you literally just described the bare minimum expectation for what the customer is buying from that company
Comment on I always hit this button
Reyali@lemmy.world 3 days agoI worked with someone who changed my mind on this. She’d worked the take-out counter at a restaurant and she talked through the kinds of steps she took to ensure the meal was correct, containers were properly sealed, and they had utensils, napkins, sauces, and all the things the customer would need or expect.
Learning about the amount of time and care put in at that restaurant made it clear that it was a service.
I usually give 10% at restaurants with a similar service because of her. With takeaway restaurants where you just order at a counter, though? I generally only tip if the people working were super friendly.
I’d prefer to not have a tipping culture at all. But as long as this is the society we live in, I can afford to pay a couple extra bucks here and there to help people who generally make shit wages.
mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 3 days ago
Reyali@lemmy.world 3 days ago
When I’m sitting down to a dinner, the bare minimum I expect is food served to my table in a reasonable time, drink refills, etc., but I tip for that service. When I’m at a bar the bare minimum I expect is to receive the drink I ordered, but I tip for that service.
Again, as I said, I would much prefer if tipping were not a part of our culture at all. But I alone will not change that just by shortchanging low-wage employees.
asbestos@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Exactly, and that’s the problem that allowed business owners not to pay their employees enough
Reyali@lemmy.world 3 days ago
I’m not clear what you’re saying the problem is. The fact that I tip because it’s expected?
Me choosing to follow the system that was in place well before I was born isn’t the problem. The law allows for food service workers to be paid less than minimum wage. If you don’t agree with that, petition the government or boycott restaurants until they change policy; don’t stiff low-wage employees.
Signtist@bookwyr.me 3 days ago
I’m confused. Wouldn’t ordering takeout at the counter also require the worker to ensure that the meal is correct, containers are properly sealed, and extra items like napkins and sauces are included? I’m not necessarily saying that those duties aren’t tip-worthy, but it seems to me that the only difference between ordering online or over the phone vs ordering at the counter is whether they hand you the food directly or put it in a pickup shelf.
Reyali@lemmy.world 3 days ago
I meant a takeout counter like Chipotle or somewhere else that you order and get the food at the same time, not sitting and waiting for an order somewhere.
Signtist@bookwyr.me 3 days ago
I guess? I mean, they still follow my directions with what goes into the burrito, wrap it up nice with a sticker to keep it closed when they’re done, and ask if I want napkins and utensils if I’m ordering to-go. Seems like the same work but with a shorter time frame.
Reyali@lemmy.world 3 days ago
I did a bit of reading to confirm my understanding, which is that employers can pay below minimum wage when tips are regularly earned by that employee. So technically, baristas, fast food workers, counter-service workers, and the like could fall into that category, but since it’s not a cultural expectation that those employees are tipped on every transaction, I think it would be harder for an employer to justify the regularity of their tip earnings and therefore pay them less than minimum wage.
That’s why, in my personal practice, those tips are optional and based exclusively on above-average service.
When it comes to takeout from a restaurant, there are usually two types of places I go: 1) smaller, individually owned restaurants, or 2) large chain restaurants like the one my coworker had previously worked for.
In the first case, I leave some tip because it’s a small business and I’ve known people who own restaurants and realize how hard a business it is. In the latter, I tip because thaf coworker told me that her role was paid under the assumption of her receiving tips and I realized there is a service being provided.
Anyway, lots of people seem to be disappointed about my personal choice to tip some types of food service. I appreciate you engaging in a way that doesn’t seem judgmental or defensive.
LoafedBurrito@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Uhhh, so they did their job? I had to make 30+ delivery orders a day, some of them with over 50 items. NO TIPS because it was my job to do that and make sure everything the customer paid for is in the bag.
Reyali@lemmy.world 3 days ago
They did their job, yet our government legally allows their employers to not pay them full wages for their work and instead depend on their customers to supplement their wages. If you had a job that was legally allowed to pay you under minimum wage because it expected you to earn money in addition to that, then I would expect you’d get tips too.
Until the laws change in a way that support food service workers better, I’m going to continue to do my part in contributing to their wages.
phobos@lemmy.ca 3 days ago
You just described elements which would meet the bare minimum in delivery of food from the counter.
If the store isn’t paying their workers enough to be able to deliver the bare minimum product being sold why should the customer have to make up the difference with a tip