BYU NewsNet - Etiquette Tips Offer Guidance

Countless students in the Provo area depend on jobs in the service industry to support themselves and their families. But many people don't realize servers are also dependent on the generosity of others, relying on tips to subsidize their often below-minimum wage salaries.

Tipping is something many people are not fully informed about, but should be aware of. Although tipping depends on the quality of service and other factors, there are still guidelines that should be followed to ensure everyone is satisfied.

At sit-down restaurants, it is a general rule of thumb to tip 15 to 20 percent of the bill before tax, depending on the quality of the service. But what should be tipped at other types of less formal restaurants?

Servers still depend on tips at restaurants like Guru's on Center Street in Provo, where food is ordered at a counter and then delivered to the table. Sarah Kelley, a theatre arts education senior and server at Guru's, said unfortunately it is common for people not to tip, especially in a predominantly student town. She said people assume because they have already paid at the counter they are not obligated to tip for the additional services provided such as delivery of food, drink re-fills and clearing of tables. Servers get a higher pay at Guru's than the state-mandated $2.13 per hour, but it is still below minimum wage.

"If you just leave even $1 for each person at the table, it supplements our wages and makes it worthwhile," Kelley said.

Not everyone feels it is their responsibility to tip, though. Lucy Beutler, a finance professor in the School of Family Life, questions the ethics of tipping.

"Especially in today's economy when you're already paying a good price for the service, why does tipping have to be an add-on?" Beutler wondered. She said she feels frustrated by constantly being asked to tip for various services after paying a premium price and questions why, if employers value their staff, they don't pay them more.

"When I teach a class, I don't stand at the door and ask my students to give me a tip for my lecture," Beutler said. "In fact, I'd probably be fired if I did."

Etiquette expert Emily Post offers her opinions about tipping on her Web site, emilypost.com. For beauty services, 15-20 percent is customary, divided among all those who assisted in the service. Valets should receive between $2 and $5.

Lucy Paez, a 5 Buck Pizza employee, usually earns a $2 tip per delivery. However, with gas prices rising, Paez thinks tips should increase to $3 or $4 per delivery.

When picking up take-out food, Post explains that no tip is necessary. Even though there is a space to fill in a tip when paying by credit card, it can be left blank. If the employee went above and beyond their job to help then it is acceptable to leave up to 10 percent.

When traveling, although it can get expensive, it is important to tip those who help make your stay more comfortable. Post suggests tipping the bellhop $2 for the first bag he carries and $1 for each additional bag. Housekeeping should be given $2-5 daily. Each time a concierge assists the guest in making a reservation or obtaining tickets, he or she should receive $5, or $10 if either was hard to get. Taxi drivers should receive a 15 percent tip plus an extra dollar or two if he or she helps with bags or does an exceptional job of giving a tour of the city.

When traveling overseas, tipping is different. Angelina Bena, 21, a senior majoring in public health, learned the hard way. After a bad meal in Budapest, she thought she would make a point by leaving a 10 percent tip. It wasn't until the next day while reading in her Rick Steves' Best of Europe guidebook that she realized her mistake. The guidebook explained that tips for service are usually included in bills in Europe, whether added on to the total or in the price of the food. If a meal is exceptional then it is acceptable to tip five percent. Otherwise, don't worry about leaving a tip; at most leave a euro or two.

"Tipping is not like it is in the United States," Bena said. "If you try and tip too much, Europeans can get offended. They make much better money over there and they don't rely on their tips."

The most important thing to remember when tipping is that it should always be earned. On Emily Post's Web site the suggestion is to "reward good service generously and reduce the tip proportionately for indifferent or rude service. A good rule of thumb is 10 percent if the service is mediocre and 8 percent if it's really poor. That way, you help to raise the standard of service. Leaving no tip does not correct the problem of poor service."