum.

$15/hr would be disastrous in most parts of the country.

And yes, I probably would tip servers/bartenders if they're making that, but it would have to be exceptional service and I'd probably not give more than 10% (usually 20+% tipper)
 
Mar 26, 2003
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Man, I'll usually throw them a buck or two if I'm ordering carry out. Nothing more.

There was a study that found that if servers touch their patrons on the arm compared to servers who don't. They will receive on avg 22% more tip money. We have nerve endings in our arm that relay to a part of the brain that associates with good emotions. So that means we are may tip more when it happens.

The more you goddamn know.........

If they touch them on other parts, the percentage significantly increases.
 
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KingOfBBN

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In other words, nobody liked you. That's what this sounds like. You probably don't get invited to parties either.

How much you can make as a server depends on so many factors. Not only the type of restaurant you work but whether your section has a lot of booths or just tables, whether you're closing or first cut, sometimes just luck of the draw with types of people you get, etc. $15/hr is way too much for any type of minimum wage job. Taco Bell can't even get an order right, like ever. $9/hr is probably about right with places like SF,NY, and other expensive cites able to enact their own minimum.

$15/hr would be disastrous in most parts of the country.

And yes, I probably would tip servers/bartenders if they're making that, but it would have to be exceptional service and I'd probably not give more than 10% (usually 20+% tipper)


Yeah, that's what it was, cool guy. About every job I have ever worked outside of that one, I liked the people I worked with except for that group. There comes a certain point in your life where it's not that appealing hanging with d-bags who are way too old to be trying to scam on server whores and then coming in the next day to brag about how messed up they got the night before and not being able to make friends outside of that restaurant. Yeah, so cool.

The sad thing is, a big chunk of them still work there.

Also, if you like drinking jager bombs and dropping roofies while watching Entourage, my apologies for being insensitive.