The city where I work is full of diversity; to me, it’s a
perk of serving at the restaurant. And I believe it is important to be able to
communicate and work effectively with others.
However, problems can arise when the different cultures ideals
do not match up.
I remember the first time I was ever sat with an Indonesian family.
I introduced myself and get the drinks. The family ordered many items off the
menu.
Naturally I became excited because I knew the bill was going to be higher
than the average. Because of the expenses, I went out of my way to help the
table and to make the night special.
When it came time for the bill, I dropped it off and wished
to them a great night.
Once, they left I walked to the table to clear it off. I
opened the check.
Amount: $93.75 Tip: $3.12
I wondered to myself, did I offend them? Did I neglect them?
I walked into the kitchen to complain to a coworker. She said that’s just how
they are.
Sure enough, as I handled more and more tables, I learned
how people’s cultural background affects how they view tipping and servers.
I felt torn because I understand why they tip small, but at
the same time, tips are how I make money.
Differences in tipping are seen through all cultures. This issue is occurs nation-wide and is a part of a bigger issue.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/01/21/whats-behind-racial-differences-in-restaurant-tipping/
How can we address this issue? How can we let people respect
their culture, while creating awareness of Northern American traditions of tipping?
