Tipping in Canada

[warpus]

I was recently informed (or lied to) about Canada's minimum wage laws. Apparently minimum wage applies to servers, waiters, waitresses, etc. BEFORE tips. The one difference is that their minimum wage (again, before tips) is $1 an hour or so less than the "regular" minimum wage.

So.. Why the hell do I tip waiters here in Canada 15% then? I was under the impression that these guys were making $2 an hour (like in the U.S.) and relying on my tips for a decent wage.

Sure, the "standard" tip in the U.S. is supposed to be 20% while here it is 10%-15% or so, but.. again.. if these guys are making at least minimum wage before tips, why am I tipping them such a large amount? In the U.S. I can understand, these guys need tips to get by.. but here? In my mind the whole reason for tipping is because the waiter basically doesn't get paid by the establishment and relies on tips to make a living.

Thoughts?

 

[Synobun]

I was recently informed (or lied to) about Canada's minimum wage laws. Apparently minimum wage applies to servers, waiters, waitresses, etc. BEFORE tips. The one difference is that their minimum wage (again, before tips) is $1 an hour or so less than the "regular" minimum wage.

So.. Why the hell do I tip waiters here in Canada 15% then? I was under the impression that these guys were making $2 an hour (like in the U.S.) and relying on my tips for a decent wage.

Sure, the "standard" tip in the U.S. is supposed to be 20% while here it is 10%-15% or so, but.. again.. if these guys are making at least minimum wage before tips, why am I tipping them such a large amount? In the U.S. I can understand, these guys need tips to get by.. but here? In my mind the whole reason for tipping is because the waiter basically doesn't get paid by the establishment and relies on tips to make a living.

Thoughts?

Tips here in Ontario usually don't even go to the employee, or they get a small % of it (in my experience). Most of it goes directly to the business. The only time I consider tipping here is in a tourist city like Niagara Falls where they deal with scum and foreigners every five seconds, or in a place which could really use the extra money.

There is no actual reason to tip here in Canada, it's just something that has been adopted from America and a lot of people have the misconceptions that waiting here is the same as down under.

 

[warpus]

So how can I stop tipping without feeling like a jerk? i usually tip between 12 and 15%

Surely somebody is going to spit in my food if I stop..

 

[Synobun]

So how can I stop tipping without feeling like a jerk? i usually tip between 12 and 15%

Surely somebody is going to spit in my food if I stop..

I guess to feel less like a jerk you can simply let them keep the change of whatever you pay with and leave it at that. They won't get much but it is better than nothing I suppose.

 

[wilycoyote]

Clearly, if America does it, you should do it, if you don't want to be a jerk! And to preempt it, that also means you should invade Middle Eastern countries and discriminate against homosexuals.

 

[Synobun]

Clearly, if America does it, you should do it, if you don't want to be a jerk! And to preempt it, that also means you should invade Middle Eastern countries and discriminate against homosexuals.

You'll find that a lot of ignorant Canadians do think this way. There's a rather large chunk of us that basically want us to be America V.2, until it means getting rid of free healthcare.

Then we can stay Canada.

 

[Flying Pig]

I was told to tip slightly more than I would back home when I went over there. Normal, British, rules of who to tip still apply (barber but not butcher, waiter but not vicar, and so on)

 

[Zelig]

Tipping is kind of worthless to incentivize good service if you always tip between 12% and 15%.

I tip 30% for good service, 0% for poor service.

 

[wilycoyote]

Tipping is kind of worthless to incentivize good service if you always tip between 12% and 15%.

I tip 30% for good service, 0% for poor service.

I have never had the guts to tip 0% (or less than 10%) even when I receive terrible service. I commend you! I'm just a wimp, I guess.

 

[Synobun]

I have never had the guts to tip 0% (or less than 10%) even when I receive terrible service. I commend you! I'm just a wimp, I guess.

Since I'm a teenager, I do it all the time. I don't have the money to spare tipping

 

[Flying Pig]

Tipping is kind of worthless to incentivize good service if you always tip between 12% and 15%

Except that's no longer what it's about, at least not over here - unless it's awful service, you tip it as 'good service' to be polite in the same way that if someone asks 'how do I look?' you never say 'mediocre' - it's 'good' or 'I think you should get changed'.

 

[illram]

The hours servers work typically will not be enough to make a living on minimum wage, and they never get benefits, so I still tip even if they are not making subminimum wage as servers and bartenders depend on tips. Even if they make minimum wage, tips on a good night equal more than what they make in a week at some places.

 

[warpus]

The hours servers work typically will not be enough to make a living on minimum wage, and they never get benefits, so I still tip even if they are not making subminimum wage as servers and bartenders depend on tips. Even if they make minimum wage, tips on a good night equal more than what they make in a week at some places.

Good points, but if I tip 15% in Canada, I should be tipping what.. 40% in the U.S.? Keeping in mind the $9/hr vs the $2/hr salary the waiters make (or whatever it is)

 

[wilycoyote]

Good points, but if I tip 15% in Canada, I should be tipping what.. 40% in the U.S.? Keeping in mind the $9/hr vs the $2/hr salary the waiters make (or whatever it is)

To me the serious answer is clear, you should tip whatever is the local social norm. If Canadians tip 10-15%, then tip 10-15%.

 

[Zelig]

Since I'm a teenager, I do it all the time. I don't have the money to spare tipping

Doesn't sound like you have the money to spare on eating out either, in that case.

 

[Synobun]

Doesn't sound like you have the money to spare on eating out either, in that case.

Indeed I do not. I spend all I have to eat twice a month at a restaurant, which comes to a whopping twenty dollars in total. If I were to tip, I would only be able to eat one full meal and half of one the next time. As someone who doesn't eat very well or very often, I'd rather tip 0% and be slightly more fed than tip 15% and be less fed.

 

[Flying Pig]

Indeed I do not. I spend all I have to eat twice a month at a restaurant, which comes to a whopping twenty dollars in total. If I were to tip, I would only be able to eat one full meal and half of one the next time. As someone who doesn't eat very well or very often, I'd rather tip 0% and be slightly more fed than tip 15% and be less fed.

I'm of that generation that was brought up with standards - there was a time when I'd cut down on the food shop or go without that pair of socks to make sure that I could give the barber his tip. Clearly this has reversed since I was a young man.

 

[Synobun]

I'm of that generation that was brought up with standards - there was a time when I'd cut down on the food shop or go without that pair of socks to make sure that I could give the barber his tip. Clearly this has reversed since I was a young man.

The people at that restaurant that wait me and cook my food are the same people that laugh at me because I am crippled. I feel no need to bless them with tips.

 

[warpus]

To me the serious answer is clear, you should tip whatever is the local social norm. If Canadians tip 10-15%, then tip 10-15%.

I'm not one to blindly follow the rest of the sheep, though.

In the U.S. I'll tip 20% cause that seems to be the standard there.. but it's a good standard for a reason - waiters make $2 an hour.

Is 15% a good standard here in Canada? Doesn't seem like it.

 

[squadbroken]

I'm of that generation that was brought up with standards - there was a time when I'd cut down on the food shop or go without that pair of socks to make sure that I could give the barber his tip. Clearly this has reversed since I was a young man.

Was this before or after you walked to school uphill in a snowstorm