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Why are tips for waiting staff so poor

Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2020 9:24pm
34 replies1412 views11 members subscribed
LLT

Posts: 38

19 helpful points

Location: Elche

Joined: 15 Jul 2019

I'm not certain that the general public are aware of how little waiting staff in our local restaurants are paid ? The general pay would be consideted as minimum wage and staff rely on tips to supplement wages. In general service is very good and realistically staff should be anticipating at least a 10% tip. However this is not the case 90% of the time. Are the expat community so strapped for cash that they cannot add a little extra to help the waiter/ waitress. During lockdown most staff did not recieve any pay. In case you didn't know waiting staff are mostly uncontracted employees and therefore not entitled to any government support. I have first hand knowledge that tips can be so low, despite customers thanking staff for excellent service that waiting staff are feeling abused, and unappreciated. Surely we can do better. If service is good then we should be giving at least 10% minimum. Let's make sure waiting staff feel appreciated and are able to take home at least the equivalent of a living wage. It is a difficult and sometimes challenging job.

Let the staff know you care. 

LeckyLes

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:08am

LeckyLes

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Location: Cabo Roig

Joined: 3 Aug 2018

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:08am

LLT, In my experience, as long as decent Service has been provided, tips to staff in Restaurants etc are always at least 10%, but it is up to the Customer whether he or she decides to leave one.

Here is a 'Tip' from me to you. : Dont preach to me on what I should or should not do with my money. Gracias ! 

LeckyLes 

Peter3473

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 1:31am

Peter3473

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Location: Torrevieja

Joined: 21 Oct 2019

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 1:31am

Always like to leave a tip, but I also like to use my local bar and shops as often as I can to give them support they well deserve.

Movingon

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 8:02am

Movingon

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Location: Albatera

Joined: 7 Feb 2018

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 8:02am

Tipping is not the norm in Spain so no, it's not the case that staff "should be anticipating at least a 10% tip" and I challenge the op to prove their claim that it's causing them to feel abused, and unappreciated.   

The tone of the post makes me wonder if the op has a personal axe to grind here (working at one of the bars or restaurants in Hondon perhaps) and is feeling aggrieved because they are accustomed to working in UK where tipping is common practice.

I'll tip when there is something to tip for and not just when someone has done the job they are employed to do and you know what, from time to time  I frequent the bars and restaurants in Hondon and a gripe like this just might give me pause the next time I'm thinking of leaving one!

LLT

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 8:45am

LLT

Original Poster

Posts: 38

19 helpful points

Location: Elche

Joined: 15 Jul 2019

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 8:45am

LeckyLes wrote on Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:08am:

LLT, In my experience, as long as decent Service has been provided, tips to staff in Restaurants etc are always at least 10%, but it is up to the Customer whether he or she decides to leave one.

Here is a 'Tip' from me to you. : Dont preach to me on what I should or should not do with my money. Gracias ! ...

...

LeckyLes 

Apologies don't mean to preach. Just want to highlight the plight of waiting staff who are feeling undervalued. 

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John56

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 9:29am

John56

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5634 helpful points

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Joined: 7 Jul 2016

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 9:29am

LLT wrote on Wed Jun 24, 2020 8:45am:

Apologies don't mean to preach. Just want to highlight the plight of waiting staff who are feeling undervalued. 

Tipping should only be in appreciation of good service not a means of supplementing their income.

tebo53

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 9:29am

tebo53

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Posts: 4816

5013 helpful points

Location: Benidorm

Joined: 29 May 2018

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 9:29am

LeckyLes wrote on Wed Jun 24, 2020 12:08am:

LLT, In my experience, as long as decent Service has been provided, tips to staff in Restaurants etc are always at least 10%, but it is up to the Customer whether he or she decides to leave one.

Here is a 'Tip' from me to you. : Dont preach to me on what I should or should not do with my money. Gracias ! ...

...

LeckyLes 

I agree wholeheartedly with LeckyLes.

Here in Benidorm I know several waiting staff who are just happy to have a paid position. When I go out for a meal and the food, and especially the attitude of the server is good then I'll leave a tip which can be more than 10%. I don't give to beggars on the streets because they have an attitude like the OP who thinks we should give.

Steve 

LLT

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 9:50am

LLT

Original Poster

Posts: 38

19 helpful points

Location: Elche

Joined: 15 Jul 2019

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 9:50am

John56 wrote on Wed Jun 24, 2020 9:29am:

Tipping should only be in appreciation of good service not a means of supplementing their income.

I whole heartedly agree. However this is not always the case and waiting staff rely on tips to supplement poor pay. Also some owners use tips to balance the till at the end of the night. So if mistakes are made and tables leave without paying or wrong change is given the shortfall is taken out of tips which have accumulated. Very mean spirited of the owners and not what the tip was intended for. 

Andyb1208

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 10:01am

Andyb1208

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Posts: 375

292 helpful points

Location: Playa Flamenca

Joined: 27 May 2016

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 10:01am

LLT wrote on Wed Jun 24, 2020 9:50am:

I whole heartedly agree. However this is not always the case and waiting staff rely on tips to supplement poor pay. Also some owners use tips to balance the till at the end of the night. So if mistakes are made and tables leave without paying or wrong change is given the shortfall is taken out of...

... tips which have accumulated. Very mean spirited of the owners and not what the tip was intended for. 

What owners keep the tips to tally the books? Name and shame, as that is a libelous statement to make about restaurant owners if you have no proof.

A tip is a gratuity to show your appreciation of not only the waiters but the chefs and the owners. If your experience is excellent then 10% + is fine, but if its sub-standard then why should you tip 10% 

KR 

Andy

Andyb1208

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 10:12am

Andyb1208

Helpful member

Posts: 375

292 helpful points

Location: Playa Flamenca

Joined: 27 May 2016

Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2020 10:12am

This post that was quoted has been deleted.

Hi Ray

An excellent point

KR

Andy

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