I have worked in the Restaurant industry for over 20 years. I recently moved to St George, Utah. I am working at a local popular restaurant in town and I have been so amazed at the way the locals show up in this community. I’m not sure if it is just that they are naive to the system, or if they are just cheap, or if they just do not care about anyone but themselves.
Waiters and waitress’s make $2.13 an hour, leaving it up to the guest to tip which is the only way they actually get paid. Servers do not receive checks like other workers, and at the end of the year end up owing a big chunk to the IRS, because their 2$ hr wage does not even cover the taxes they owe.
When a restaurant gets busy, if any part of the business makes any kind of mistake or things are not perfect, guests take it out on the Server and it is now their wage that will suffer, no matter how hard they are working. I have worked in many different states and many in Utah and southern Utah has by far been the lowest tippers I have encountered. Many locals feel that 10% (which typically means poor service) is an okay tip to leave and if they receive anything free or use coupons to get free food, this means they do not need to leave a tip at all.
In 20 years of service I had never been stiffed (meaning no tip was left at all) until I started serving in St. George Utah. I am now up to a count of 25 times being Stiffed (coming into work and running around refilling drinks, sweeping up after children and parents, providing them with a hot meal and a refreshing beverage, usually something for free as well.) only to be left feeling terrible when they leave nothing for a tip.
These locals know they are going into a service restaurant where a server waits on them for hours, back and forth, guest after guest, trying to make ends meet, to help pay for a mortgage, school, baby food, health insurance, etc… they know they are required to tip at these restaurants.
If they do not have the money to eat at these type of restaurants there are many other options like Wendy’s, McDonald, I-Hop, In N Out Burger, where they can go and not leave a tip. It is such a shame that the majority of those who have not left anything are our locals, and the missionaries. It seems that the only times servers make 18-20%, which is normal for good service, is when the town is full of people from out of town. I am not sure our locals know how much work it takes to get them everything they demand and it does not feel like they respect the effort that goes into serving.
It would be wonderful to know that our wonderful town was full of people who respected each other and the small town we live in. Take care of each other, take care of our community. Sometimes I wonder if guests know that servers have feelings too. It actually hurts our feelings not just our pocket book, when we get stiffed or are left a 10% tip. I had to put this out there I am not sure the locals even know how they are showing up and how it effects everyone.
Thank you for listening.
Darnell Fey
Editor’s Note: I-Hop is a serviced restaurant not a fast food eatery, meaning it does have waiters and waitresses.
