Two weeks ago Anthony Davis received a $75 tip from a group of out-of-towners who could not believe the low price of alcoholic drinks in Athens' bars.
But for the most part, the bartender of four years does not run into many high tippers during his shifts at The Pigskin.
The generosity is appreciated
Davis said. The majority of people just basically don't tip at all or they'll leave just 50 cents.
In Ohio, employers must pay tipped employees a minimum of $3.50 an hour, which should total the $7 minimum wage when combined with tips, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Web site.
On a slow day, however, it is possible that an employee might not generate enough tips to equal minimum wage, said Annette Graham, professor and coordinator for the Ohio University food, nutrition and hospitality programs.
Courtney Hupp, a server at Buffalo Wild Wings, makes an average of $13.50 an hour including tips. Employees are required to claim at least 15 percent of their total sales as gratuity, but on some days her tips do not reach that mark, Hupp said. Tips for alcoholic beverages are generally less than for meals, but both involve interactive service work that deserve a gratuity, Graham said.
Many factors that influence the quality of service in a restaurant, like the amount of time to prepare the meal, could affect customer tipping but are out of the server's control, she said.
Not tipping a server well sometimes isn't the right motivation Graham said. A good server will never blame the kitchen ... at least not to the customer.
Bartenders
What the professional says: The average tipping range for drinks is 10 to 15 percent, Graham said. I think you should do it drink by drink. You're going to get your next drink faster she said.
What the bartender said: Davis said he does not expect much more than $1 a drink, but when he is preparing several drinks with multiple mixers a larger tip is appreciated.
What the student said: I usually leave an extra dollar
said Sea Brooks, a fifth-year student studying political science. After the first two drinks, however, Brooks usually stops tipping.
Restaurant Servers
What the professional said:-
for really good service you're looking at almost 25 percent
she said.
What the server said: Tipping 20 percent is the appropriate amount, and customers ideally should avoid tipping less than $2 for each person at the table, Hupp said.
What the student said: Jessie Farris, a sophomore studying hearing, speech and language therapy, said she usually tips 20 percent at restaurants. I've worked in restaurants and dealt with peopleG? and I know that a lot of people don't tip
she said.
Delivery People
What the professional says: The tip for delivery orders should be about 20 percent to account for gas prices and convenience, Graham said.
What the delivery person says: For deliveries in the Athens area, a $2 tip is sufficient for a $15 order, said Erin Hyman, who delivers orders for Hungry Howie's Pizza. If the order is large, customers should consider time and preparation, she said.
What the student said: Rachel Bright, a freshman who is undecided about her major, said she usually tips delivery people $2 to $4.
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