Waiting staff earnings in USA

[ATG]

Jasandjules said:

The Moose said:

It's actually quite straight forward and the good thing is that the wait staff are motivated to provide more than the bare minimum level of service.

OR, pay them a good wage and they will be motivated to work hard in any event to keep nice earning job.

Quite. It's a st system. Normal economics says you negotiate the price before the goods are delivered. It is bonkers to make the payoff arbitrary. Do the French have this sort of tipping culture? No. Do you get excellent waiting staff in France? Yes you do. They aren't deferential and they expect to be treated like adults, which some people mistake for arrogance, but look how many tables they each cover, look how much they know about the food and booze on offer, and look how they manage their covers without being pushy. And that includes very reasonably priced restaurants.

[RowntreesCabana]

The Moose said:

Ironically would work out more expensive for the consumer.

Also, if people know they are going to get paid anyway, they are more likely to offer a lower level of service.

So what happens when you provide great service for the day and you happen to serve table after table of people who cannot afford a decent tip or are simply just too tight? Bad luck?

On the second point, that can be sorted out with decent training and good management.

There's a balance required, sadly the whole concept of balance and fairness seems lost on a lot of people today as the gap between the rich and poor increases.

[jogger1976]

My niece works part-time in a diner while at college.
It's in Canada, so not exactly the same, but while I was visiting over Xmas she made over £100 in tips on more than one occasion.

She got to keep it all to herself, so not a bad little earner.