I know this is off track and after this comment I will try to refocus as you have mentioned but I just wanted to add that people often misunderstand "the customer is always right" what the term means is that the customer drives demand, if the demand is for Tacky honey boo boo attire then it is in the best interest of the retail establishment to carry such attire regardless of personal opinion. The customer should be treated as if they are not wrong to impart the best experiance possible and therefore repeat business. It is not a license to treat staff poorly, when coined the term was not litreral. Just thought I would make that clear for those who think Mr. Pain may have been stating such, he was not.
Now back to the topic: I think businesses are better off not using tip jars. They have every right to put on their counters what they wish but it seems to me most consumers don't like the practice and the business would be better off doing the market research and deciding based on the data it provides. From what I have seen the data will tell the to stop this practice.
Great recap on my lengthy/wordy regurgitation!!. As you point out, the customer drives the market and the market creates profits, which keeps people employed. This is definitely
not a license for customers to be rude, obnoxious, etc... and definitely does
not give the customer the right to be a foul mouth chauvinist pig. All of these behaviors are grounds to be refused service, however this is not the call of the server (unless previously instructed) and does not give a license for the server to seek retribution (spit in their food, pee in their soup, change the order etc..) if they don't get what they expect.
Servers have the right to a safe work environment (provided by the employer)
Severs have the right to a fair wage (provided under federal law by the employer)
Servers have the right to descent hours (provided under law by their employer)
Servers have no right to a smile from customer (based on the terms of their employment)
Servers have no rights to a "please or thank you" (based on the terms of their employment)
Servers have no rights to a tip (based on the terms of their employment)
** Now those things go a LONG way to making your work place a "fun place" to work at (and for a better society), but they are not rights, and carry no reasonable expectations.
How many times a DAY do I have disgruntled/discourteous patients coming in ruffling my staff's feathers (or mine) with their complaints about this and that, DEMANDING to get this and that!?!?! If I (or my staff) was to expect them to behave, be courteous, be jovial and polite all the time then we would be sadly disappointed ALL DAY LONG!. We are ultimately here to serve, to the best of our abilities, within the parameters of what we provide..... and we do provide it with a smile and personal attention despite the fact that we don't always feel that they deserve it (emphasis on feel).
As for the tip jar, it is again about the market driven issue... and the decision lies with the owner (who has the biggest financial stake). I don't care if it is a donation jar, tip jar or otherwise, if it offends enough of your customer to be subjected to the "begging" then the market will speak and the business will suffer.
My best advise to those reading is
speak up!! If you don't like the "included gratuity", speak to the manager, leave a note for the owner and encourage others to do the same. Continue supporting the good establishments (and good service personnel) and allow the not so good to fail.... but SPEAK UP! (if you care enough to help them succeed)
