The Debate on Tipping for Bad Service: Should Servers Be Given Tips Regardless of Quality of Service?

Tipping is a common practice in the hospitality industry, but the question arises: should servers be given tips even if the service was poor? The answer is not a simple yes or no and often depends on the specific circumstances.

Disregarding Tipping as a Reasonable Expectation

Some argue that servers and other service workers should never expect to be given free cash called an optional tip. Instead, they should rely on fair and livable wages from their employers. This perspective argues that service providers should not be expected to work for tips, and the stated price for services should cover the cost adequately.

Example: 'Servers and anyone else should never expect to be given free cash called an optional tip. We never pay tips anywhere ever. We pay what is the stated price. Servers should expect and demand fair liveable wages from employers and never work for tips.'

Contextualizing Tipping Decisions

Others believe that tipping should depend on the situation. For instance, if the service is poor due to factors beyond the server's control, such as a busy kitchen or a high volume of customers, tipping should be adjusted accordingly. However, if the server is at fault, such as being lazy, impolite, or inattentive, tipping should be withheld.

Example: 'Expect No. Would like Probably. It all depends on where the breakdown occurred. If it’s very busy or the server is overloaded with tables it may not be their fault. If the kitchen is backed up or has issues it may not be their fault. However if the server is just being lazy, impolite, rude, or even inattentive - it’s their fault and will be tipped or not tipped accordingly. My take anyway. People should treat each other with respect and dignity. Customers and service providers alike.'

Tipping as a Last Resort

There are those who maintain that tipping should only occur as a last resort, and that good service should be the expected norm. However, in the absence of guaranteed fair wages, many service workers rely on tips to make ends meet.

Example: 'Tipping should be abolished entirely and replaced with appropriate salaries for the servers. However until that happens the people rely on tips because much of the time they are paid peanuts. A messed up order can be a result of simple mistake and these things happen. I wouldn’t crucify a waiter/ess for a mistake. Bad attitude is another matter.'

Individual Tipping Practices

Many individuals have their own tipping practices, influenced by their personal experiences and the quality of service received. Some round up the after-tax amount and tip at least 20%, while others reduce the tip based on the quality of service and the attitude of the server.

Example: 'I usually round up the after tax amount and tip at least 20. I also round up the total payment. If service was truly horrible, server’s fault, I’d tip only 10.'

Example: 'My mum was a server for years and years so I always try to tip something. The only way Id not tip at all is if the server was extremely incompetent and didn’t seem concerned about it or was willfully hostile. If the server is making a good effort they’ll get my standard tip which is 20-25. If they’re kind of just phoning it in and there are errors I might tip less. For example I was at a restaurant recently and ordered a breakfast. She asked me what meat I wanted and I said ‘bacon’. She then asked ‘patties or links’ I said ‘bacon’. I ordered hash browns and got home fries. I got the wrong drink. And she brought me a cup of soup instead of a bowl. She was just not even trying. So she got a tip but not a huge one because she was barely bothering to pay attention when I ordered. Now if she was new or super busy but at least trying to get it right Id have probably tipped the usual because her attempt was there and she had the proper attitude about it. It’s pretty much a case by case thing. Performance counts but so does attitude. If someone gives good service but spends the whole meals worth of interactions with me complaining about how they’ve worked six days in a row or they didn’t get a break yet or about other workers. Unprofessional behavior makes me want to reduce the tip as well.'

Conclusion

The debate on tipping for bad service involves a complex interplay of factors, including the quality of service, fairness of wages, and personal views on tipping. Whatever side of the argument one falls on, it is clear that the conversation around tipping is not a settled matter.