Following up on E's post about our cheapskate Mayor "supporting" the New Orleans service economy with a measly 15% tip (on our dime, for his anniversary lunch), BayouStJohnDavid made a comment at Library Chronicles pointing out that there are even worse offenders.
On 9/24/07, Sanitation Director Veronica White tipped $10.18 on a tab of $77.82 at the Grand Isle Restaurant. I calculate that as a 12.8% tip.
And on 11/21/07, Executive Counsel Becca O'Brien tipped $3.60 on a tab of $33.47 at the Sake Cafe. I calculate that as a 10.7% tip.
Assholes!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Nagin administration undertips New Orleans servers
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Also.. I would LOVE to know more about this "nonprofit recycle group" that White was meeting with. Since we're continually told that New Orleans absolutely cannot put together a curbside recycling program of any sort.
Here.. this Moldy City post discusses recycling and White at about that the time that this "meeting" occurred it was also while Lolis Eric Elie was having his public tiff her over the issue.
Sorry.. that comment is a grammar debacle.
15% is a standard tip. 20% is usually reserved for exceptional service or larger parties.
I dislike Nagin too, but there's nothing wrong with that tip. However, those other tips are lousy.
By 
, at
9:22 PM
15% may be standard in America... but according to Zagat, New Orleans is home to the biggest tippers in the country. Nagin et al ain't doing their part to keep our rep up!
15% is unacceptable.
I'm sorry. I work in the service industry. With minimum wage as low as it is and rent as high as it is, 15% is just not cutting it if you're the Mayor and you're a rich and you're thrive on your own celebrity.
When regulars tip 15%, I don't fret about it. It's not like I'm offended. But if C. Ray Nagin came in, I don't think I'd be out of place to expect something extra.
That wouldn't be the case if people in this city were paid a living wage or if rents were reasonable.
e,
Granted, it would be more appropriate for a wealthy mayor to pay 15%. However, I do have difficulty with this notion that anything over 15% is an entitlement, when 15% is broadly considered a standard tip.
(For the record, I usually tip 15% and then round up, thus going slightly over (15-17%). If the service was exceptional, I do the same with 20%. I tip the same percentage on drinks, even though it's customary to tip less on those items. In any case, if I thought I had to tip more, I'd probably start eating out less, which wouldn't be great for the service industry.).
As for the minimum wage, I my understanding has been that service workers are still in short enough supply to where starting base wages were significantly over the minimum wage. I could be wrong, of course.
By , at
7:02 AM
Remember C. Ray was dining on the taxpayers expense, not on his own dime. It may be that city rules would only allow him to tip 15% on the bill.
Does any one know what the tips were at some of the nicer meals that the city put on at Morton's and other places?
Either way a 15% tip should be acceptable.
These other two bozos need to learn how to tip properly. there is no excuse for that.
"City Rules"? Is that a joke?
I can confidently say that service at Lilette is almost always worth more than 15%.
Starting base wages are most certainly NOT over the minimum wage. Not significantly, not at all.