SAN ANGELO, TX -- I read a story in the Midland Reporter Telegram about a beer that 36 Oasis Texas Brewing is releasing called “2.13.” The name represents the dismal fact that the tipped minimum wage in Texas—two dollars and thirty-one cents—has not changed since 1991.
Not to be confused with the national minimum wage, which is $7.25, the minimum that employers have to pay to individuals in a job that includes tips is $2.13. Some do pay more.
The quality of the service is the reason most people give for tipping, and the amount tipped.
But is service the only thing you should take into consideration when tipping? How about the fact that the wait staff is paid the amount of money equal to a can of fancy cat food?
Consider that many restaurant workers are students who’ve probably been to class that day, or maybe this is the second or third job for someone.
But if your beverage glass sits empty without a refill for a period of time—subjectively determined by the one being served—the tip might reflect that perceived lack of attention.
And if the waiter doesn’t return to take your order in a timely manner it’s less likely that they will receive a tip.
Even with the person who delivers pizza, do you tip or not tip?
According to Trip Advisor, restaurant workers should be tipped about 15% to 20% of the tab. For housekeeping staff at hotels the tip should be anywhere from $2 to $5 for each night of service.
Using those calculations, at the high end you would tip your waiter $20 for a $100 meal, and hotel housekeeping about $25 in total for a five night stay.
Tips can add up to a lot for an employee. My daughter had a waitress job when she was in college and on a good night she could make $300 in tips, but on other nights maybe only $20.
And although you may not want that same waiter the next time you visit, but chances are they’re happy to be reassigned.
Still, taking all of that into account, some people are high-roller tippers and others, not so much under any circumstances.
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Two restaurants here in town that I'll refer to, one gets a solid YES that the wait staff will get a good tip, one will be an absolute NO that they won't get a tip.
Cheddars wait staff will always get a decent tip. It is likely more the management that demands the staff to be very attentive to a customers needs, but the staff that attends me is always checking to see if we need anything. I will generally have an average of a $70 bill and I will always tip at least a $20.
Golden Corral wait staff will never get a tip. You can almost always count on either having to flag one down or just go to the dispensor yourself for a drink refill. Using the two restaurants I have used for this comparison, Cheddars has always sent out meals cooked to perfection. Golden Corral on the other hand is simply a buffet with bland food and the price you pay for each diner is generally higher than what you would pay for a Cheddars meal, therefore I feel comfortable saying that the wait staff's tip if any is already added to the purchase price of a meal at Golden Corral.
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