Most restaurants have a policy in place whereby if a specified
number of guests [or more] are seated at the same table, a certain percentage
for gratuity is automatically added to their bill. Not only does this practice
eliminate - for the customer - any uncertainty regarding standard tipping
procedures, it also ensures that the server will receive a proper tip for her
hard work, based on what is assumed to be a higher-than-average bill. In the
world of waitressing, this is more commonly known as the Auto-Grat.
Auto-Grat policies differ from restaurant to restaurant, but
the standard practice is to add a 15 per cent gratuity to the bill for
parties of eight or more. In fact, this practice is so common in the restaurant
industry that experienced large-party diners should automatically expect to pay
the Auto-Grat when settling their bills.
Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Some customers
feel insulted when they’re forced to pay an automatic gratuity because
it takes away their freedom of choice. After all, everyone has the right to
choose how much money they want to spend on good service. For this reason, most
restaurants now include their Auto-Grat policies in the front cover of their
menus – in plain sight – so as not to insult the customer’s intelligence.
Of course, there are times when the Auto-Grat isn’t expected
to be paid; for instance, when a party of ten receives sub-par service, or no
one at the table receives the correct dinner. In these cases, the gratuity is
understandably left in the hands of the customer.
But when a party of ten receives exceptional service and has
no problems with their food, they shouldn’t complain about having to tip their
server accordingly. Customers who complain about the Auto-Grat [simply because
it’s on their bill] are, more often than not, ignorant about the service
industry as a whole. Standard tipping procedures are usually unknown to these
types of diners because they just don’t bother to do their homework
before going out for dinner.
So, the next time you and seven friends walk into a
restaurant, please know that you will
be charged that extra 15 per cent for service. And if that bothers you, split
your party in half.
In Australia, they include the gratuity with every meal eaten out, whether it is fast food or fine dining. Taxes are also included. Maybe this is the wave of the future.
ReplyDeleteI like you have been a server for several years. I think auto-grat is great. Big groups obviously need more attention and sometimes they forget that. SO auto-grat is a great reminder. Great post and blog Heather, I have really enjoyed it over the weeks!
ReplyDeleteWeirdly enough I saw this for the first time today on a menu at a restaurant in downtown St. Catharines.
ReplyDeleteWhen I went to Miami a few week ago, I noticed each restaurant I went to did include the auto-grat and usually it was only my friend and I. The first time it threw me off, but when experiencing it everywhere else I just accepted it and thought it was a policy there.
Maybe having auto-grat added will be something customers will get used to over time in Canada.