Aussies, help

[Kali]

Reading all these threads about tipping, and seeing all the food service workers complaining about low/non existent tippers, I am looking for affirmation that tipping is 100% optional in Australia (I usually tip at restaurants, but only if the service is above average and i don't tip delivery drivers)

Is this normal in Aussie?

[the lawsmeister]

as far as I'm aware there is no legal requirement to tip in australia.
Some places have surcharges for public holidays or large groups.

hospitality workers do tend to be better paid in Aus than in the US due to the award wages etc (not sure how the AWA's have affected this).

that being said I tend to tip for good service and good food.

[Enigma]

I don't believe it's legally required in the US either. I could be wrong, but I know that servers usually work off of a base pay (such as 3$/hr) and are expected to make the rest up with tips. If they don't make at least min. wage in tips, then they get up to min. wage on their check.

[Darkforge]

Tipping is not legally required in any country, its just that it some countries it is more common.

In places where waiters/barstaff get paid minimum wage or higher and then receive tips on top of that then it is fine to only tip if you recieve good service. For instance in England where the minimum wage is over £5.50 an hour most cafe's and bars don't recieve much tips whilst restaurants recieve more, I know the cafe I worked in we'd be lucky if there was more than a couple of pounds in the tip jar at the end of the week (to split between 8 or so people)

In some places like America many staff get paid very minimally ($2/hour in some cases) and rely on tips to make up the majority of their wage. In such cases you always tip an appropriate amount (10% I think) and then if you receive good service, increase the tip a little.

Always double check if gratuities are included in the bill though!!

[BlackCat]

Having lived in Australia all my life (and sadly not traveled) I can assure you I've never tipped or known anyone who generally does. I've known people that have occasionally tipped (for really good service), but generally only at the swankier restaurants (and I deeply suspect that unless you tip cash and specify that its for them, the waiter/ess wouldn't get it anyway). It's possible that the tourist trap type places are used to tipping - but it certainly isn't required, and is generally unexpected.

As the lawsmeister said, there can be surcharges for public holidays/large groups/corkage, these are generally fairly well signed/indicated though.

It has of late, however, become slightly common for mistakes/misprices to appear on the bill, so always review before paying.

[Seshat]

(In Australia) waitstaff, bartenders, and servers in general are paid a proper wage, and don't rely on tipping to make their living.

However, once you get out of the working-class to middle-class suburban areas, and into either the arty/funky/counter-culture areas or the upmarket expensive areas, tipping becomes more common. In some places, it's just a tip jar near the counter and you can drop your change in if you wish (or not if you don't), and the jar gets shared among the staff at the end of the night. In other places, especially table service places, you may (or may not) leave a percentage of your bill with the waiter/bartender/etc. Upmarket hairdressers are often tipped, as well.

Unless you're Mr Feeelthy Rich Tall-Poppy-pants, however, there's no need to leave the US-style 15-20%. The server's pay is included in your meal price.

[TheSnakeLady]

In such cases you always tip an appropriate amount (10% I think) and then if you receive good service, increase the tip a little.

In the US, 15% is standard, 20% is for good service... less than 15% is for bad service.

[the lawsmeister]

Its a bit off topic but all this talk of minimum wages and stuff has made me wonder. what is the min wage in the US and UK and what the average rent in each country. Just curious to compare the wages and cost of living that we each deal with

[Chanlin]

Ohio minimum wage for non tipped employees is $6.85 for employees who receive tips its $3.43.

Another lesser known law in Ohio, if your employer grosses less than $150,000 in yearly sales/profit then they are not required to pay overtime wages.

[marasbaras]

Ohio sucks. It's the worst in the country. We need a national minimum wage that does not make exceptions for tipped workers.

Workers shouldn't have to rely on tips to make their living.

[Chanlin]

Tell me about it. Ohio Law actually still has it on the books that an employer is not required to let you leave the company grounds during any of your breaks. I'd love to see a company try to enforce that.

