15% TIPS, Earn Your Way Up or Down From There

A bad experience in a “family” restaurant today prompted this.

I grew up in a family where Dad worked hard, long hours as a Lawyer, and Mom worked hard, long hours as a Mom keeping up with five kids. My parents taught their children the value of a dollar. Part of that lesson was the unrelenting voice from somewhere in the house screaming, “WHO LEFT THESE DAMNED LIGHTS ON IN HERE?” or, “CLOSE THE DOOR FOR GOD'S SAKE, WHAT ARE YA TRYING TO HEAT ALL OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY?” It was usually Dad. In my adulthood I can certainly understand what he was going through seeing his money squandered away to the electric company, though his behavior was somewhat inappropriate. Waste was something that was rarely tolerated in our home. The value of a dollar earned, was a big part of the message. I knew that if I wanted to spend a dollar, I had to earn a dollar. Which brings me to my point.

Generally, most people tend to earn their way into whatever layer of the economic stratosphere they belong. For most of us it takes time for that leveling off point to occur. However, someone who works for tips has an opportunity with each new “job” to raise or lower themselves a layer or two. Waiters, waitresses and bar tenders for example. These are the primary positions where this effect is most noticeable for us.

If I ruled the world, everyone would have to work for tips, at least for the first few years of their working lives. That would be the way to separate the wheat from the chaff when determining someone’s value to the business world. The lazy, rude, stupid and inconsiderate would starve to death, and be gone, while those who really knew how to pull their weight, and satisfy, would be the wealthiest among us. Society would improve tremendously, and the hardest working among us would be the highest earners among us. Perfect. It’ll never happen.

So, that said, we, as a society, long ago established that a wait person is worth 15% in addition to whatever we pay for our meals and drinks. My basic philosophy, when dealing with a tipable server person is, OK, I am forced by custom to pay you extra money for doing your job. Now, I understand that that’s the way it is and I’m not arguing with that. I have agreed to these rules. (How many businesses do you know of where a customer coming in the door is required to help the business owner make payroll?) So, if you do a fair and adequate job for me you will earn the customary 15%. If you do an exceptional job, you will increase the value of your performance and hence, your percentage, your income. I am willing to go as high as 20% for exceptional service. By the same token, If you suck, so will your tip. You know who you are, and you have the right to earn your way up, or down from the norm.

A word of warning; I will not identify myself by my philosophy when I am seated at your table, booth, or bar stool. You will find out after I am gone. Good luck.