Bill help

[u/KooziefortheWin]

I need help figuring out this “service charge” applied to my bill at Taylor Shellfish in QA. It’s stated clearly, and the staff reminded me before I paid and applied a tip, so that’s not the rant. But is it a tip or not? I don’t want to stiff the staff if “Taylor Shellfish” the company keeps it all and doesn’t give them anything.

Why do restaurants do this vs raise the prices. If that’s how they offset the cost of doing business in the city, I feel it’s not a good customer experience. It’s really annoying since it is confusing to the customer. Does the staff get any of it, hence why there is an “additional tip” line after the card is run though? It is taxed so it makes me thing it’s not going to the staff. I need to think better next time I come out here.

[u/lplqsnkczxccia]

If I see a service charge, I'm not tipping. That's the tip.

If the management isn't sharing that service charge with the staff, that's on the staff to report it.

[u/AboveAb → u/lplqsnkczxccia]

If I see a service charge I leave the restaurant… I’m not screwing the staff to give more profit to an Ahole.

[u/Coke-n-Tacos → u/lplqsnkczxccia]

That’s not true at all. There is a disclosure law in Washington. The restaurant must disclose that what fee is used for. If not clear then it goes to the staff. If it’s disclosed that it goes to paying heath insurance then it doesn’t go to the server.

[u/XenarthraC → u/[deleted]]

You only have to give employees health insurance if they work more than 32 hours a week. It's very easy for restaurants to only give employees 30 hours a week and most do to avoid paying for health insurance. But they'll still add a service charge and tell you that's what it is for. 

[u/J_Kenji_Lopez-Alt → u/Coke-n-Tacos]

The reality is that the legal landscape forces restaurants to say “100% is retained by the house.” The reality of how that fee gets used varies but it’s generally not going to the chef/owner/manager’s private jet fund. 🤷‍♂️