The Tipping Divide: Study Finds Differences in Tips by Black, White Restaurant Patrons

National Public Radio ^ | 7/11/2003 | National Public Radio

[07055]

July 11, 2003 -- A new study finds many waiters and waitresses feel that black Americans generally tip less than restaurant diners who are white. The study, by a researcher at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, found that blacks tip on average 20 percent less than whites. In addition, restaurant workers of all races dislike waiting on black people because they assume the tips will be less no matter how good the service. NPR's Juan Williams reports.

The study found that 63 percent of blacks and 30 percent of whites didn't understand that the standard restaurant tip in the United States is 15 to 20 percent. The difference between how blacks and whites view tipping has serious ramifications for restaurants, including lawsuits and lost profits, Williams reports.

"The average tip from a black customer is about 13 percent of the bill. The average tip from a white customer is about 16.5 percent of the bill," says Dr. Michael Lynn, the study's author.

In some cases the difference in tipping may be the result of poor service, but blacks interviewed in one of Lynn's studies rated the service slightly higher yet still tipped less than whites, he says.

Jerry Fernandez, president of the Multicultural Food Alliance, which represents food servers and restaurateurs, says the expectations of a lower tip from blacks can often lead to poor service.

"If a [waiter] says, 'I don't want to wait on that table because they're black or they're Hispanic, then they tend to give less service and it's a self-fulfilling prophecy," Fernandez explains.

He says cultural elements -- blacks have avoided sit-down restaurants in favor of take out or self-service eateries -- institutionalized racism that exists in the restaurant industry and education about tipping are all behind the discrepancy. "How do people learn about tipping? If you don't go, you don't know."

Lynn suggests that the American restaurant industry begin a campaign to inform people about the basics of leaving a tip. He urges the use of advertisements, educational pamphlets, and even putting tipping information on menus. And Lynn suggests that restaurants could introduce a game in which dining parties would have to tip at least 15 percent in order to be eligible to win a contest.

[F. dAnconia]

My wife worked as a waitress for 4 years back in our college days. She said this very same thing for years. Everyone called her a racist for saying so.

[A_perfect_lady]

Lynn suggests that the American restaurant industry begin a campaign to inform people about the basics of leaving a tip. He urges the use of advertisements, educational pamphlets, and even putting tipping information on menus. And Lynn suggests that restaurants could introduce a game in which dining parties would have to tip at least 15 percent in order to be eligible to win a contest.

Ooo, wait, I have a better idea... waiters should stop assuming they are entitled to a 15-20% tip and remember that patrons aren't legally required to leave them a bloody dime! How's that?!

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[7DayRepo]

We need white taxpayers to subsidize black peoples' tips so they match those of white people. Black people were slaves in America, after all. </Jesse>

[Guillermo]

Anyone who has experience in waiting tables will confirm this.

Even black waiters get the shaft from black patrons.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Who had the nerve to come up with this tipping scam in the first place? These restaurants want me to patronize their business and pay their workers!(and yes, I tip generously, I just think these businesses should pay their own dang workers)

[Lauratealeaf]

Maybe Bill and Hillary Clinton are the first black Co-Presidents.

[netmilsmom]

Ping to the black conservative list.

And please explain this line to me...
>>institutionalized racism that exists in the restaurant industry<<

[FroedrickVonFreepenstein]

Its all in keeping with affirmative action. Whites should be made to tip more than blacks given white privilege. The new tips rules are as follows:

Whites - 20%
Asians - 20%
Blacks - 10%
Hispanics - 10%
Indians - 5% - hey they were here first

[Just another Joe]

The best way I ever found to tip was to estimate what you will spend and put 20% of that on the table.
When the wait staff comes over you tell them that is their tip. Anytime you have to look for them to get something, 1% of the money goes back in your pocket.
Normally they are not offended and you do get them to stop by your table more than others asking if everything is all right.

[annyokie]

Way backwhen, I hated waiting on blacks and hispanics. They griped about everything, didn't make themselves clear about their gripes and made me,a little white girl cry.

[Guillermo]

That's how they do it in Europe. "Service charges" are included in the price, or sometimes there will be a "cover fee" just to sit down in a restaurant.

I guess American restaraunt owners figure that they'd get better waiters if there was an incentive to hustle.

[7DayRepo]

Interesting. See #5.

[Nouge]

I worked as a waiter for 5 years... my $2.13 hourly wage wasn't really enough to get me by... so yeah... you are not "required by law" but no tips = no money for the server... And a lot of people do have your mentality, weather the service was good or poor...

[irv]

blacks interviewed in one of Lynn's studies rated the service slightly higher yet still tipped less than whites

blacks have avoided sit-down restaurants in favor of take out or self-service eateries -- institutionalized racism that exists in the restaurant industry and education about tipping are all behind the discrepancy.

The second bit contradicts the first.

So which is more disturbing: That someone bothered to say all that stuff that completely disregards the numbers, or that someone bothered reporting it as if it's relevant?

[Lijahsbubbe]

I've heard old people are the worst. They're picky and demanding and tip lousy.

[Billthedrill]

From someone who's done it - the big difference in tipping isn't black/white - it's men/women. And everyone who's ever waited a table knows it.

[PresbyRev]

Many restaurant patrons grunting at the trough should themselves realize that apart from tips, waiters & waitresses are pulling in $2 or $3 per hour at most - yet their earnings are taxed at minimum wage on the assumption that thankless patrons are leaving 15% tips (which ain't necessarily so).

[TrebleRebel]

The CEO of Denny's should go on record apologizing for all the bad tips to blacks thru the years, and all restaurants be forced to pay reparations to every black that ever worked as a waiter/waitress, and their descendants...