A few weeks ago a couple of friends and I went to a sit-down restaurant ordering drinks and food. There was a group of six and we were socializing, enjoying one another’s company. Even though our food was great, and we had a nice time laughing and eating with one another, our service was unsatisfactory. When it came time for checks, we all questioned what we should tip our waitress even though the service was not good. Each of one us having our different mindsets on how much to tip.
The status quo for tipping is always 20%, but then this brings up a systemic injustice. The 20% tip impacts both the One and the Other in this situation. The One being the guest enjoying the food and drinks with family and friends. They have the whole right to determine what amount to tip, if anything at all. The Other in this situation is the server who must act accordingly to the One even if a poor tip will be received. This subject of restaurant tipping servers as a systemic injustice because whether the service done was impeccable or poor, the One determines how much the Other receives, determining their salary.
From recent studies, it shows that different ages, genders, regions of living and amounts of income show different patterns of tipping their waiters. Referring specifically to age generations, millennials are divided when it comes to tipping their waiters. Millennials show tipping percentages are lower, even nothing at all. In the perspective of the waiters, it could be undermining and frustrating if assigned to a table of teenagers. The salary received of the time those guests are staying could be tremendously different if an older family were to be seated.
For example, the CBS News video shows the anger of a service industry worker receiving zero tip on a large order she received. This example is shown from a church fellowship group full of all ages, not just millennials. In order to create change and point out the injustice she encountered; she describes her situation on Facebook which populated many feeds across the nation. These personal remarks can right the wrong of the systemic injustices. Her story can bring the frustration of servers to the forefront and show people to remember to tip the servers generously because that is their source of income. Restaurant managers can also take these situations into their own hands. If a waiter is tipped poorly for their service throughout the night, figure out why and what others circumstances were in play. They should grant their employees for the countless amounts of hours day and night that they work.
Resources:
https://civicscience.com/over-12-of-people-who-dont-tip-at-restaurants-are-millennials/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J35U9uCSbxs