What, No Tip? Service Charge Faces Struggle at Restaurants

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Yes, I heared that it is olike this in the US, but I do not know to what degree I can generalise it: if it is just in some regions like that, or in all America. Although it sounds sensible at first, I also see the backside of the it, and that is that it opens door and gate to excessive exploitation of employees, and busioness making a profit from not paying employees enough, with the share that is theirs being sacked by somebody else. I have been subject of such practices, too. I am no fan of wokring on commission. The ammount of the abuse it allows outweighs the gains in motivation, imo. And I live by the idea that if I work for soembody else, and do what is considered a regular full time job according to the standards of my living place, let'S say 5.5 days a week, 8 hours per day, this should mean that I get a regular payment by my employer that makes sure that I can can live from ma hand'S work for him and from my lifetime I invest and that is not free to me. What is beyiond a basic fee like this may be seen as luxury and thus object to customer' fairness. Because who says they are fair? Especially when they are low on money themselves? There are many people in oiur egoistic society who just sack in what they can grab and then run and hide, not caring gfor others. That's why in europe we have stronger sympathy than you guys in America for some basic things not being voluntary only, but obligatory. It helps to curb the wild beast capitalism's natural egoism a bit more. But both shouldn't be exaggerated, the European and the American way. Unlimited socialism does work as bad as unlimited egoism does. There must be found a golden path in the middle to keep a balance between legitimate interests of the individual and legitimate interests of the community.

Well if said employee feels exploited then he/she should look for a new job. There is always that option. Does it motivate? In most cases yes. In commission work does it motivate the employee to drum up work that does not need to be done so as to get paid commission? In the auto industry...certainly. At any rate, the folks knew the deal going into accepting the job. I worked as a bus boy for three friggin days and dumped that job like a bad habit. Really, it is what they want to make of it. I did well as a mechanic. I repaired what needed to be repaired and did it right the first time. Customers returned for other work and requested me. The only thing about commission work is attempting to balance a home budget. You can not when your week to week pay changes. Lets look at this way, if the tips really sucked there would not be any waiters/waitress'. There are plenty and I think the generosity is there concerning tips.