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Wedding Etiquette Forum
Catering Tip
Hi Ladies,
I know that there are a couple of other posts going around about tipping, but I wanted to ask about my catering company. They do not have a tip added into the bill as a lot of vendors do. My question is, do I tip 15 - 20% on the food total or should it be on the over all bill (food, rentals, and labor)?
The cost differnce would be significant to me.
Food Total: $6,300
Rentals: $2,700
Labor: $4,295
Any suggestions would be helpful.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Catering Tip
ETA - we also had to pay a labor charge. Since we knew the staff was getting a good per hour rate we didn't give them 20%, more like 12%.
[QUOTE]I think that OP needs to find out what this labor is for and not guess. Willy nilly tipping, if the establishment has built it into pricing is silly. Many venues build in tipping into prices.
Posted by NYUgirl100[/QUOTE]
Whatelse, besides what Stage said, would be considered labor?? OP stated that there was no mention of gratuities in the contract and if she's seeking out advice she isn't willy nilly tipping.
OP, base your tip off of the food total, but if the service is not what you expected (awesome or terrible), feel free to add/subtract, just like any other dining experience
[QUOTE]Stage Manager, just because you would like to see people tip in additon to venue charging gratuties does not mean it is necessary.
Posted by NYUgirl100[/QUOTE]
No but she can expect to get prime seating in her favorite restaurant because she seems to know when to acknowedge good service when it warrants it, while you will probably get stuck by the bathroom or kitchen doors.
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Catering Tip : Is this "make up crap and say other posters said it" week or something? Where did I EVER say that one should tip in addition to gratuity? And when I say ever, I mean ever in the history of my time here on TK. Are you on meth? This is the second time you've pulled something randomly out of your asss this week and claimed another poster said it.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]
Stage-You're one of my favorite posters and you have never said that, as long as i've been reading your posts!
I'd def make sure what the labor was for and probably tip based on the total food cost.
Between labor and tip it came out to be over 20%.
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Catering Tip : Whatelse, besides what Stage said, would be considered labor?? OP stated that there was no mention of gratuities in the contract and if she's seeking out advice she isn't willy nilly tipping. OP, base your tip off of the food total, but if the service is not what you expected (awesome or terrible), feel free to add/subtract, just like any other dining experience
Posted by sydaries[/QUOTE]
Servers get paid "labor" too. It's called minimum wage. That doesn't mean you don't tip them.
40/112
[QUOTE]I think that OP needs to find out what this labor is for and not guess. Willy nilly tipping, if the establishment has built it into pricing is silly. Many venues build in tipping into prices.
Posted by NYUgirl100[/QUOTE]
<div>
</div><div>Labor is for everyone working the event. It includes the following: </div><div><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="182" style="border-collapse:collapse;width:137pt;"> <tbody><tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt;"> <td class="xl65" width="182" height="21" style="height:15.75pt;width:137pt;">Wedding Coordinator</td> </tr> <tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt;"> <td class="xl65" height="21" style="height:15.75pt;">Head Chef</td> </tr> <tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt;"> <td class="xl65" height="21" style="height:15.75pt;">4 Assistant Chefs</td> </tr> <tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt;"> <td class="xl65" height="21" style="height:15.75pt;">5 Servers</td> </tr> <tr height="21" style="height:15.75pt;"> <td class="xl65" height="21" style="height:15.75pt;">3 Bartenders</td> </tr></tbody></table></div>
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Catering Tip : Labor is for everyone working the event. It includes the following: <div>
</div><div>Wedding Coordinator </div><div>
</div><div>Head Chef </div><div>
</div><div> 4 Assistant Chefs</div><div>
</div><div>5 Servers</div><div>
</div><div> 3 Bartenders
Posted by abussen[/QUOTE]</div><div>
</div><div>We had a similar list (not exact though). </div><div>
</div><div> We tipped the servers $175 each. We tipped the bartenders $250 each. We gave the assistant chefs and dishwasher $50 each. Not that we had to give the last group anything. But our wedding was unique because it was a tent wedding had a Tropical Storm hit. All hands were on deck for setup and stuff, so we thought we would give the chefs and dishwasher something for helping the servers out. </div><div>
</div><div>We also tipped the Coordinator, but I can't remember what, but it was a few hundred.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>ETA - we also had to pay a per person rate for minimum of 8 hours.
