"Jeff Shirton" wrote in message
...

snip
I worked retail for 5 years, and never got tipped once (nor
did I expect it, that is not the customers' responsibility, IMO).
OTOH, cooks don't get tips, but servers do. What's fair
about that?

I've worked retail for about the same as you, but I was making more than
minimum wage. Waitstaff make well below minimum wage and depend on tips to
make up the difference. A cook's base pay is governed by the minimum wage
law, so they get paid more than waitstaff, but the waitstaff can potentially
make much more than the cooks. If you had said that you worked as a waiter
for 5 years, then you'd have an argument there.

My wife was a waitress for a while. She made a pile of money, but only made
$2.35/hr. before tips. And, she had to share some of her tip money with the
bartender. There are some weird policies in restaurants that the patrons
never know about. We both gained a lot of respect for good waitpeople after
her tenure. It's harder than it looks.

No, put the bill for the wages where they belong... on the
*employer*.

I don't know, I like the thought that the waiter/waitress is working for ME.
Just imagine what kind of service you'd get in a restaurant if the waitstaff
was salaried. There would be no incentive for them to work for you, just as
long as the boss is happy, and he/she's not around most of the time.

I think the problem is that a lot of people have never waited tables and
don't know how the game works. Waiters and waitresses are really working for
YOU, so you should pay them accordingly. You are in charge here. If your
waiter does a lousy job, tip very little (more insulting than not tipping at
all) AND complain to the manager. But, if you get decent to great service,
you're just being cheap if you don't tip. Either that, or you are ignorant
to the facts I just outlined.

Now, about linespeople, *I* am ignorant about that.

-Trent
PP-ASEL