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Because there are no set guidelines when tipping, this can often create anxiety among vacationers and travellers. Of course, one of the biggest factors in determining how much to tip in is the quality of service. The tipping guidelines below are for good service. Any time you receive outstanding service, add a little more.
Cab Drivers
If your cab fare is less than $8, give the cabbie the change, and add $1. If the fare is $6.50, give the cabbie the 50 cents and $1 for the tip. If the fare is over $8, give the cabbie the change and $2.
Porters and Redcaps
Tipping $1 per bag is acceptable.
Bellmen
When a bellhop meets you at your car with a rolling cart, and then handles all of your bags, $5 is about right for a tip. Of course, the more bags you carry yourself, the less you should tip.
Hotel Maid Service
Upon checking out, leave from between $2 to $4 for each day you stayed. If You left it pretty messy, then add a little bit more.
Valet Parking
Tipping $2 is about right, when the valet shows some hustle and is courteous. If service is just ok, then $1 will do. Valets pool all their tips, so each individual, both arriving and leaving, will be taken care of.
Waiters
Whether at a full service restaurant, or ordering from room service, the standard gratuity should be at least 15% of the total tab before sales tax. If at a buffet or brunch, leave $2 per person for those who bring you drinks and bus your table.
Cocktail Waiters and Bartenders
Tip by each round. For two people, tip $1 for each round. If more than two people, tip $2 per round. If it is a larger group, use your judgment. If the drinks are complicated, with many different cocktail orders, then tip more. If it is a round of beers, then a smaller tip is acceptable.
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How much to tip a massage therapist can be a confusing thing. On one hand you have the spa massage therapist that can be put in the same group as nail technicians and hair stylists. Another group is sports massage therapists and medical massage therapists. Typically people in the medical profession don't receive tips for their services. Lastly, what if you are not from the United States? Different countries have different customs. For example, Canada reimburses its citizens for massage, thus massage is seen more as medical service versus a pampering service.
Below are listed the basic rules of how to tip a massage therapist:
Table Massage Tips Basic RulesMassage therapist in a spa or outcall massage (at your location) - 10-20% of the total bill.
Massage therapist in a medical environment, such as Chiropractor, etc. - normally no tipping*.
Chair Massage Tips Basic Rules
Chair massage that is paid by the customer - 10-20% of the total bill
Chair massage paid by an employer or trade show - normally no tipping*.
*If you do want to tip, ask what the establishment's guidelines are. Tipping may be against the company's policies or they might not mind. Each situation is different.
What if you don't want to tip?
An exception to all of the above is when a customer doesn't want to tip and it's not a reflection on the services they received. Customers have a right to not tip because tipping is a courtesy. Many massage therapists I know are grateful for tips and don't expect them. Tipping, and how much, is ultimately the decision of the customer.
Beware Hidden Tips
Lastly, a word of caution; in many tourist areas, a spa or salon will add a tip to the bill for the customer - without asking! This is an automatic process at many places. Then, because the customer is not aware of this, the customer will add a tip to the bill not realizing they're double tipping! This is an unfortunate reality that massage customers need to protect themselves from.
Hopefully this has answered all your massage tip questions. Remember, if in doubt; ask the massage therapist or company. They will be pleased that you care enough to want to tip.
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The History Of Restaurant Employee Tip Handling
No one knows when tipping began. But we do know that in the 1980's the IRS levied new regulations on restaurant owners to track the tips received by the employees of the restaurant.
The magic number of 8% became the benchmark for servers and waiters to declare as their tipped earned. Not because it was accurate. Rather, because it was the minimum amount allowed by the IRS.
The trick is this. Tipped employees in restaurants are generally not paid minimum wage. The amount varies from state to state but it runs between $2.15 to $3.15 per hour. The IRS assumes that the tips received will make up the difference between this low hourly amount and the true minimum wage that is currently $5.15 per hour. If this is not the case, then it is up to the restaurant owner to make up the difference between what the tipped employee earned + declared tips and minimum wage. This makes accurate tip declaration, tracking and reporting a vital aspect of running a restaurant.
The Need For Restaurant Employee Tip Handling
You need a employee time clock system that recognizes tipped employees, tracks their individual sales, any charge tips collected and requires them to declare cash tips at the end of their shift.
You also need a employee time clock system that can handle tip sharing, tip pooling and tip out to bus help, bartenders and other servers.
You need a employee time clock system that will track the hours worked and tips collected and recognize problems with employees not declaring enough tips to meet the minimum wage requirements.
The Solution Of Restaurant Employee Tip Handling
Some point of sale software products have tip tracking built into their time in attendance module. Once you set an employee as a tipped employee the system will require tip declaration prior to clock out.
Servers and waiters who ring sales will have their total sales tracked. Tips collected through credit card sales are tracked and shown on the server closeout report. Prior to clock out the server/waiter will be shown their total sales, the charge tips collected and then asked to declare their cash tips.
Some point of sale products do allow for programming flexibility with this feature:
You may change the minimum declaration from the default of 8%.
You may change the requirement to declare tips at clock out.
You may opt to have the system print a chit with their tips shown.
You may opt to not show charge tips on the declaration screen.
The Benefit Of Restaurant Employee Tip Handling To You
How do you measure the amount of relief a person can have knowing that your point of sale system is enforcing tip regulations levied by the IRS? Not to mention the mass amount of time savings in tracking declared tips, charge tips and hour worked for every tipped employee.
This is one headache you don't want to have to deal with. If you have tipped employees you need a good point of sale system with tip tracking and time and attendance.
About the Author
Jerry D. Wilson is Director of Internet Sales for DirecTouch Restaurant Point of Sale. With over 25 years of hospitality point of sale experience, he has written several articles explaining the benefits of touch screen and retail point of sale software. Please visit DirecTouch Do It Yourself Restaurant Point of Sale or DirectRetail Do It Yourself Retail Point of Sale for more information.
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