[MonSqueek]

Tipping is completley optional here and usually very unexpected. Alot of people will try to turn down or question ("Are you sure?") a tip if for some exceptional reason one is offered.

Im getting the feeling from what Ive been reading on this site our working conditions are much better here. If your intrested in checking out the wages for various jobs here have a look on www.seek.com.au That is one of our main job sites (employement vacancies are listed)

[bigjimaz]

PA's Minimum Wage Law stated in part:

Overtime Rate: Workers shall be paid 1½ times their regular rate of pay after 40 hours worked in a workweek (Except as Described Below and Within).

Minimum Wage Rate: $7.15 per hour Effective July 1, 2007. $7.25 per hour Effective July 24, 2009. (Except as Described Below and Within)

Tipped Employees: An employer may pay a minimum of $2.83 per hour to an employee who makes $30.00 per month in tips. The employer must make up the difference if the tips and $2.83 do not meet the regular Pennsylvania minimum wage.

Keeping Records: Every employer must maintain accurate records of each employee's earnings and hours worked, and provide access to Labor & Industry.

Penalties: Failure to pay the legal minimum wage or other violations may result in payment of back wages and other civil or criminal action where warranted.

Exemptions: Overtime applies to certain employment classifications.

Special Allowances for: Students, learners and people with disabilities upon application only.

Training Wage for Employees Under 20 Years Old: $5.85 per hour Effective July 24, 2007, $6.55 per hour Effective July 24, 2008 only for employees under 20 years old for the first 60 calendar days of employment. After 60 days, the regular Pennsylvania minimum wage must be paid. Employers must notify these employees at the time of hire of this wage and their right to receive the regular Pennsylvania minimum wage after 60 calendar days. Current employees may not be displaced, have their hours reduced or have their wages or employment benefits reduced to allow hiring of persons eleigible for the training wage. This wage may not be used after July 24, 2009.

Employees of Businesses with the Equivalent of 10 or Less Full-Time Employees: An employer with the equivalent of 10 or less full-time employees may pay a minimum wage rate according to the following schedule: $6.65 per hour Effective July 1, 2007, $7.15 per hour Effective July 1, 2008 and $7.25 per hour Effective July 24, 2009.

[Zeeko]

(Aussie Here)

Ive recieved purhaps one or two tips ever. A lot of people say keep the change (usually not much) so I just put the change in the Blind Society Dog Jar at the front of the counter. I'd rather they get something than be having to walk about with a bunch of 5c coins all day. Plus it's going to people who need it more than me.

As for me tipping I generally only tip at places I am a regular. At work we get our coffee from a particular cafe around the corner and they know we ALWAYS buy from them. We get a discount on our coffees but we usually put more than the discount into the tip jar - I make it obvious too as it isn't a custom here in Australia though, things cost plenty here without the issues of tipping.

[rerant]

Its a bit off topic but all this talk of minimum wages and stuff has made me wonder. what is the min wage in the US and UK and what the average rent in each country. Just curious to compare the wages and cost of living that we each deal with

For Ontario the wages are as follows:
1. Minimum wage: $8/hr
2. Student minimum wage (under 18): $7.50/hr
3. Liquor servers minimum wage (bar and restaurant staff): $6.95/hr

Personally I make more than $2 above the minimum wage, and trust me when I say I still feel like I'm being royally screwed.
My ex makes roughly $22/hr at his retail job.

By 2010 the wages are to be increased to: 1. $10.25/hr, 2. $9.60/hr, 3. $8.90/hr.

But in terms of cost of living, my city (Toronto) is rather expensive. I live with my mom so she pays the rent, but for a three bedroom apartment two blocks from the lake it's $1,150/mo.
Rent for a decent place in this city won't be much less. For $600/mo you can get a pretty sweet bachelor apartment in the basement of someone's house though. /sarcasm