Devon Dick

Last week Wednesday, England's Independent newspaper rejoiced that the government responded favourably to their campaign for "fair tips, fair pay" on behalf of 230,000 waiters.

In England, where the newspapers are more activist than in Jamaica, one finds that they will agitate for persons who are voiceless, victimised and vulnerable.

Another difference is that the newspapers will identify the names of the oppressors, as in this case, the names of the restaurateurs who are fleecing the waiters of their tips.

Highlighted wrongs

The Independent highlighted some of the wrongs with tipping in the British hospitality industry. It was reported that owners within the hospitality industry were using the service charges to pay basic wages, with many failing to pass on all gratuities to waiting staff. It also found that some waiters were given less than a quarter of the service charges left by the customers.

The Independent suggested that all within the hospitality industry should operate a fair and transparent policy for the distribution of tips to staff and the customers, and waiters ought to know what the policy is.

I have written on tipping before but things seem to have got worse. On a recent visit to Dovecot Memorial Park, I observed a sign which says 'No Vending, No Tipping'. It is now making tipping grave-diggers an inappropriate activity.

When I inquired of the office what was the rationale behind this policy, I was told it was because grave-diggers were charging customers for taking care of the plots - a job for which they were already paid.

However, what could have been done was to inform the customers that there is no need to pay workers to clean the burial plot and that disciplinary action would be taken against those who violate the policy.

Should not be denied

Furthermore, this 'no tipping' policy does not address the problem Dovecot is trying to solve. I suspect that low wages might be a reason for the grave-diggers seeking additional money for their work. However, when I asked what was the salary scale of grave-diggers, that information was not forthcoming.

Tipping is a reward for good service and the Dovecot grave-diggers are some of the finest and should not be denied rewards.

Government should implement legislation that will prevent persons in the hospitality industry from using tips as part of the salary of waiters and other workers. In addition, all the tips should be passed on to waiters.

Furthermore, gratuity charges should be abolished. It should not be factored in a bill as if it were a tax.

Recently, a group of teenagers went to a restaurant 'dutch' style. When the bill came and they were assigning the various items to each person, one teenager asked innocently, 'who ordered gratuity?'. Gratuity was a listed item and the most expensive.

There is a restaurant, Chevy's, in Miami and New York, which gives the customers a tip schedule just in case persons cannot calculate what 10 per cent of their bill is.

This attitude flies in the face of tips, which ought to be at the discretion of the client. Additionally, what is wrong with gratuity is that some establishments are charging 15 per cent as gratuity.

This high gratuity rate is similar to extortion. And worse, after the service charge has been placed on the bill, the waiter still expects a tip, whether or not the service was good.

Leave cash

Tips should go back to its original intention of a reward for exceptional service. It should not be for the entire staff or management that had no dealings with the customers.

While we await these changes, I encourage readers to leave cash as tip, instead of adding gratuity to the bill, which goes to a pool.

Rev Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: the Church in Nation Building'. For feedback, email columns@gleanerjm.com.