The Tipping Divide: Study Finds Differences in Tips by Black, White Restaurant Patrons

National Public Radio ^ | 7/11/2003 | National Public Radio

[07055]

July 11, 2003 -- A new study finds many waiters and waitresses feel that black Americans generally tip less than restaurant diners who are white. The study, by a researcher at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, found that blacks tip on average 20 percent less than whites. In addition, restaurant workers of all races dislike waiting on black people because they assume the tips will be less no matter how good the service. NPR's Juan Williams reports.

The study found that 63 percent of blacks and 30 percent of whites didn't understand that the standard restaurant tip in the United States is 15 to 20 percent. The difference between how blacks and whites view tipping has serious ramifications for restaurants, including lawsuits and lost profits, Williams reports.

"The average tip from a black customer is about 13 percent of the bill. The average tip from a white customer is about 16.5 percent of the bill," says Dr. Michael Lynn, the study's author.

In some cases the difference in tipping may be the result of poor service, but blacks interviewed in one of Lynn's studies rated the service slightly higher yet still tipped less than whites, he says.

Jerry Fernandez, president of the Multicultural Food Alliance, which represents food servers and restaurateurs, says the expectations of a lower tip from blacks can often lead to poor service.

"If a [waiter] says, 'I don't want to wait on that table because they're black or they're Hispanic, then they tend to give less service and it's a self-fulfilling prophecy," Fernandez explains.

He says cultural elements -- blacks have avoided sit-down restaurants in favor of take out or self-service eateries -- institutionalized racism that exists in the restaurant industry and education about tipping are all behind the discrepancy. "How do people learn about tipping? If you don't go, you don't know."

Lynn suggests that the American restaurant industry begin a campaign to inform people about the basics of leaving a tip. He urges the use of advertisements, educational pamphlets, and even putting tipping information on menus. And Lynn suggests that restaurants could introduce a game in which dining parties would have to tip at least 15 percent in order to be eligible to win a contest.

[Lijahsbubbe]

So which one tips better? I'm a woman and I always tip above 15%.

[TrebleRebel]

The study found that 63 percent of blacks and 30 percent of whites didn't understand that the standard restaurant tip in the United States is 15 to 20 percent.

I just pretend I don't understand...

[Welsh Rabbit]

Just out of curiosity, did you get that idea from that episode of Cheers where Carla's brother visits?

[Political Junkie Too]

In some cases the difference in tipping may be the result of poor service...

How about our educational system not preparing students to do fractional math in their heads?

-PJ

[HairOfTheDog]

patrons aren't legally required to leave them a bloody dime! How's that?!

There are a lot of polite customs in this society that are not legally required. I am a very good tipper, especially at my regular places.

[7DayRepo]

The CEO of Denny's should go on record apologizing for all the bad tips to blacks thru the years, and all restaurants be forced to pay reparations to every black that ever worked as a waiter/waitress, and their descendants...

Think of it this way: It's enough of a tip if, at some point during the meal, the black or Hispanic customers forgive the waitress for being white.

[Williams]

I love all the articles that "teach" you how to tip, and explain why it should be 20 to 30%. The articles also explain how you can only withhold a tip or reduce it under extremely limited circumstances, like never getting your food at all. I tip and I know all about how the waiters, etc. depend on tips. But pretending there are "rules" is nonsense. There aren't.

[irv]

Whites should be made to tip more than blacks given white privilege.

Whites should tip blacks more than they tip other whites, and blacks shouldn't have to tip at all. If the restaurant owner is white, black customers should be paid for eating there ...

I'm sorry. This is too confusing. I tip 15% unless they annoy me, regardless of race, creed, color or any other damn thing.

[nevergore]

Tipping is a way to "empower" the patron not scam him.....If the resturaunt owner paid the additional salary to the workers, the food cost would be substantially higher to compensate...then if you got bad service, you'd be stuck.....

Good service = Good Tip
Bad service = Bad Tip

What really chaffs me are the resturaunts that automatically add-in 15% grautuity to the bill...

NeverGore :*)

[TontoKowalski]

Ooo, wait, I have a better idea... waiters should stop assuming they are entitled to a 15-20% tip and remember that patrons aren't legally required to leave them a bloody dime! How's that?!

Sister, I'm with you! My going-in position is that the wait staff ain't getting a damn nickle.

Excellent service, treating my kid like a human being, not snorting off in a huff when I decline the invitation for coctails... these go a long way towards the waiter EARNING a tip.

If service is good, I'll tip very generously... sometimes 30% or more. If it's not, I have no guilt at all about leaving absolutely nothing.

By the way, I'm not black. I'm a honky that's fed up.

[Welsh Rabbit]

I just pretend I don't understand...

Put on a fake accent and pretend you're from one of those European countries where the tip is already included on the bill.

[PresbyRev]

I've found that my fellow Christians pretty much suck at leaving reasonable tips. 'After-Church' self-righteous pricks who demand, demand, demand, then leave a few pieces of change and of course a "Gospel Tract."

[HairOfTheDog]

When the wait staff comes over you tell them that is their tip. Anytime you have to look for them to get something, 1% of the money goes back in your pocket.

That's just weird Joe.... I do not want waitstaff to pander and beg for tips from me. I tip well because it is a nice reward for doing well at a job that it is easy to do badly and hard to do well, it's not a bribe.

[The Hon. Galahad Threepwood]

You're going to pay the waiters anyway; either you'll tip (in which case you can decrease or withhold the tip if service is bad), or you'll pay an extra 15 or 20 percent for everything on the menu regardless of the quality of service.

[chiller]

Would it be fair to assume that on balance, minorities make less than whites? If so, this is a non-story.

[HairOfTheDog]

You're a tightwad Tonto? - I never would have guess that! Fun people are usually good tippers. [shakes head]

[Guillermo]

Nice language, Rev.

[HairOfTheDog]

heh.... no kidding.

[07055]

Check out this bulletin board on the subject: http://www.tipping.org/discus/messages/9/125.html?1057729590

[Lijahsbubbe]

I see that angle, but I still think it's the restaurant's responsibility to pay a decent wage. Then it's an added bonus if they get tipped for good service.