opinions // 16 Just the tip » Do customers get what they pay for when they tip? Cazzy Lewchuk Staff Writer L“ face it: tipping sucks. Nobody enjoys tipping. No one likes to give an extra fee in addition to their service, just a drink at the bar. Yet almost every service expects a tip nowadays. Waiters, : bartenders, concierges, casino dealers, deliverers, and even doormen are all supposed to receive a couple of extra dollars on top of the bill for simply doing their job. Some jobs aren't even allowed to accept tips, but tipping has become more and more commonplace and expensive. It’s a societal requirement, and the non- tipper is hated by servers and customers alike. Is tipping generous? Not really. Since it’s considered mandatory, giving a tip is nothing more than an extra : fee to receive adequate service. : Someone who doesn’t leave a : tip—or even a small one—will : definitely receive lower service : quality on their next visit. It’s : extortion, in a sense. Even when people do tip, : it’s usually not done for the : reason tipping exists: to reflect ’ ‘ : good service. Tipping tends to whether it be a meal, haircut, or : reflect the bill. A customer who : tips 15 per cent ona $100-bottle : of wine will be giving a $15-tip, : compared to the customer who : gave 50 per cent on $10 fora : burger and fries (a tip of $5). : The $5 customer is much more : generous, but the $15 one will : be seen as the biggest tipper. Tipping is not deserved : in many cases. Does it reflect : labour? Not usually. There’s : often a tip jar at coffee shops— : am I really supposed to give : extra money to the staff just : because they filled up a $3-cup : of coffee and handed it to me? : Same at the bar: tipping an : extra dollar or two on a $5-beer : quickly adds up. But giving a : small tip—or no tip at all— : will almost guarantee you'll : be served last. This is despite : the fact that serving drinks is : literally the bartender’s entire : job. Why must we reward them : no matter what the quality of : the service? Even adequate : or bad service demands a tip : nowadays, even if it’s a small : one. Only in truly terrible : service is it acceptable to leave : no tip. Yet if a server isn’t doing : their job properly, they still : get paid the same wage—they : simply won't make extra money. Many jobs are just as : hard as serving, but there is : no social custom for tipping. : A McDonald’s employee or a : Safeway cashier are working ata : : quick pace for many customers : during peak hours. They’re : working hard, because that’s : the point of their jobs. Despite : this, tipping anyone in retail is : almost unheard of, and in many ! : cases against store policy. Most There's often a tip jar at coffee shops—am | really supposed to give extra money to the staff just because they filled up a $3-cup of coffee and handed it to me? : minimum wage workers aren't : lucky enough to have a job that : offers tips. Taxi drivers, waiters, : and hairdressers all make at : least the minimum wage, but : they’re making extra out of the : pockets of customers. Is the solution to raise the minimum wage? Almost : definitely, although that’s a : complicated issue. A wage theotherpress.ca : increase (particularly at : restaurants) would maybe see : asmall increase in the prices, : but the payment overall would likely still be lower due to the : absence of tips. Higher prices : also wouldn’t matter as much : if everyone was making more : money. In most countries : outside of North and South America, this is exactly what : happens—tipping is unheard : of, and even offensive in : some cases. Those who do : exceptionally may take a : small gratuity on the bill, but : providing adequate service : (which is the job description) : isn’t enough to make an : automatic 15 per cent. Why : can't the prices just be higher? : Every other service pays their : employees a higher wage and : reflects this in the cost of their : services. Why restaurants and : other establishments don't : make this normal, I’ll never know. Stay gold » On the 71st Golden Globes Steven Cayer Senior Columnist ast year, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey kicked some ass hosting the 7oth Golden Globe Awards, and this year they’ve done it again. Being a fan of asking yourself, “Why combine movies and TV if we already have separate awards shows for each?” Well personally, I love : the Golden Globes because it’s : fun having the “movie people” : and “TV people” in the same : room. Of course, everybody has : their own opinions about who : should or shouldn't have won : what awards, but here are mine: Mery] Streep’s role in August: Osage County was movies, TV. and awards shows, | : incredible to say the least. She watched the 71st Golden Globes : Plays a pill-popping truth-teller : with no communication filter. with anticipation. You might be : : For some reason, Streep always : gets nominated, but almost : never wins. I’m not saying that : Amy Adams didn’t do a good : job in American Hustle, because : she did—I’m just saying Streep : deserved the award a little bit : more. Same goes for Julia Roberts, : again in Osage County: she : played a tough role as Streep’s : daughter, although I’m very : happy for American Hustle’s : Jennifer Lawrence winning. Almost every movie in the : Best Movie: Comedy or Musical : category is neither a comedy : nora musical. They seem to : think a comedy is just a drama : with a fair amount of funny : parts thrown in. That being : said, my favourite movie in : that category was Her. It tells : the story of aman who slowly : falls in love with his operating : system (voiced by Scarlett : Johansson). This movie actually : changed the wayI lookatmy : : own life. Spike Jonze left a really : : powerful message that I won't : forget. Being a fan of The Big Bang : Theory, I voted for the show : and Jim Parsons to win. Lo and : behold, I lost, but I’m also really : happy—after all, it’s a scientific : fact that there can only be : one Andy Samberg. I couldn’t : believe that he and his show : Brooklyn Nine-Nine won both — : awards (Best Actor ina Comedy : : and Best Comedy). I’ve only : saw the first two episodes of the : show, but let me tell you, I will : make more time for it. I’m really happy for Breaking Bad and Bryan : Cranston winning for one final : time. I truly believe that James : Spader will win next year in : The Blacklist. ’'m also happy for : Amy Poehler, who won for Best : Actress ina Comedy for her : role in what I think to be the : funniest show on TV, Parks and : Recreation.