I'm in Canada, so maybe things are a bit different here, but I doubt
it's too different. I can tell you this:
I worked at a major bank for 23 years and travelled a lot on business.
Our guideline for tipping was 12.5% for restaurant meals, before tax
(works out to 1/8).
For the past 10 years I've worked with my wife in her accounting
business and have seen literally thousands of restaurant receipts.
Despite what servers may tell you (they do have a self-interest here),
people rarely tip more than 15%. Most are in the 10%-12.5% range. My
nephew works at a restaurant and tells me the same.
Personally, I feel cheap leaving that little. Maybe I've been
intimidated. Anyway, I usually leave 15% (which works out to be the
same as the tax), more at cheap places (you can't spend percents).
I've seen restaurant menus (especially in the US) that indicate that
they'll add a mandatory tip of 16% or even 18% for groups. No doubt
they would like customers to tip more - it reduces the pressure on them
to pay people. Every jurisdiction has two different minimum wages, one
for people who normally don't get tips and a lower one for people who
do. The more that tipping rises, the greater that spread becomes, so
tipping more generously doesn't wind up raising anyone's income. Are
waitstaff in North America better off than in places that have little or
no tipping, like Australia and much of Europe? I doubt it. |