Restaurant Kills Tipping, Service Improves

[xoxoxoBruce]

The tip is moot, we can never even go back to Howard Johnson's again.

[Sundae]

I like the film, Bruce.
Those Aussies really can do them well. Despite being isolated from the rest of the world. Or maybe because of it.

Infi, I'm not sure if what follows is agreeing or disagreeing with you because we see tipping very differently in the UK. 10% is sadly connsidered a good tip to my parents' generation and plenty of people will not tip unless the waiter walks over crushed glass or fire eats for them or something.

Your customer would have left you a fiver (think, good tip) because you've served them really well. But what if they weren't happy with the quality of the food? What if they sent a dish back. You get all the flack and no tip. But if everyone from the dishwasher up can help to deal with the issue of the crappy food, there's still a share to go round, and none of the other waiters have to suffer either.

Your customer simply rounds up your change to the nearest note (this can be less than 50p, think bad tip) and you've worked your socks off. Why? Because they believe you are doing a job and they don't get paid extra if they just do their job and even if they do their job well and even if anyone f**king notices the least they get is a muuted, "thanks." In a shared tip system, your lousy 50p from Angry Office Worker is added to the pot same as the £5.

Given my 'druthers I'd prefer the staff to work together as a team. The satisfaction of the customer should be the most important aim. BUT it's hard when you work your socks off when someone else is slacking and you lose out because of it.

At W, where I work there is a rewards system. Sometimes there are silly bonuses, like pitching the credit card; a good salesperson could do that while handcarving marmaade ham. I can't. I'd just as rather bring up their best ejactaculatory tip than discuss mone or credit. But I'd sell the heck out of a product if there was a potential store bonus on it; that's the good thing about being able to stand behind the products you sell, even if you wouldn't personally buy some of them. "This month our promotion is peanut butter with liquorice strips!")

But the REAL bonus scheme is profits made (after various normal minuses like etc). Every Partner (member of staff) gets a share according to their hours worked. Various levels of Management don't just because they aren't paid hourly, but it's all set out in writing fair and square and explained quite clearly in any literature or on the Partners' website. We have our secret snipes of course, but we really, really want the company to succeed. There will be loafers, thieves, malingerers in there of course. But in general, if you are asked to help another Partner, you do. Why? Because it helps your profit. And then you get to like them anyway.

Having worked as a waitress (pizzeria, London eaterie, silver service and hotel breakfast FTR) I'd rather get to keep my tips. But they were always freely given. I've had no contact from customers regarding my service so far (made to the store I mean, as opposed to my face). But although it might be flagged in my apprasial I'd rather have gennuine recognition than force it by giving a card with my name on and saying, "If you're happy with my service today...?"
[NB will probably get Mum to blag some from her friends for me instead. I deserve them.]

Bottom line, I've been there.
And I still don't know how I feel.
I just know I mentally add a tip when deciding whether to eat somewhere. And have to trust that the staff who choose to work there are happy with the system.