How Much Should I Tip Food Service Workers?

by Cornelius Nunev

Times are tough, and you may balk at having to pay a tip nowadays, when your paycheck is already stretched. But remember that waiters and waitresses are working people too. Below are some suggestions about tipping traditions in the 21st Century.

<strong>Stiffing the help</strong>

As reported in Detroit News, one diner in California recently stiffed a waiter, leaving a card instead of a tip. On the card the deadbeat wrote, "I must cut back on discretionary spending and gratuities. I wish it didn't have to be this way for both of us."

<strong>Workers depend on tips</strong>

But chances are that waiter or waitress is struggling, too, and depends heavily on those tips to pay the bills.

Lennie Copeland from Record Searchlight talked to a restaurant worker who said, "If you can afford to eat out, you can afford to tip. Otherwise, stick to macaroni and cheese at home."

The federal minimum wage is $7.50 an hour, though restaurant workers can make $2.13 an hour. It is expected to come out closer to $15 to $20 an hour with tips, according to Copeland.

Workers have to share tips with other people in the restaurant usually, according to Wes Babcock at Cattlemen's Steakhouse. On top of it, the IRS expects that employees are getting tips and needs a minimum 8 percent for tax purposes. Then there is the 12 percent rule where the IRS will check out a business that is reporting less than 12 percent.

<strong>Tipping guidelines 101</strong>

Here are few common suggestions for tipping.

A few older diners may remember when 10 percent was customary for nearly all tipping. Today a little more is anticipated. According to etiquette experts, today it is customary to give 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax bill to waiters and waitresses.

You only need a five to 10 percent tips at a buffet, according to Tipping.org, since you are serving yourself.

You never need to pay more than 50 cents to $2 at a coffee or deli counter assuming you spend less than $30.

Tipthepizzaguy explained that picking up a to-go order at a restaurant usually needs a 10 percent tip.

A minimum $3 tip when someone delivers pizza is anticipated, though it should be about 15 percent.



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