Do you think restaurants should automatically add a percentage gratuity to your bill?

We say no they should not. You should make the final decision as to whether a tip is deserved.

Permalink Reply by JaWar on August 31, 2008 at 8:34am: Adding a gratuity to one's bill isn't a gratuity it is robbery. After all a tip or gratuity as I've always understood it is directly related to the service that is rendered by the service provider. It is assumed that when at a restaurant that if a party exceeds a certain number say five, for instance, then an automatic gratuity is added, given the servers workload and not being able to service other customers at the restaurant for that period of time..; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Michelle Porter on September 4, 2008 at 8:35am: Hi Gordon, Having worked in the restaurant industry for 30 years, I'll give you my take. It depends on the restaurant and the size of the group.

As a rule, I agree with you but for some people it's easier when they know the tip is there. They don't have to decide. I can tell you I love it on cruise ships because I don't have to think about it.

Many restaurants will add an automatic gratuity to large groups because it is common that some people in the group just fail to tip at all. It's almost as though they think no one will notice...so the average servers end up with can be under 10%.

I always felt that servers earn more when there is NOT an automatic tip. But then, there are the dishonest ones who try to hide the tip in the bill so they get double tipped. I have fired people for that. :)

Service would have to be pretty poor do not be deserved at all. Depending on the state, they make minimum wage for tipped employees, which in Ohio was 2.13 per hour. Michigan was 2.52. (I left the biz 3 years ago, so don't know where it's at now.). It is plain hard work and extremely stressful. Many people would not have the organization skills to wait tables.

Michelle; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Gordon on February 4, 2009 at 1:36pm: Michelle,
Thank you for your informed comment. Do I have your permission to post your comments on my website without/with your name attached thereto?
Gordon; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Clint Steiner on February 6, 2009 at 5:38pm: NO!

I am tired of staff expecting a tip when they do a terrible job. I have no problem figuring out the tip so I don't want 15% automatically calculated when the staff did a crappy job.; ▶ Reply to This