</div>
[QUOTE]So that is an average of 330 per person, and I doubt the waters and bartenders work more than 2 hours more than reception -- I would consider the cola in your area, but that seems to be 35/hour for the 9.5 hours or 47 for say 7 hours. Lets say what 7% for employer share of fica, and a total of 10 to cover all employer wage costs, so 32-42 hour. Realistically, its more likely more than average for the head chef and less for the others, but still it seems like a lot. Maybe OP should ask for an itemization. I think tipping 15% of food on top of that is not necessary. That would be say .15 x 6300 or 945, split across the serves or over an additional 100/person.
Posted by NYUgirl100[/QUOTE]
<div>You're failing to realize that the labor cost is not taken and divided equally amongst the workers. Some of it goes to them, of course, but some is also going to go to pay things like the insurance that covers them, the vehicle and gas to get them there, etc.</div><div>
</div><div>OP, check with the venue to be sure gratuity isn't hidden in labor, though I highly doubt it is. Then tip on the food.</div>
[QUOTE]You can't GET an itemized bill of how much is being paid per person. It's illegal to just give out wage rates on individuals willy nilly. It's the same reason you can't walk up to your boss and demand to know what your coworker is being paid. Why is that so hard to comprehend? And 10 percent is a VERY low estimate on what is taken out. In Arkansas, it averages 14 just to covet payroll taxes and the employer's FICA contribution plus any benefits the employer may contribute, insurance, workman's comp, etc.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]
All of this! In what universe do people tip based on what the person they are tipping makes per hour anyway? I know it's been said before, but REALLY. SERIOUSLY. I am completely unable to comprehend why OP finding out what these people are being paid per hour would have anything to do with what OP should tip them.
And that's in the NYC area (one of the boroughs), so I'd wager it's one of the better paid regions for waitstaff. I know it's similar to other banquet halls in the area as I know people who work in halls of varying price points in the same borough.
[QUOTE]Stage, do you have any cite, any where that federal law prohibits employers from disclosing wage data? Or were you just making that up?
Posted by NYUgirl100[/QUOTE]
<div>I don't know of any fed law that Stage is talking about, but every company I worked at has a policy that employee salaries are not be discussed with anyone. I would imagine that would include potential clients.</div>
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Catering Tip : No, I wouldn't adjust a tip for a dollar, but OP is talking about substantially more than minimum wage being paid to servers. Or at least the liklihood of such, so she pursue with venue.
Posted by NYUgirl100[/QUOTE]
<div>So just out of curiosity, what would you consider a rate that you would not tip additional?</div>
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Catering Tip : Lynd, the National Labor Relations Board considers it a violation to restrict employees from discussing salaries. The most an employer can do is tell people they can not discuss it on company premises. This is a labor right. <a href="http://www.vancott.com/media/IntheTrenches_May06.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.vancott.com/media/IntheTrenches_May06.pdf</a>
Posted by NYUgirl100[/QUOTE]
<div>Well, that is discusing your own salary with other employees. </div><div>
</div><div> It's different when you are talking about an employee talking about other employee's salaries to potential clients.</div><div>
</div><div>
</div>
[QUOTE]No, I am talking about the boss or owner discussing salaries. Still waiting to see if anyone has <strong>any cite </strong>that it is illegal. Employers generally dont want employees discussing salaries so they can keep salaries down. btw, do you think an employer can not advertise, waiters jobs avaiable, $20/hour?
Posted by NYUgirl100[/QUOTE]
<div>You are possibly the dumbest and most intolerable person I have ever interacted with. Cite is a verb. Either you are asking for a citation, or you want a site that states something is illegal. </div><div>
</div><div>Please try going into any restaurant and asking for the wage of your server so you can determine how much you will tip. Please tell us how that turns out.</div>
[QUOTE]Where I use to work we were not allowed to tell customers that the house gets 25% of the service charge. If asked we just said were taken care of. Whatever that means. I'm sure it was the same for the sales person. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- If that happened in NY, it would be a labor law violation - not certain about other states. However, if you mean that you got 75% of the service charge, and the rest went to taxes, that would be legal. If your employer was lying, that is not the customer's vault -- I think you should quit -- which you did.
