Wilson wrote on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:30:34 -0400:

> sometime in the recent past Dan Logcher posted this:
>> robert ratskywatsky wrote:
>>
>>> I was listening to an old 1940's radio show and they
>>> mentioned that the standard tip then was 10%. I hate the
>>> whole concept of tipping. It's like the optional dispensing of
>>> charity by a benevolent, or not benevolent as the case
>>> may be, master to the servants. The only time I ever worked
>>> for tips was when i drove a taxicab on the night shift in
>>> NYC while attending college. I hated the whole tipping
>>> business. I was working hard. Why did i have to depend upon charity?
>>> Tipping is not practiced in many countries, like
>>> Japan for instance.
>>
>> I don't understand why people always view this as master and servant.
>> Someone has to bring the food to us and take away
>> the dirty plates, else we're eating at a cafeteria. And when
>> I go out to eat, I want good food not crap. My general rule is 15%
>> for average service, less for bad service and more for
>> better service. I do 10% at buffet and Dim Sum.
>>
> And more, restaurants in the US do not pay minimum wage as a
> rule. Here in Maine, we just changed the minimum wage to
> $7.50/hr. and it says that it doesn't have a student or
> training wage. But,
>> Tipped employees must be paid at least one-half minimum wage.
>> If this rate plus tips for the week does not average the
>> minimum wage, the employer must pay the difference.

Interesting! I know there are special minimum wages for waiters in most
US states but I believe this is not the case in Europe where the regular
(and high) minimum wage must be paid.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not