Many waiters and waitresses who work in fine dining restaurants pride themselves on the quality of service they provide their guests. They expect a 20% tip on the total bill in return for their hospitality and work. And many restaurant patrons are willing to pay their waitress for her tending to their wants and needs while dining out but, unfortunately, not all customers are quite as generous.
Restaurant Management
Fortunately, many restaurants include on their menus notice of the policy to include gratuities for larger parties. Each restaurant defines what makes a "larger" party. It can be as few as 5 people or at least 8 or an even higher minimum. Waitresses must know the policy where they work.
Most often when automatic gratuities are enforced, 18% is added to the pre-tax total of the bill. This is called an "auto-grat." Some restaurant managers allow the waitress to decide whether she wants to auto-grat or take her chances with the table.
Waitress Skills and Waitress Tips
A good waitress working in a good restaurant knows she can make 20% on the taxed total with many of her tables. She may feel pensive about adding on the gratuity because she prides herself on her excellent service and thinks it should speak for itself.
The relationship between a waitress and her customers is strictly business. She is providing skill and labor in return for financial compensation directly from the customer. She does not work for free.
Once comfortable with the idea of auto-grating a large party, the key is to predict as accurately as possible whether she will make more money letting the customer decide how much to tip or with an 18% tip on the pre-tax total.
Cheapskates and Bad Tippers
Not everybody eating out on a budget is a cheapskate. While it is impossible to know the future, there are signs that seasoned waitresses will tell rookies to look for when waiting on large parties:
- Remember customers. When previous bad tippers bring a group of friends, auto-grat.
- Pay attention to how people order. They may seem relaxed and ready to pay for a good time. If they seem nervous or are sharing items, they may be cutting corners to save money. The waitress is a corner they may choose to cut, too.
- A large party that drinks only water may be cutting corners.
- If a party is hemming and hawing over whether to spring for a bottle of wine or arguing over whether they should order dessert, auto-grat. Arguing about what to order is always a bad sign.
- Parties who ask for a third basket of bread should be auto-grated- they didn't order enough food.
- Sometimes one member of the party will indicate he or she wants the bill. Pay attention to how that person ordered and is behaving when deciding whether to auto-grat.
- When the bill starts to get especially high, some customers tend to round down on the tip. The definition of "high" is regional and therefore varies.
- People on vacation are less likely to tip as well because they will not be back soon. If tourists come in as a large party, auto-grat.
Separate Checks
When parties ask for separate checks, it is a hard call whether to auto-grat. Asking for separate checks indicates that people are unwilling to pay extra for each other; they may be unwilling to pay "extra" for the service, as well. On the other hand, 20% on the smaller check is still less money than on the entire bill, and the person may be more willing to tip well if only paying for him- or herself.
Avoid Stereotyping
Last, do not stereotype. Good and bad tippers come in all shapes, sizes, genders, ages and colors. Watch and remember behavior.
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