Please understand the difference between a “tip” jar and a “take a penny” jar. If you see a dish on a counter clearly labelled “Tips” this does not mean you can reach your hand in and take whatever you want if you are short on cash to pay for your purchase. Chances are, since I’m a very nice gal, that if you’re short on change, I will offer to help you out by using our tip money. But please do not, without politely asking first, just reach in and take money that is not yours. Us folks in the food service industry work very long hours for very little money… our tips make it a little less sucky. (And I’m not saying you have to tip us… just please don’t take the tips someone else has already given us!) —On Behalf of the Food Service Industry
This article appears in Aug 30 – Sep 5, 2012.
you should have a jar with a lid on it then. if you don’t want people taking money from it. this is the way it usually is done. sorry.
Usually is done where?
I can see someone making a mistake if the jar isn’t labelled clearly and it’s all pennies. But if it’s pennies AND dimes, nickels, quarters, loonies etc then it’s clearly not a penny jar (even if it’s not labelled “tips”) and I don’t really see how there’s an excuse for that.
It seems a shame that somebody has to write a Bitch to explain this to people. Why on Earth would anybody reach into a tip jar to make up the total?
OB, you DO NOT have to put a lid on your tip glass to not be stolen from.
And thank you for saying tipping is not expected in your job. Some people don’t think all jobs are worthy of tips, and react dickish when cl fronted with a “Karma Jar”.
The idea something horrible will befall me unless I tip the coffee waitress- sorry, *barrista*- bugs me.
Do a kick ass job and go above and beyond, and I will WANT to tip you.
Wp
Don’t think I’ve ever seen a Karma jar. Are they restricted to places that call their servers baristas? Is barista gender-neutral?
Something similar happens where I work, but we don’t have a tip cup. Our tips are left on the counter and we are held accountable for them, having to clear them off and tuck them under the counter ourselves.
A few times if I forgot to clear some coins off the counter, some idiot would say “Oh! Someone left some money here!” and either pocket it or put it in the donation bin. Of course I kick myself when I forget to clear the tips from the counter since it’s partially my fault, I just wish people wouldn’t touch what isn’t theirs.
IF there’s a jar full of money that says ‘Tips’ on it…. I thought that was there, so I can tip myself !
I’m sorry but this can’t happen too often and most people have worse things to worry about.
may not happen often and certainly worse things out there, but this is a bitch column. i think it’s a legit bitch esp because of the idiocy of the people who would think they are entitled to make up for their own shortfall by taking money that isn’t theirs. whether it’s tip money, donation money or someone else’s forgotten change. do not touch it except to push it towards the staff person. fingers off. no touchee. not yours.
A tip jar with scorpions in it will solve the problem.