We interviewed someone who worked in a medium sized chain restaurant. They told us that they received none of the service charge. However, if a customer declined to pay the service charge, that amount was taken from their wages. Nice eh?!
By the way Dan, we don’t have a restaurant anymore. And we don’t want one.
Hopefully not! There’s been a new law passed called the Allocation of Tips Act which makes it mandatory to pass all tips & service charges onto the workers.
I worked at a restaurant in Exeter many years ago where if I was tipped on a card, the owners would deduct the value of the tip from my hourly wage. So if I made £3.50 and a table tipped me £5, I would not get paid for that hour nor part of the next hour. I survived two weeks in that place then moved on following an almighty row with the managers.
I probably am an outlier but I don’t think I am that different from other diners in saying that I tip 10-20% .
I don’t care as long as the food and service is good. I don’t care.
I just don’t understand the whinging justification. I don’t understand the complaint about taxes. EVERYONE pays taxes.
I worked in restaurants for a short time and I understand that restaurant workers are grossly underpaid in most restaurants. The wait staff in particular often don’t make a living wage.
I think the diners who complain about high prices are usually cheap a$$holes and complain about everything. They’re NOT your core audience.
Just pay ALL your employees a fair wage and put out beautiful food and I will be happy.
If your employees have to be on assistance to work in your restaurant taxes and tips are not the problem.
I agree. It sounds like you’re in a reasonably privileged financial position to not care about the cost of eating out.
While my restaurants aren’t cheap, I think it’s still pertinent to acknowledge that a large portion of our guests have - at least moderate - concerns about the increased cost of eating out. There has certainly been more discussion from some people that don’t love the way service charge is added on.
The truth is, if we were to eradicate the existing system, every party (guests, staff, and business) would feel the extra cost.
Also an important side note, I’m certainly not moaning about paying taxes. As you rightly pointed out, everyone has to pay tax. I would, however, say that most people don’t voluntarily pay more tax than is required, which is what’s fundamental to the article.
On your penultimate point. I completely agree. Staff should be paid a fair wage. In fact, it’s the whole premise of my argument for the removal of service charge. Unfortunately, the way things are structured in the UK means that every party is disincentivised from paying a higher base salary without service charge. The whole system is set up to encourage lower base pay, with a service charge top up. Wrong, but it’s the way things are.
I probably AM privileged financially although I budget for dining out and cook at home most of the time.
I am happy to support restaurants that pay their employees fairly. How do I know if they do? I ask. You probably wouldn’t be surprised how much information waitstaff share with guests if asked.
We interviewed someone who worked in a medium sized chain restaurant. They told us that they received none of the service charge. However, if a customer declined to pay the service charge, that amount was taken from their wages. Nice eh?!
By the way Dan, we don’t have a restaurant anymore. And we don’t want one.
That is - quite literally these days - criminal. And also an incredibly shit way to treat hard working staff!
I’m not at the point of not wanting restaurants, but I can empathise.
And it probably still happens in a lot of places.
Hopefully not! There’s been a new law passed called the Allocation of Tips Act which makes it mandatory to pass all tips & service charges onto the workers.
Good, I’m sure everyone will conform.
Certainly not, but hopefully it’ll get better.
I worked at a restaurant in Exeter many years ago where if I was tipped on a card, the owners would deduct the value of the tip from my hourly wage. So if I made £3.50 and a table tipped me £5, I would not get paid for that hour nor part of the next hour. I survived two weeks in that place then moved on following an almighty row with the managers.
That’s outrageous. I’m impressed you stuck around for two weeks.
I was young, foreign and needed the money 😆 this was also about 2003 for reference.
Wow! That’s mad.
I’m curious: how often do customers decline to pay the service charge or ask to change the amount?
Maybe a couple of times a year tops. Although we’re very proactive with removing the service charge if we feel we’ve missed the mark.
Anecdotally, I’ve noticed it more at Lapin (city centre) than BANK (neighbourhood).
I probably am an outlier but I don’t think I am that different from other diners in saying that I tip 10-20% .
I don’t care as long as the food and service is good. I don’t care.
I just don’t understand the whinging justification. I don’t understand the complaint about taxes. EVERYONE pays taxes.
I worked in restaurants for a short time and I understand that restaurant workers are grossly underpaid in most restaurants. The wait staff in particular often don’t make a living wage.
I think the diners who complain about high prices are usually cheap a$$holes and complain about everything. They’re NOT your core audience.
Just pay ALL your employees a fair wage and put out beautiful food and I will be happy.
If your employees have to be on assistance to work in your restaurant taxes and tips are not the problem.
I agree. It sounds like you’re in a reasonably privileged financial position to not care about the cost of eating out.
While my restaurants aren’t cheap, I think it’s still pertinent to acknowledge that a large portion of our guests have - at least moderate - concerns about the increased cost of eating out. There has certainly been more discussion from some people that don’t love the way service charge is added on.
The truth is, if we were to eradicate the existing system, every party (guests, staff, and business) would feel the extra cost.
Also an important side note, I’m certainly not moaning about paying taxes. As you rightly pointed out, everyone has to pay tax. I would, however, say that most people don’t voluntarily pay more tax than is required, which is what’s fundamental to the article.
On your penultimate point. I completely agree. Staff should be paid a fair wage. In fact, it’s the whole premise of my argument for the removal of service charge. Unfortunately, the way things are structured in the UK means that every party is disincentivised from paying a higher base salary without service charge. The whole system is set up to encourage lower base pay, with a service charge top up. Wrong, but it’s the way things are.
I probably AM privileged financially although I budget for dining out and cook at home most of the time.
I am happy to support restaurants that pay their employees fairly. How do I know if they do? I ask. You probably wouldn’t be surprised how much information waitstaff share with guests if asked.