Would you rather servers get paid a reasonable amount of money...

[disneysteve]

I agree that they are *better* at their jobs, but I still wonder if the jobs are actually *different.* Are they given more responsibility or allowed more independence?

I think there are differences. The higher end restaurants are more focused on customer service, not just slinging slop at Applebee's or Chili's. It is more of a dining experience, more about taking care of the customers. They aren't trying to get you in and out. In fact, at some fine dining places, you have the table for the evening. There is no pressure at all to speed you along. Also, the servers typically have fewer tables to attend to at the better restaurants, allowing them to give more attentive service.

[riverwed070707]

I agree that they are *better* at their jobs, but I still wonder if the jobs are actually *different.* Are they given more responsibility or allowed more independence?

Sure they are. A higher end restaurant typically has more staff and the servers have fewer tables at a time so they can be more attentive to their customer. You tip 15-20% of the bill because the server who spends more time making sure you had a pleasurable dining experience and not just shuffling plates and refills deserves a better tip. Those who are saying the amount of work to bring your plate is the same aren't looking at the bigger picture.

Server at Chillis runs 6 tables. That server is responsible for taking your order and getting you drinks. Often someone else brings your food and heck now they have those table top payment kiosks so they don't even have to take your payment for you. During your hour of dining, they check back once or twice and spend maybe a maximum of 10-15 minutes actually interacting with you and specifically taking care of your group. They also bus their own tables and do sidework as time allows. If each of their 6 tables tips them 15% on their $30 bill they just made $27 for that hour.

Server at Biaggi's runs 3 tables at a time. The server greets you right after you sit down, maybe brings a bottle of wine to the table, tells you about the menu, etc -- overall just takes a little more time to make you feel welcome and help you enjoy your experience. This server has closer to 20 minutes to spend taking care of your table. They make/bring salads, serve your entree or make an appearance shortly after it comes out, and check back often. If each of their 3 tables tips them 15% on their $60 bill, they just made $27 for that hour. Additionally, this server probably has to tip their busser and their bartender at the end of the night, so skim 15% off the tip for that and their looking at more like $23 for the hour.

I'm not saying both servers don't work hard, but why should the cheaper restaurant employee get the same amount from you than the one who spent twice as much time trying to make sure everything was what you wanted?

This isn't just a hypothetical situation -- I've worked in my fair share of restaurants and its pretty standard that the nicer the restaurant, the fewer tables you run and therefore percentages rather than a set tip from each table makes a big difference.

ETA: I would like to clarify that I don't think the servers at Chili's don't work hard, but the bottom line is they are doing a little bit of work for a lot of people and the servers at higher end restaurants are doing a lot of work for a few tables. Both do a lot of work overall but you are tipping a percentage because of the amount of work/time that was spent on *you*. The wages even out at both places when people tip a percentage.

[riverwed070707]

I always wondered why should it be a percentage of the cost and not a set amount for time/skill. When you hire a plumber, you don't pay based on your house value.

I'm not sure a server's argument "because I make more that way" is a good argument.

I'm not saying that making more money is an arguement for one way or the other. The OP asked what a server would prefer and so I just stated my preference and that I wouldn't do it for minimum wage, which is exactly what it would be reduced to if servers started getting paid straight time.

[GREENBACK]

I'm not a server but I can tell you as a frequent diner that the quality of staff at a high end restaurant is typically much different than that at some cheap chain like Applebee's.

I've noticed that if you have a slightly older server at the chain restaurants you often get service on a par with a high end place. May be a matter of maturity and a developed work ethic. I'm always happy to tip extra to these folks for excellent service.

[BuckyBadger]

Thanks, riverwed. I was hoping that someone who worked in the industry would chime in. Those are the sorts of things that I don't realize but servers understand.

[frugalfarmwife]

I worked for years as a server at a pizza place and made GREAT money. I made that money because I ran my butt off, knew about 25-30% of my customers by name and knew my kitchen staff well.

I ran my butt off for my customers, your drink was never empty, appetizers were sold well, I often even introduced tables to each other and shared my "family" farm pictures around my section, heck even sat in the middle of my section and got everyone talking. I made great money every night, didn't have the management headaches and wrote my own paycheck.

That was my mentality daily going into work, I was writing my own paycheck and it showed. If an order was screwed up I didn't yell at the cooks, I took them a drink and said "we had an oops, can you fix this for me?".

Serving is NOT an easy job, but it can be a great job and very rewarding if you have the mentality and stamina for it.

So no, I don't think wait staff should get a set salary, a good server makes GREAT money but they work for it.

ff

[Mjenn]

As I live in a country where tipping isn't standard and servers make about 18-20 dollars an hour, the biggest sacrifice isn't necessarily the service because of the waitstaff quality, but rather the restaurant doesn't hire as many waitstaff and thus those working are super busy and have too many tables to tend to. On an average night, it usually works out OK, but if you go out on a busy night, you are usually left waiting and the waitstaff look like they are running a marathon.

I hate it.

Mostly I refuse to eat out on busy nights during peak hours because I find it too stressful. I do like the fact that with tipping, restaurants can have more waitstaff tend to a few tables well.

[nick__45]

What really pissed me off is that when my bill is only 7.29 dollars I still have to tip 2 dollars because that is a standard tip for lunch. The entree is only 6.99 and the rule of tipping is that you don't tip the total bill but just the price of the meal. Therefore, 2 dollars tip on a 6.99 dollars item is a lot more than 15 percents. That is ridiculous but this area is known as the lunch area where things are dead all day except during lunch so I think wait staffs should make some money. Plus they are nice so I don't mind tipping them but the whole tipping concept is stupid.

[nick__45]

Another point is, it has little to do with service too. You have to tip well no matter how the service is. Because, lets be realistic here, when have you ever met a not so good employee who knows that they are not good? Nobody thinks that about themselves!

So if you tip less, they won't take it as a reflection on their work, they would attribute it to you being a cheap jerk. And nobody wants to be seen as a cheap jerk, so there is a lot of social pressure to tip well no matter what, and the entitlement on the receiving end grows.

Instead of calling it a tip, they should call it a tax because that is what it actually is. The worst part is when you show up in a a group and they put that fee on their automatically and give you one receipt instead of multiple ones or hide that fee so people double tipping. This is why I normally go to places where tipping isn't involved.

[disneysteve]

The worst part is when you show up in a a group and they put that fee on their automatically

This is why I normally go to places where tipping isn't involved.

More than once, I have spoken to a manager and had the "automatic gratuity" reduced when service was lousy so you are never obligated to pay that price if you don't feel it was warranted.

What kind of restaurants do you go to where tipping isn't involved? I'm not aware of any table service places where the servers don't expect to be tipped.