This subject is generally taboo for the english. I like to think that we are generally observant. If you look in supermarkets and generally the shops they in turn are asking for staff. So the wage issue is not a real problem.....
When I go over I visit G**D*N C****l to eat which was not in high season, place is generally full. If a waiter/waitress gets 2$ per table serving ten tables an hour. They in turn are earning better than we.
This was on the 192 so international drive earnings ????
I'm not trying to figure out why the software bleeped out the name of that restaurant...very odd.
Is there not another big advantage for staff heavily reliant on tips for their income - it makes for a very cash based income. There would be little way to actually check the income of staff, without stalking them, therefore surely there are big advantages to the staff in what they declare for tax purposes. We were also amazed at the buffets in Las Vegas, even in the cheaper ones, that the custom is to leave one to two dollars after your meal for your server. This server only basically would get a couple of drinks and clear your table after your meal. While we sat and had breakfast one morning at Circus Circus the server was taking in probably 20 - 30 $ an hour, not a bad rate!
The other one that amazed me was getting a taxi once from the Monte Carlo hotel, again in Vegas, there was a queue for taxis and a doorman basically asking where you were going, calling over a taxi, they to were queued up, opening one of the doors for and telling the taxi driver where you are going. For this he would expect at least a dollar tip. Now there may be some times that he had to put some bags into the trunk of the cab, but he must have been dispatching people at the rate of one cab a minute, so the maths is quite staggering. I am quite happy to tip waiting staff appropriately, and I think a small tip after poor service is better than no tip, but I did think that to tip this chap for calling a taxi over, opening a door and saying two words to the driver was a bit much, especially when we had no luggage.
I did hear that for some positions with a high income from tips, like our chap above, they are unpaid, or even have to pay to have the position. I am not sure about the truth in that, but you could imagine that there would be some competition for these positions.
we also tip the bus drivers on tours.....or for driving us to and from Disney etc.......I've noticed a lot of Brits don't.....quote:Originally posted by MTP
Is there not another big advantage for staff heavily reliant on tips for their income - it makes for a very cash based income. There would be little way to actually check the income of staff, without stalking them, therefore surely there are big advantages to the staff in what they declare for tax purposes. We were also amazed at the buffets in Las Vegas, even in the cheaper ones, that the custom is to leave one to two dollars after your meal for your server. This server only basically would get a couple of drinks and clear your table after your meal. While we sat and had breakfast one morning at Circus Circus the server was taking in probably 20 - 30 $ an hour, not a bad rate!
The other one that amazed me was getting a taxi once from the Monte Carlo hotel, again in Vegas, there was a queue for taxis and a doorman basically asking where you were going, calling over a taxi, they to were queued up, opening one of the doors for and telling the taxi driver where you are going. For this he would expect at least a dollar tip. Now there may be some times that he had to put some bags into the trunk of the cab, but he must have been dispatching people at the rate of one cab a minute, so the maths is quite staggering. I am quite happy to tip waiting staff appropriately, and I think a small tip after poor service is better than no tip, but I did think that to tip this chap for calling a taxi over, opening a door and saying two words to the driver was a bit much, especially when we had no luggage.
I did hear that for some positions with a high income from tips, like our chap above, they are unpaid, or even have to pay to have the position. I am not sure about the truth in that, but you could imagine that there would be some competition for these positions.
Cleaning up a table after someone eaten is a nasty job....even if you've had a buffet and helped yourself to food......leaving a dollar is a cheap thank you for a clean table......
Thinking about it..I'm sure we would also leave a tip for the cleaners at the end of our visit if we had stayed in a Villa.....like we do every morning at a hotel......I think its just habit now.....
Don't disagree with you, Chrizzy, but the diners were clearing the tables and puting there trays and dishes onto appropriate racks, all the cleaner was doing was wiping the table with a damp cloth. I would also think that the local health office would be very interested in any food serving establishment that didn't provide clean tables.quote:
Cleaning up a table after someone eaten is a nasty job....even if you've had a buffet and helped yourself to food.....
Bus drivers, cleaners I can understand, yo feel that they have done something to warrent their tip, especially if they do something special, like the disney cleaners have done when we have stayed in the hotels.
Disney cleaners do a really good job......I love staying in those hotels......they have the only beds that don't give me a bad back when I'm away......I'll still use the hotels at the weekends sometimes.......even having a home down in Orlando......quote:Originally posted by MTP
Don't disagree with you, Chrizzy, but the diners were clearing the tables and puting there trays and dishes onto appropriate racks, all the cleaner was doing was wiping the table with a damp cloth. I would also think that the local health office would be very interested in any food serving establishment that didn't provide clean tables.quote:
Cleaning up a table after someone eaten is a nasty job....even if you've had a buffet and helped yourself to food.....
Bus drivers, cleaners I can understand, yo feel that they have done something to warrent their tip, especially if they do something special, like the disney cleaners have done when we have stayed in the hotels.
You know i love it when im called a Brit, Im English and proud of it
Anyway, this subject is interesting, I think it lies in the fact that we (Brits) dont tip
as it seems the service type jobs in England obviously pay minimum wage or more and so the
staff are not as reliant on tips. It seems in America it's the reverse. I also think you
can tell the difference in the quality of service as well (better in America im afraid)
I agree about when in Rome etc, but to be fair to us Brits, it feels odd to tip and even
against our way of life, so it is hard and you are almost embarrased to tip. Or you feel
that you have to which I feel is wrong. Mind you we did tip, only once did we not tip and
that was to show that we were not happy, even though they could tell they did nothing to
appease the situation. So I thought a 'No tip' or a penny tip would prove the point.
When we went to pick up our hire car, the chap showed us the car and how to work the basics
and did seem to be standing around waiting for a tip, I was busy loading the bags and he walked
away. My wife said she thought he wanted a tip, but he had only walked us about 5 yards ?? so
I wouldnt have thought he deserved one ??
Anyway as I said this is an interesting subject to dicuss over a coffee or something
Chrisj
In England...we have family income support ..so you don't need to make up your wages in tips etc.....the British tax payer does it for you.....you get no help at all in the USA...quote:Originally posted by chrisj
You know i love it when im called a Brit, Im English and proud of it
Anyway, this subject is interesting, I think it lies in the fact that we (Brits) dont tip
as it seems the service type jobs in England obviously pay minimum wage or more and so the
staff are not as reliant on tips. It seems in America it's the reverse. I also think you
can tell the difference in the quality of service as well (better in America im afraid)
I agree about when in Rome etc, but to be fair to us Brits, it feels odd to tip and even
against our way of life, so it is hard and you are almost embarrased to tip. Or you feel
that you have to which I feel is wrong. Mind you we did tip, only once did we not tip and
that was to show that we were not happy, even though they could tell they did nothing to
appease the situation. So I thought a 'No tip' or a penny tip would prove the point.
When we went to pick up our hire car, the chap showed us the car and how to work the basics
and did seem to be standing around waiting for a tip, I was busy loading the bags and he walked
away. My wife said she thought he wanted a tip, but he had only walked us about 5 yards ?? so
I wouldnt have thought he deserved one ??
Anyway as I said this is an interesting subject to dicuss over a coffee or something
My friends husband took home one hundred pounds a week for over 40 hours work in a supermarket in England.... to feed etc him his wife and 4 kids......but.....he had free housing...he paid no healthcare....no tax....and had a top up of one hundred pounds from the Gov each week....plus family allowance .....if that happened in the USA ...there would be no need for tips here......
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