a little to-do about something?
It always strikes me as strange when I go to my spreadsheet of topics finding something written months ago that all of a sudden is relevant in the news. Imagine my surprise whilst listening to Fox News today and they begin discussing Trump’s latest plan. Vote for Trump and no taxes on tipping! Now I may venture away from this subject and its specifics (initially) but it sets the stage to discuss my latest pondering, Tipping and Tithing.
jumping into the fire
One of the promises I made when I started writing to you, my sassy readers, was to stay away from politics and religion. At least to limit my discussions. Being surrounded by some of the people (that I live with) and associate with makes this a difficult task at times. Today however, I take full responsibility.
the pain of giving
For as long as I can remember I have been aware of tithing. It is a practice that I have never understood nor agreed with. I wanted to be sure that I had my facts right before going forth.
Tithing is defined (by Wikipedia) as
A tithe (/taɪð/; from Old English: teogoþa “tenth”) is a one-tenth part of something, paid as a contribution to a religious organization or compulsory tax to government.
Well check that one off. It was as I remembered, a tenth of your income. That’s every Sunday! Now what I’m not sure about is whether that is the total income for the year, one paycheck or a day. But coming from someone that struggled for years financially that one really hurt!
The tenth part came from the Hebrew. Tithe is 10 in Hebrew. Tithing has been around for centuries. It is spoken of in the Old Testament in Leviticus. Originally the fee was met in agriculture. It later morphed into cold, hard cash. Thankfully what was considered mandatory is now voluntary (though strongly encouraged still).
So I ask you? Are you buying your way to blessings or helping out a friend?
tipping -the battle
The subject of tipping is closer to my heart. Being a wait person for 8 years and depending on those tips to survive gives me a perspective not everyone shares. When I was waiting tables I made $2.01 per hour! This was in accordance with Federal law.
Today the Dept. of Labor states An employer must pay a tipped worker at least $2.13 per hour under the FLSA. An employer can take an FLSA tip credit equal to the difference between the direct wage, or the cash wage it pays directly to the tipped employee, and the federal minimum wage, which is currently $7.25 per hour. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/15-tipped-employees-flsa#:~:text=An%20employer%20must%20pay%20a,is%20currently%20%247.25%20per%20hour.
There are numerous arguments surrounding tipping. I have heard most of them. “They should pay them more so we don’t have to tip” is probably the one that is most prevalent.
It’s odd that no one seems to question tipping a valet for parking your car or the porter at the airport for moving your luggage. I wonder how many out there never think about the hairdressers/barbers, nail technicians…I would say that most of these receive their tips. Yet a wait person who serves your food, drink and puts up with the whiny adults, misbehaving children and the Bertha better than you’s is begrudged a 20% tip. And incidentally most of the above occupations are making minimum wage plus!
historically speaking
Oddly enough tipping began in Europe. The practice was thought to have been copied by the wealthy Americans and brought back to the U.S. When we traveled abroad last year we discovered (prior to going) that tipping in restaurants was not expected. Most wait persons do this as a permanent career and are paid adequately. Strangely none of the tour guides, drivers, hotel staff held with the same rules. Tips were expected still.
One strange expectation in Italy was the coperto. I talked about it in my post Rome-ing Italy https://sassaleeyours.com/rome-ing-italy-and-checking-boxes/(opens in a new tab)
You were charged a “sitting fee” This was thought to offset the free bread and the ability to sit and eat your meal as opposed to standing. Nothing is for nothing.
tipping- the controversy
What started this particular train of thought was the grumbling I heard as more and more businesses began asking for tips. And I realize that it may seem that I am getting ready to speak from both sides of my mouth..but am I?
Probably the first company that comes to mind is that famous coffee shop that everyone flocks to. I am in the drive-through, I place an order and you lean through the window to hand it to me and..we’re done. Did you deliver a service or did you do your job?
Covid brought it to another level. Take out- I called in an order, I spent my gas, my time and came to you to pick up a bag of food that I will dispense and clean up after.
Was there a service provided outside of the expectation of what I had already paid for?
the helping hand
We now live in a world where cash is no longer king nor wanted in a lot of circumstances. We now use cards or our phones with preloaded means of payment. In order to make things simpler (and I believe the intent clear) we have the swivel screens that plainly lay out the expectation of gratuity. You see it everywhere. I picked up my dry cleaning, I hit a vending machine..ok maybe that’s a bit much, but it isn’t far from the mark.
Tipping is and should be the expectation of a service rewarded when someone delivers above the job requested. I didn’t have to move and lift my luggage, thank you. You hoofed it 3 blocks after parking my car and letting me enter the restaurant within a couple of steps, thank you. You delivered my meal with a smile, made sure that I was satisfied, checked again to be sure I was still happy and needed nothing more, thank you.
I must admit I feel a bit intimidated when the computer screens are placed in front of me demanding a percentage. I do think that the lists on the paper receipts can be helpful for those that don’t do math well in their heads so there’s that silver lining.
tipping -in the legal sense
One of the biggest arguments that I have heard over the years is that no one reports their tips! It is income that is never reported to the government. Well technically the D.O.L. is saying that because the employer is only paying you $2.13/hour and you are paying tax on that for sure, then you only should have to pay tax on the amount of tips that brought you up to minimum wage. Right? Well that’s the way I read it.
Did you know that the amounts that you tithe in a church can be used as a tax deduction? As long as it is a not-for-profit organization. Just a little aside.
the point at hand
Well today Trump announced that he would no longer expect taxes on tipping. If you vote for him and he’s elected of course. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. And if Kid Rock endorses it well…
But I do have a question.
Does that mean that the meal bill will not include tax on the tip that you are including or that the wait staff will no longer be expected to pay taxes on the tips that they receive? And who absorbs that change? Will the restaurant owners now be expected to pay those minimum wages?
Whichever way you interpret it or how it shakes out, tip your servers. Be kind and reward a job well done and the efforts that go above and beyond expectation. Those men and women that come to you, while seated and make that eating experience more than just consuming a meal. They deserve it!
Sassaleeyours…