Cape Town - When visiting a restaurant or similar establishment, it is almost customary to include the tip for your waiter into your budget.
There have been countless conversations around how much to tip waiters, and if it's necessary.
Have you ever wondered if the tip that you leave for waiters actually lands up in their pockets? If not, now is the time to start thinking about it.
TV personality, Anele Mdoda is known for using Twitter as a platform to voice her opinion.
She recently posted a tweet which started a much-needed conversation: “Why does waiters not receive the tips left by patrons?”
The post read: “There is a restaurant that alakhe and I like to frequent in our area neh. So I like to ask people who serve us at every restaurant if they will get their tip if I pay with a card or should I go try get cash. The waitress said to me no we don’t get our tips and if they see a customer give us cash they come get it from us. 😡😡😡😡 surely this is wrong. Surely.”
There is a restaurant that alakhe and I like to frequent in our area neh. So I like to ask people who serve us at every restaurant if they will get their tip if I pay with a card or should I go try get cash. The waitress said to me no we don’t get our tips and if they see a…
— Anele Mdoda (@Anele) May 7, 2023
Tweeps were quick to raise their concerns regarding this issue.
I was at a premium restaurant in Bryanston and the waiter told me that they take 30% tax from their tips. Disgusting….
— DuchessHRH (@Tumilove) May 7, 2023
I normally don't write tip on slip. I carry an extra R100 cash even if I pay by card. Waitresses/waiters are extremely overworked and underpaid
— Family (@Sim_Cekiso) May 7, 2023
Some places split the tips between the staff. Which I don’t get. I always ask during the evening- if I have to send you money to your phone. I will!!! It’s insane
Unfortunately almost 70% of restaurants do this. It’s either you get a salary and you don’t get your tips. Or you don’t get your salary and your tips serve as your wage. It’s truly disgusting I don’t wanna lie
— Fezzii Boy (@Fezzii__) May 7, 2023
Be it as it may, waiters have a right to receive the money left for them by patrons.
The tweet by Mdoda which ignited conversation once again proves that social media can be put to great use to shine a light on issues that often go unnoticed.
Weekend Argus