Posted by NYUgirl100[/QUOTE]
<div>
</div><div>It was perfectly legal where I lived. The house took 25% of the service charge. Which went to revenue. We split the other 75% </div><div>
</div><div>I didn't quit because of this issue (actually didn't see it as an issue). My husband got transferred, so I had to leave. I would still be there if I could. Best job ever. </div><div>
</div><div>
</div><div>ETA - only 10% of our tips was cash, the rest was in our check. They matched our 401K contribution dollar for dollar up to a certain percentage on. So indirectly I got back that money anyway.</div><div>
</div>
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Catering Tip : Rsanna, "cite" is frequently used to refer to a case or statute that supports a position. Sorry you dont like the abbreviation. Stage keeps saying it is illegal, I have asked for support. I dont think any restaruants pay appreciably more than minumum wage. I do think many venues for larger affairs do, similar to what Stardust referred to.
Posted by NYUgirl100[/QUOTE]
<div>And invite is typically an abbreviation for invitation. I cannot send you an invite, but I can send you an invitation. I can cite my sources but I cannot go out and find you the cite. Language, maybe you should learn it?</div>
[QUOTE]Lynd, I was suggesting you leave, as you implied your employer was less than honest. That would bother me. Rsanna, - in class, and in many workplaces, people ask for cites. But in any event, Does anyone have any citation to support that it is illegal to disclose employee salaries? I do not think so.
Posted by NYUgirl100[/QUOTE]
<div>How are they being less than honest?</div><div>
</div><div>The federal gov't views service charges as extra revenue for the business to do with as it pleases. Some states (MA and I guess NY) have ruled tips and service charges are one in the same. In those cases, the state law rules.</div><div>
</div><div><a href="http://www.restaurant.org/pdfs/legal/lps/business_tips.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.restaurant.org/pdfs/legal/lps/business_tips.pdf</a></div>
And, gas, vehicle maintenance, etc. are worthy of being rolled into labor costs- its the labor and charges that the catering company has to incur to perform their service.
NYU girl, I really hope that isn't a tribute to your alma marter, for the sake of the whole alumni population's reputation! And if you do live in NY, good luck with your black and white attitude on everything.
[QUOTE]<strong>A tip should never ever ever ever ever be based on what the employee makes. A tip or gratuity shows gratitude for the service rendered.</strong> OP can ask for an itemized list of the labor, but a service charge is not the same as a gratuity. Your cell phone comapny, insurance company, cable company, etc. have service charges, and they certainly are not tips! If a customer wants to ensure they show their appreciation to their vendors, they should really add on an extra tip if gratuity isn't included. And, gas, vehicle maintenance, etc. are worthy of being rolled into labor costs- its the labor and charges that the catering company has to incur to perform their service. NYU girl, I really hope that isn't a tribute to your alma marter, for the sake of the whole alumni population's reputation! And if you do live in NY, good luck with your black and white attitude on everything.
Posted by sydaries[/QUOTE]
The bolded times a million! It does. not. matter. what the servers make. You are giving them a tip based on how well they served you, not based on what they're getting paid!
I went to what was supposed to be dinner with someone like you, NYU. We had them reserve two tables at rush hour, we only filled one (several no-shows). The party I was with was upset because the drinks weren't strong enough (It was at the 99, if you want a boozy drink go to a real bar). When we asked for the bill, my BF put a twenty on top of it, for her troubles. One of the people then went up to her at the ordering stand/register and took some change from the tip because it was more than 15% and tipping isn't required on alcohol anyway. Needless to say we never dined with that group ever again.
That is poor etiquette, just like asking about the compensation of the employees. Their wages are irrelivant, only whether or not the tip is included is relevant.
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Catering Tip : Which is why OP should discuss with caterer, not throw money around without knowing.
Posted by NYUgirl100[/QUOTE]
She isn't throwing around money! She's placing it purposefully. Geezum crow